{"product_id":"the-concise-guide-to-sounding-smart-at-parties-an-irreverent-compendium-of-must-know-info-from-sputnik-to-smallpox-and-marie-curie-to-mao-9780767922999","title":"The Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties: An Irreverent Compendium of Must-Know Info from Sputnik to Smallpox and Marie Curie to Mao","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBanish awkward silences, boring weather talk, or (worst of all) the embarrassing conversation gaff with this pithy, hilarious guide to effortless party banter. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWe've all been there. You're at a party, surrounded by the most important people in your life. You're cool. You're casual. You're witty and urbane. Until suddenly, quite unexpectedly, things take a turn for the worse when a subject thought to be common knowledge is lobbed your way. A hush falls over the room and every head seems to swivel expectantly in your direction. \u003cbr\u003e ART: SET THESE OFF IN A DIFFERENT COLOR?]\u003cbr\u003e\"Rasputin. Sure, Rasputin. The Russian guy, right? Who . . . who . . . whooooo was Russian.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Che Guevara? You mean the dancer?\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Oh my God  Mao Tse-tung? They have the best chicken with cashews \"\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties \u003c\/i\u003ewas written with just this moment in mind. In fourteen pain-free, laughter-filled chapters, authors David Matalon and Chris Woolsey brush away years of cobwebs on subjects as wide-ranging as the typical round of \u003ci\u003eJeopardy\u003c\/i\u003e war, science, politics, philosophy, the arts, business, literature, music, religion, and more. \u003cbr\u003eArmed with \u003ci\u003eThe Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties, \u003c\/i\u003eyou'll know that Chicago Seven wasn't a boy band, Martin Luther never fought for civil rights, and Franz Kafka isn't German for \"I have a bad cold.\" You'll be the smart one who's the center of conversation--and nothing beats that feeling.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Broadway Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/10\/2006\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780767922999\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.57lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.98h x 5.28w x 0.90d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/15\/2006 pg. 76\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"David Matalon, Chris Woolsey","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39521780498613,"sku":"9780767922999","price":16.15,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_8fde7cfc-3035-49bc-916e-34d81ea6e8f8.jpg?v=1616506611","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-concise-guide-to-sounding-smart-at-parties-an-irreverent-compendium-of-must-know-info-from-sputnik-to-smallpox-and-marie-curie-to-mao-9780767922999","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}