The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity
Language: English
Published by Doubleday, 2021
- Hardcover
- Used

Seller: MERS Goodwill, Saint Louis, MO, U.S.A.MERS Goodwill
AbeBooks seller since March 13, 2026
Condition: Used - Good
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Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover, if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include From the library of labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media. Any access codes or passwords originally included with the book may be expired, used or no longer valid. Image is stock photo and cover art edition may be different than pictured.
Seller Inventory # MERV.0385546475.G
- Title
- The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity
- Author
- Cipolla, Carlo M.
- Publisher
- Doubleday
- Publication year
- 2021
- Condition
- good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0385546475
- ISBN 13
- 9780385546478
"A masterly book" —Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of The Black Swan • "A classic" —Simon Kuper, Financial Times
Throughout 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 at the UC Berkeley, 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, unreasonable colleagues, or your next dinner with your in-laws.
The Laws:
1. Everyone underestimates the number of stupid individuals among us.
2. The probability that a certain person is stupid is independent of any other characteristic of that person.
3. A stupid person is a person who causes losses to another person while deriving no gain and even possibly incurring losses themselves.
4. Non-stupid people always underestimate the damaging power of stupid individuals.
5. A stupid person is the most dangerous type of person.
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MERS Goodwill
Saint Louis, MO, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since March 13, 2026
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