Carlo M. Cipolla (1922–2000) was an Italian economic historian, best known for his work on economic theory and historical demography. Educated at the Sorbonne and the London School of Economics, Cipolla combined his academic expertise with wit in his writings, particularly in The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity. This work, initially published as a limited edition in English, was later translated into multiple languages and became a cult classic due to its incisive yet humorous analysis of human behavior. Cipolla’s legacy lies in his ability to dissect complex social phenomena through both scholarly rigor and accessible, playful writing.