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The Monopolists
The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World's Favorite Board Game | Mary Pilon
18 posts | 11 read | 24 to read
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.
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AkashaVampie
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#BookishMonopoly

Feel free to join me in my journey of My Bookish Monopoly. Here are 3 different options.

1. Read the books I am reading
2. Use the prompts to read books that you want to read
3. Make your own Bookish Monopoly board. (let me know if you want to know prompts that I have on my board) Check YouTube/Pinterest

Let me know if you are participating by using the hashtag & tag me! Happy Reading

Share w/ everybody!! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

AkashaVampie I thought I would make up a board for anyone that might feel like they aren't creative enough. All you need to do is fill in the spaces and make ur cards. You can do TBR Jar(s) like I am doing or u can try something on ur own. Let me know what ur using. Happy Reading and Good Luck. 9mo
25 likes1 comment
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janjanregala
Mehso-so

A good feel book and some history about the monopoly game.

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CoffeeK8
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Pickpick

(Not the tagged book, but another book by the same author). This was a riveting and moving account of the quest to bring Larry Nassar to justice. #audiobook

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bookishnerd
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#friyayintro

1 - 12 books! I am participating in the Owls.
2 - Monopoly (tagged book is good about the history of it!)
3 - Reading time!
4 - No. I forgot it was even April Fool's Day. lol

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keithmalek
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MrBook Wow! Good quote! 5y
11 likes1 comment
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CoffeeNBooks
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Pickpick

I've played various editions of Monopoly and Monopoly-type games all my life, so this sounded like an interesting book. I chose this book for the Read Harder challenge prompt for a business book, and I found the very storied history of the game absolutely fascinating. It was written by a journalist, so it actually fulfills two of the prompts. #BookRiotReadHarderChallenge2019: book by a journalist or about journalism, business book

LaraReads Oh, that‘s a good one! 6y
AlaMich I have that 2000 edition of Monopoly! I think it‘s been played once. 😆 6y
116 likes1 stack add2 comments
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CoffeeNBooks
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I'm thoroughly enjoying this very interesting history of the game of Monopoly!

Leftcoastzen That looks cool! 6y
CoffeeNBooks @Leftcoastzen I checked it out for one of the Read Harder challenge prompts, and it's actually really interesting! 6y
Jemgirl2014 That wine looks so good! LOL 🍷📚 6y
115 likes1 stack add3 comments
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CoffeeNBooks
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Today's poolside read. The title of this one caught my attention, having played hours of this game growing up and as a parent. We've had several versions of this game over the years, and I'm interested in reading about its history. 🌞🌊📚🌊🌞 #BookRiotReadHarderChallenge2019: a business book

BookishClaire Ooh, that looks good! 6y
Librarybelle I liked this one! 6y
fleeting Wow, this is my all time favourite board game! Didn't know there was a book on it! 6y
126 likes9 stack adds3 comments
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keithmalek
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Pickpick

Very good!

24 likes2 stack adds
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WanderingBookaneer
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I said it should be a book, but it is being turned into a movie!
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/node/1132107

Skyrimir Yes! This will be an awesome movie I think. Such a crazy story! 6y
Readingismyescape Definitely a great story for a movie. Thanks for sharing. I read the article you linked to and I had no idea all of this happened. I was a huge fan of McDonald‘s monopoly game when I was younger. 💰 6y
EmG This is a perfect story for Affleck to direct. Right down the center of his wheelhouse. 6y
Kaylamburson Omg so crazy!! I never remember anyone winning this monopoly games so I thought maybe that was the scam. Crazy the mob was involved! Can‘t wait to see it. 6y
83 likes1 stack add4 comments
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WanderingBookaneer
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Liberty It‘s like that guy that figured out how to beat Press Your Luck! 6y
MicheleinPhilly @Liberty No whammies, no whammies! 6y
69 likes3 comments
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Pamwurtzler
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Maybe you can tell what our favorite game is? #letsplayagame #giveaway Thanks @MaleficentBookDragon ! What a fun idea!

LauraBeth 😂😂🎩 7y
MaleficentBookDragon Love it! I want the Dr Who version. Thanks for entering! 7y
Karkar @Pamwurtzler I did not know this about you...I love monopoly but my family hates it. 7y
Pamwurtzler @Karkar - @kitty_reads kicks our butts every time we play but we still love it! 7y
Avanders Lol! I have the same inclination 😁😁 7y
46 likes5 comments
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Schlinkles
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Pickpick

A fascinating look at the not so simple history of the friendship-ending and tear-inducing game, Monopoly. This book was well-written and never dry. It taught me things about economics, Quakers, and trademark law...the three great tastes that taste great together. Glad to be a part of E. Shaver, Bookseller's nonfiction book club because this isn't a book I would've ordinarily picked up to read.

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WanderingBookaneer
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Hooked_on_books Nice stack! 😍 8y
Lmstraubie Holy Book Haul Batman! 8y
mcipher Nice!! 8y
See All 7 Comments
LeahBergen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
DrexEdit Very nice! 💜 😊👍 8y
LeslieO Double trouble! 8y
Cinfhen 💕💕💕 8y
138 likes7 comments
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alisonrose
Pickpick

This was a really fascinating read, much more so than you might think a book about the history of a board game would be. I had no idea about the scandal over the creation of the game, though I'm certainly not surprised that a woman had her work taken over by a dude and got essentially no credit for it. A very detailed but quick read on a topic probably everyone has some connection to (I've got three Monopoly games myself!) 4/5 ⭐️

12 likes2 stack adds
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alisonrose
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Hey, let's invent a time machine so we can go to this newspaper's office and slap them

Chessa Wowza. 😱 8y
Mayread We don't need a time machine when plenty of a-holes say that right now. 8y
alisonrose @Chessa I know right? 8y
alisonrose @Skiles seriously!! Ugh 8y
13 likes4 comments
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alisonrose
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My Beatles Monopoly was the only version I had easily accessible! 😁 #nowreading

BookBabe Great photo! 8y
14 likes2 comments
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LiteraryAnecdata
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The Monopolists and a Perrier after a long day at work - Monday night party over here. Also, apparently I'm on a reading-about-board-games kick as of late...