The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity

By: Carlo M. Cipolla, Nassim Nicholas Taleb - foreword

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 54 mins

Publisher's summary

"A masterly book." (Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of The Black Swan)

"A classic." (Simon Kuper, Financial Times)

An economist explores the five laws that confirm our worst fears: Stupid people can and do rule the world.

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.

This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF that contains the gain and loss graphs from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Carlo M. Cipolla (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"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)

"Subtly lacerating." (Publishers Weekly)

“The more you confront actual stupidity in everyday life, the more infuriating it is, whereas the more you contemplate it in the abstract, the more amusing it becomes. Cipolla finds the perfect tone to handle this paradox. On the page, he is arch and slightly annoyed, with a good deal of mock scholarly gravity thrown in.... Cipolla is very droll, and his theories - however deeply he has implanted his tongue in his cheek - have a helpful, clarifying quality.” (Commentary Magazine)

Direct and to the point

No allegory just the facts. Thanks

No allegory just the facts. Thanks

No allegory just the facts. Thanks

No allegory just the facts. Thanks

Ok

Defined stupidity

A surprisingly short book with a large impact. the idea to measure stupidity based on a calculation between value derived to oneself vs value derived to others is an interesting idea and provides a different insight into the rise and fall of historic cultures/nations.

A must read

It's hilarious, scary, and sobering wrapped in a tight little package that forces you to look at people and groups of people in a new light.

Knowledge is power, and protection.

Very informative and interesting. Sad knowing this is our true station in life. We have to find a way.

Stupid not to read

Very funny and interesting way at looking at our flaws. Recommend

Nho Nho Nho Nho

Satire or true wisdom?

Funny and tragic. Certainly insightful in the present political climate. I would rename some of the categories. I would say the helpless would better be described as naive, the bandit as wicked people, the stupid are actually foolish, and the intelligent are actually better described as wise. This clarifies the idea that someone could be intelligent but foolish. Someone might not be well educated but could still be wise. On rare occasions you could have someone both intelligent and wise although they may act foolishly at times usually due to arrogance. King Solomon for example.

Eye-Opening!

It’s just the thing you need to “understand” life and see it a little clearer.

Brilliant book

very useful and will make one much better aware of things in life, he uses detailed analysis of defining what is a stupid, bandit, helpless and intelligent people and their effect on societies

Stupidity Quantified

Too, too often I am surprised to find myself aghast at the sheer quantum and constance of human stupidity.,

Cipolla answers why I am surprised. I underestimate sigma. He usefully provides a definition of stupidity, as foundational rubric, so readers may better assess both their own and other's actions and hence avoid such surprises.

Takeaways. Don't underestimate sigma. Sigma is immutable. Recognise your own.

I wish this book came into my life sooner

Save yourself from stupid people. This book offers clear strategies to stopping the stupid in your life. It also helps with not becoming a stupid person yourself.