Gamers, it might be time to rethink everything you thought you knew about Monopoly.
"The story of Monopoly should make you think about the nature of innovation and how things come to be." So teased author and journalist Mary Pilon, who recently joined Mashable's social book club MashableReads with her book The Monopolists.
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Throughout the book (which originally started out as a fact-checking mission), Pilon debunks myths surrounding the creation of Monopoly by detailing the stories of those most affected by the game. While manufacturer Parker Brothers claims Monopoly was created during the Great Depression, the truth is much more scandalous, involving corporate scheming, game nights with Quakers and an inspiring feminist named Lizzie Magie (think Beyoncé but for the board-game world).
Pilon stopped by Mashable to discuss The Monopolists, Monopoly's mysterious past and secret game strategies. Check out the highlights from our discussion, below:
It's time to begin another book for #mashreads! #themonopolists #monopoly http://t.co/VtZyjPdaXV pic.twitter.com/7tjDWLh5m4— Zack Smith (@ZackMS) March 9, 2015
Me, reading our latest #MashReads book 'The Monopolists’ by @marypilon. http://t.co/xeH7QZvmJg pic.twitter.com/OvJgZ2lnxL— MJ Franklin (@heyitsfranklin2) March 4, 2015
#TheMonopolists thoughts pt 1: Lizzie Magie's critiques of her gen fit 100 yrs later: living wage, women's rights, originality #MashReads— Aliza W. (@AlizaTweets) March 27, 2015
We're so excited to have @MaryPilon here for #MashReads to talk about #TheMonopolists! pic.twitter.com/F8gO5TCLAg— MashableReads (@mashreads) April 7, 2015
.@MaryPilon is here at @Mashable effectively convincing me her book #TheMonopolists is a must read. #MashReads pic.twitter.com/X84SkF4JGM— Lance Ulanoff (@LanceUlanoff) April 7, 2015
We're ready to dig into #TheMonopolists and @MrsTsPierogies at #MashReads tonight! pic.twitter.com/YXFirbB7eI— MashableReads (@mashreads) April 7, 2015
Talking about #TheMonopolists with author @marypilon. If you have any nerd in you, read this book! #MashReads pic.twitter.com/sK0Uq4c6Uy— Aliza W. (@AlizaTweets) April 7, 2015
Being a board game inventor wasn't really a thing -- until Charles Darrow, the "inventor" of Monopoly #MashReads #TheMonopolists— MashableReads (@mashreads) April 7, 2015
Lizzie Magie, the originator of Monopoly, probably received about $500 for the game #MashReads #TheMonopolists— MashableReads (@mashreads) April 7, 2015
If we can't get the history of #Monopoly right, what hope is there for anything else? #MashReads #TheMonopolists— Zack Smith (@ZackMS) April 7, 2015
Monopoly hack - "When you land on a property and you don't want to buy it, you should put it up for auction" @marypilon #mashreads— MashableReads (@mashreads) April 9, 2015
Lizzie Magie, the low-key Beyonce of early 20th century boardgames. #TheMonopolists #MashReads @heyitsfranklin2 @marypilon— Aliza W. (@AlizaTweets) April 7, 2015
Pretty sure this is the best dedication ever written. #mashreads #theMonopolists http://t.co/BSG7uSMTOF pic.twitter.com/3yOU7MPLMB— Zack Smith (@ZackMS) April 8, 2015
Monopoly hack - "Anytime people put cash into Monopoly, they make the game last longer" @marypilon #mashreads http://t.co/3P41D6tn7Z— MashableReads (@mashreads) April 9, 2015
Monopoly hack - "When you land on a property and you don't want to buy it, you should put it up for auction" @marypilon #mashreads— MashableReads (@mashreads) April 9, 2015