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The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World's Favorite Board Game, by Mary Pilon
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The Monopolists reveals the unknown story of how Monopoly came into existence, the reinvention of its history by Parker Brothers and multiple media outlets, the lost female originator of the game, and one man's lifelong obsession to tell the true story about the game's questionable origins.
Most think it was invented by an unemployed Pennsylvanian who sold his game to Parker Brothers during the Great Depression in 1935 and lived happily--and richly--ever after. That story, however, is not exactly true. Ralph Anspach, a professor fighting to sell his Anti-Monopoly board game decades later, unearthed the real story, which traces back to Abraham Lincoln, the Quakers, and a forgotten feminist named Lizzie Magie who invented her nearly identical Landlord's Game more than thirty years before Parker Brothers sold their version of Monopoly. Her game--underpinned by morals that were the exact opposite of what Monopoly represents today--was embraced by a constellation of left-wingers from the Progressive Era through the Great Depression, including members of Franklin Roosevelt's famed Brain Trust.
A gripping social history of corporate greed that illuminates the cutthroat nature of American business over the last century, The Monopolists reads like the best detective fiction, told through Monopoly's real-life winners and losers.
- Sales Rank: #546212 in Books
- Published on: 2016-02-09
- Released on: 2016-02-09
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.26" h x .91" w x 5.18" l, 1.00 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 336 pages
Review
“Highly entertaining . . . Like Monopoly itself, the book unfolds in interesting directions, probing into lost Quaker communities, the early history of Atlantic City, and how a game originally invented to critique capitalism became its most diverting simulacrum.” ―The Boston Globe
“[A] fascinating history . . . The Monopolists lucidly weaves together a multifaceted story . . . [It] builds to an intense pitch--while highlighting several fundamental issues of capitalism.” ―Los Angeles Times
“A legal, corporate and intellectual whodunit . . .The tale, like the game, becomes a parable for American capitalism, with powerful players stamping out competitors and fortunes being made or destroyed at the roll of the dice . . . anyone who grew up playing Monopoly will have a hard time resisting The Monopolists.” ―Washington Post
“With more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie mystery, reporter Pilon reveals the tumultuous history of Monopoly . . . More entertaining than the game itself.” ―starred review, Publishers Weekly
“Pilon takes us on a jaunt through turn-of-the-century America, where we learn about such far-flung things as the origins of the price tag, the founding of Atlantic City, and the fact that one of the most coveted addresses in the game was home to some of the earliest gay bars in America. This is a must read for anyone who loves the game, and really, who doesn't?” ―Erik Larson
“Briskly enlightening . . . [Pilon] has woven a plush, often humorous tapestry of board-game and social history. Even passages devoted to sick children during the Depression fail to deflate the book's buoyancy.” ―New York Times Book Review
“What enormous fun this book is! Clever, engaging, finely crafted, and endlessly surprising--and revealing in passing much about the ghastliness of American corporate greed. Much like the game itself, indeed.” ―Simon Winchester, author of THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN
“Mary Pilon has discovered an enthralling story behind Monopoly, as much a history of our country as of its favorite game. She writes with the assurance and energy of a historian who knows she has struck gold.” ―Gay Talese
“Mary Pilon's page-turning narrative unravels the innocent beginnings, the corporate shenanigans, and the big lie at the center of this iconic boxed board game.” ―Stefan Fatsis, author of WORD FREAK
“Thanks to Mary Pilon's meticulous reporting and mellifluous prose, we now know the real story of the corporate greed and relentless cover-up that scars Monopoly, one of the most beloved and successful board games of all time. Finally, the truth is out.” ―William D. Cohan, author of THE LAST TYCOONS
“The book abounds with interesting tidbits for boardgame buffs but treats its subject seriously. After readingThe Monopolists--part parable on the perils facing inventors, part legal odyssey, and part detective story--you'll never look at spry Mr. Monopoly in the same way again.” ―Booklist
“Pilon invests this surprisingly contentious chronicle with a dynamic mix of journalistic knowledge and subtle wit . . . A fascinating, appealingly written history of an iconic American amusement.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Thoroughly researched and deftly paced, this fascinating narrative is at once legal thriller, folk history, underdog story, and exposé of corporate greed, and deserves a wide readership among fans of Monopoly, critics of monopoly, and all who enjoy a good story well told.” ―Library Journal
“This past November, a New Hampshire woman was charged with domestic violence for slapping her boyfriend during a game [of Monopoly]. The British royal family, Prince Andrew said in 2008, isn't permitted to play it at home because ‘it gets too vicious.' All of these people, and my own family, and anyone else who has threatened to eviscerate a loved one over their income-tax accounting, should be required to read Mary Pilon's enthralling new history of the long, pitched battle over the origins of the game.” ―Slate
“[A] dive into the real Monopoly.” ―Flavorwire, "10 Must-Read Books for February"
“The true--and downright bizarre--origin story of one of the most popular games ever made . . . A brisk read, and the readability is considerably heightened throughout by the author's sense of outrage . . . Fascinating.” ―The Daily Beast
“Few books can be said to have a transformative effect on the way readers look at a particular subject. Those that do often concern big subjects--books like Charles Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species' or Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring.' While Mary Pilon's The Monopolists does not deal with matters like evolution or the environment, it nonetheless fits the bill. Irresistible . . . On the basis of this terrific book, Pilon . . . might just have a monopoly when it comes to writing on pop culture in a consistently enlightening, completely absorbing way.” ―Christian Science Monitor
“A fascinating history . . . There's plenty of turmoil in this readable book. Read it, and the next time you're circling the board with your Scottish terrier you'll have a deeper understanding of Monopoly's enduring popularity” ―Booklist
“Pilon's research is deep, and it makes for a solid caper about corporate greed.” ―Bloomberg
“[An] intriguing history . . . Pilon is a prodigious researcher, and delves into great detail about the intellectual and business roots of Monopoly.” ―Financial Times
“Excellent . . . Mary Pilon revisits the sordid story of Monopoly . . . . in glorious detail.” ―Mental Floss
“Engaging . . . there is plenty in The Monopolists to hold one's interest--not least, tips on how to win at Monopoly . . . it passes Go.” ―Wall Street Journal
“That history is interesting even if you don't love the game . . . The Monopolists is a quick, enjoyable read that takes less time than a game of Monopoly.” ―Minneapolis Star Tribune
“A deep dive into industrial and pop culture apocrypha . . . riveting . . . The book is superlative journalism.” ―Paste
“Smart and revealing . . . Pilon's refreshingly direct prose and ample storytelling skills make for a breezy, enlightening inquiry into the plight of an under-appreciated innovator.” ―The Rumpus
About the Author
Mary Pilon has been a sports reporter at the New York Times and a staff reporter at the Wall Street Journal for the paper's Money and Investing section. In 2011, she was named one of Forbes magazine's 30 Under 30 for media. Her work has appeared in Gawker, USA Today, and New York magazine and she is an honors graduate of New York University. She lives in New York. Visit her website at marypilon.com and follow her on Twitter at @marypilon.
Most helpful customer reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful.
A Tale Within A Tale
By John Green
I've always been fascinated with the board game Monopoly, so I ordered this book to discover the real history. I find it to be well written and researched, with lots of great historical information.
I was interested in the history of the game itself, but this book turned out to be more than just that. The book centers around a college professor who invented an "anti-monopoly" game. His use of the word "monopoly" then drew the ire of the Parker Brothers company, who owned the trademark. In the course of defending himself, he researched the history of the game in the 20th century. The author of this book has gone even further, tracing origins of similar games into the 19th century. Thus, this book is about a modern story, and the history behind the game at the center of the controversy. I don't want to spoil the book by revealing the history, but let it suffice to say that there is a lot more to Monopoly than the popular story that it was invented in the Great Depression by an out of work salesman. By the end of the book you will know both how the story of "Anti-Monopoly" ends, and how the entire game of Monopoly evolved. Both tales are fascinating history.
The book is interesting and very easy to read, and it manages to pack in the facts about the evolution of the game without becoming boring. I liked the way the author fleshed out each character as he or she was introduced, and how he went behind the scenes of each part of the story to make it a complete tale. There are end notes for those wishing to learn more.
Summary: This is good, solid writing, and an enjoyable read. Highly recommended.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful.
The Secret History of One of America's Most Popular Board Games
By tvtv3
As a child, I always enjoyed the rare times that we would gather around as a family and play MONOPOLY. We didn’t do it very long because they game took too long and someone always ended up getting upset. However, nothing could contain the jubilance I felt if I happened to outsmart the rest of my family members and won a game of MONOPOLY: it felt like a major accomplishment. It wasn’t until years later that I discovered I had never really been playing the game correctly. It turns out that a game of MONOPOLY, if played correctly, doesn’t last very long and is more fun to play than the “house rules” game I had always played as a child.
The actual history of the game of MONOPOLY might seem rather boring and drawn out, but in actuality it’s rather fascinating and is filled with all sorts of interesting twists and turns. In THE MONOPOLISTS Mary Pilon examines the history of the game and reveals how the game is rooted far more deeply in American culture and history than Parker Brothers (and now Hasbro) would leave one to believe.
“Monopoly” might actually have first been played sometime in the late 1890s. There were different variations of the game in different pockets of the country. However, it wasn’t until Elizabeth J. Magie created and patented a game in 1903 that promoted the single-tax theories of Henry George. Magie intended the game to be an education tool to be used in promoting George’s theories. Her game, called THE LANDLORD’S GAME, was the first to be mass produced, copyrighted, and patented to involve the buying, selling, and development of land.
THE MONOPOLISTS explores how Magie’s game spread to different parts of the country, how the idea was eventually stolen by Charles Darrow, how Parker Brothers lied to Magie and bought the rights to THE LANDLORD’S GAME and attempted to erase her association from history, how Parker Brother’s made a monopoly on MONOPOLY, and how that monopoly was threatened when an economics professor created and developed a game called ANTI-MONOPOLY.
Personally, I found THE MONOPOLISTS to be both a quick and fascinating read. I couldn’t put the book down and read it in a day and a half. The author, Mary Pilon, does a really good job of engaging the reader in the story she tells. Therefore, although the book is not something everyone will enjoy, it is not boring or dull.
Overall, THE MONOPOLISTS is a fascinating look at the secret history of one of America’s most beloved board games that reads both like a legal thriller and an engaging piece of American history. Recommended for anyone who enjoys pop culture, board games, MONOPOLY, or copyright issues.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
A Secret History of Monopoly, but more than that too!
By Reasonable Reviewer
Mary Pilon, formally a regular writer for the Wall Street Journal, takes the reader on a journey of discovery on the start of the board and card games industry in the US and in particular on the path that the mega-hit Monopoly followed to rise to its top grossing status.
Yes, the story that we all know and love about the creation of Monopoly is not true, but by the time we get to that part of the book, halfway through, it is a less shocking revelation than it might sound from the dust jacket.
The book is exquisitely researched, and the five decades that the book spans are described in detail.
We get an insider's view of the lives, fortunes, and practices of early game company moguls Milton Bradley and George Parker, and those details help explain how Monopoly rose to instant hit status during the Great Depression and why folks were willing and eager to accept the false story of how Monopoly came to be.
I enjoyed the writing, and most of the facts presented in the book were new to me.
Well done!
I highly recommend this book!
See all 73 customer reviews...
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