The Principles of Applied Stupidity

(Not sold in bookstores or in ebook format. Buy your copy in our Bookstore!)

Here in the good ol' USA we spend almost one trillion dollars each year to put people in classrooms. And in a clasroom, no matter what the subject and no matter who is teaching, there are certain things everyone learns. For example, it is "stupid" when you make a mistake, when you don't know the correct answer, or when you fail. But in real life, these taboo shameful "stupid" behaviors can be wonderfully useful. After all, the dumber you look, the more stuff people will tell you; ignorance of difficulty equals optimism; and success is usually derived from a long string of failures.

The Principles of Applied Stupidity are a set of essential tools and techniques for any manager, either of a company or of your own life. Here you will find simple but effective methods for transcending your "classrooom conditioning." By "Embracing your Inner Idiot" you will find you have the power to go around gatekeepers, "unfreeze" corporate cultural status quo, be far more effective negotiator, and inspire your co-workers to maximum effort, all the while making everyone you meet love you because you make them all feel so deliciously superior.

These simple yet effective “people skills” can be used anywhere, whether you are the CEO or the new intern. They apply to leadership, management, communications, artistic endeavors, and more.

Below, Justin Locke gives a talk on the book on the authors@google series! (50 minutes) (Note Justin is a professional speaker and would love to appear at your company or event. Call 781-330-8143 or send an email to ask any questions and/or inquire about availability.)

Find out how you can "Get and do more by thinking and knowing less" simply embracing your inner idiot!

Buy your copy here. (see excerpts below. This book is sold online only.)

Read the genesis of the book.

View a 6-min excerpt from a recent presentation, on removing the learned fear of failure:

Another snippet, this one about the value of not solving problems:

David Meerman Scott, bestselling author of The New Rules of Marketing & PR (now published in 24 languages) says:

“I run across so-called ‘marketing experts’ who spend months of time and millions of dollars producing slick television commercials that nobody remembers. So why is it that “stupid people” can make a homemade video and put it onto YouTube for free and get a million hits? The well-paid smarty-pants trumped by the unschooled? What the heck is going on here? Justin Locke knows about the enormous power of stupidity. He’ll open your eyes to a new way of thinking, and he does it in an engaging style with tons of examples. I love 'Principles of Applied Stupidity'.”

"Read the book, then book the speaker! Justin Locke’s hilarious presentation made me look like a marketing genius. Just one word of caution when scheduling Justin - he’s a hard act to follow!" -- Madeleine Crouch, Executive Director, Retail Print Music Dealers Association

To buy a copy of the book:

Books are just $14.95 + 3.49 s&h in USA (this is a flat rate for any size order!). International shipping: For one copy, Canada shipping is $5.00, everywhere else, single copy international shipping is $9.00 (For multiple copies shipped internationally, when you click on blue box above, see the shipping calculator within the Paypal ordering process. All shipping charges can be seen on the paypal page before you have to insert any credit card info.)

(You can also order by mail and pay with a check. Click here for handy order form. (USA Only)

View WCVB's Chronicle HD episode based on the book

Sample Chapters:

Genesis of the book | Introduction
Excerpt #1: A Story of Dumb Luck at Work
Excerpt #2: Benefits of Avoiding Proper Procedure

Contact JLP

View Justin Locke's Speaking One-Sheet and Bio/Topics Page

And you can also read a recent online review and check out reader comments and reviews.

This website is the place to buy the book. It's the best price (just $14.95 +3.49 s&h) and you're buying direct from the publisher. This is now in its 3rd edition, which has incorporated all the online updates of the past year. This book is NOT SOLD IN STORES.

You can also combine orders with copies of "Real Men Don't Rehearse"! See info below, or for larger orders, visit our online bookstore. Special deal on shipping: whether you buy one book or a hundred books, the shipping is just $3.49. Period. Yes, it's confusing and disorienting to not get overcharged on shipping, but that's the deal!

Also by Justin Locke: Real Men Don't Rehearse is an amusing inside look at the zany secret world of professional orchestras. It is illustrated with dozens of humorous tales of musician antics and concert meltdowns.

ORDER RMDR | Read Excerpts | Reader Reviews

(The blue box above will take you to a paypal page where you can pay with either paypal or your credit card. For larger orders, please visit
our online bookstore.)