Basic Laws of Human Stupidity

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

THE
BASIC
LAWS OF
HUMAN
STUPIDITY

CARLO M. CIPOLLA

FOREWORD BY
NASSIM NICHOLAS TALEB
AUTHOR OF THE BLACK SWAN

U.S.A. $16.00
Canada $22.00

“A classic” —Simon Kuper, Financial Times
“A masterly book” —Nassim Nicholas Taleb

T hroughout history, a powerful force has hindered the
growth of human welfare and happiness. It is more
powerful than the Mafia or the military. It has global
catastrophic effects and can be found anywhere, from the
world’s most powerful boardrooms to your local bar.
It is human stupidity.

Carlo M. Cipolla, noted professor of economic history,
created this vitally important book in order to detect and
neutralize its threat. Both hilarious and dead serious, it will
leave you better equipped to confront political realities, un-
reasonable colleagues, or the next dinner with your in-laws.

“Cipolla’s subtle tongue-in-cheek humor made this
book an underground classic in Italy. Today, under current
worldwide political trends, it reads more like black
humor. Keep in mind: reliable statistical data shows that
98 percent of the people seriously believe that they
are far less stupid than the average.”

—Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics

Also available from Penguin Random House Audio

Jacket photograph by
Cribb/Visuals/E+/Getty Images

Jacket design by John Fontana

Doubleday.com
4/2021