Carlo M. Cipolla

"An economist explores the five laws that confirm our worst fears: stupid people can and do rule the world"--

The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity

Allegro ma non troppo

Guns, Sails and Empires is that rarity among works of history: a short book with a simple, powerful thesis that the entire book is devoted to proving. Carlo Cipolla begins with the question, "Why, after the end of the fifteenth century were the Europeans able not only to force their way through to the distant Spice Islands but also to gain control of all the major sea-routes and to establish overseas empires?" (19) He quickly dismisses motive as a causal factor: motive to circumvent the "Moslem blockade" had existed in earlier centuries as well, but motive without means is empty. Cipolla identifies two developments that provided the means for Europeans to finally succeed beyond their wildest dreams: ships seaworthy enough to reach distant seas; and powerful cannon that could be carried by these ships.

Technological Innovation and the Early Phases of European Expansion, 1400-1700

Guns, Sails and Empires

The history of the clock opens a window on how different cultures have viewed time and on Europe's path to industrialization.

Clocks and Culture, 1300-1700

"A masterly book" —Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of The Black Swan "A classic" —Simon Kuper, Financial Times An economist explains 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.

The Third Edition includes substantial revisions and new material throughout the book that will secure its standing as the most useful history available of preindustrial Europe.

European Society and Economy, 1000-1700

Before the Industrial Revolution

Pepper, Wine (and Wool) as the Dynamic Factors of the Social and Economic Development of the Middle Ages

Neşeli öyküler

Questo libro tenta di descrivere da un punto di vista globale l'evoluzione del genere umano nel suo sviluppo numerico e nel progredire delle sue condizioni di vita. Giorno per giorno il mondo diventa sempre più piccolo e società che da millenni si ignoravano si trovano all'improvviso a contatto - o in conflitto. Nel nostro modo di agire, sia nel campo politico che in quello economico, sia nel settore dell'organizzazione sanitaria che in quello della strategia militare si impone un nuovo punto di vista. Nel passato l'uomo ha dovuto abbandonare il punto di vista cittadino o regionale per acquisirne uno nazionale. Oggi dobbiamo uniformare noi stessi e la nostra maniera di pensare a un punto di vista globale.

Uomini, tecniche, economie

Derek Birdsall

Phylum Chordata evolved in ancient seas over 510 million years ago, as evidenced by fossils discovered in the Burgess Shales. Examines the unifying characteristics and their amazing evolutionary story.

Carlo M. Cipolla

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