{"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":"\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\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\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDAVID MATALON\u003c\/b\u003e is a film and TV screenwriter and is directing his first feature film in Los Angeles. \u003cb\u003eCHRIS WOOLSEY\u003c\/b\u003e is a freelance writer who has worked for Sony Pictures and Columbia Tri-Star. Chris also tours the country as a youth speaker.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Crown Publishing Group (NY)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50900094779666,"sku":"9780767922999","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_5fb133d2-7592-434f-bb47-9ea76f69d7b0.jpg?v=1738375226","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/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":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}