- Published: 24 October 2019
- ISBN: 9780753554852
- Imprint: Virgin Digital
- Format: EBook
- Pages: 96
The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity
The International Bestseller
- Published: 24 October 2019
- ISBN: 9780753554852
- Imprint: Virgin Digital
- Format: EBook
- Pages: 96
Cipolla’s subtle tongue-in-cheek humour made this book an underground classic in Italy. Today, under current worldwide political trends, it reads more like black humour. Keep in mind: reliable statistical data shows that 98% of the people seriously believe that they are far less stupid than the average.
Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics
A masterly book
Nassim Nicholas Taleb
A classic
Simon Kuper, Financial Times
This is a very funny book, but Carlo Cipolla's underlying insight really matters: there's a lot of stupidity about, including in society's highest circles – and the stupid wield a surprising amount of power, because the rest of us can never guess what idiotic thing they'll do next. We need to get wise to stupidity, and Cipolla's drily witty rules are a great place to start.
Oliver Burkeman
Brilliant.
James O'Brien, author of How to be Right
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