Orbanes’ book is not merely the history of a game: To a large extent, it is a history of America and the world as seen from the Monopoly board. No other modern board game is known so well worldwide (translated at last count into 26 languages), and no other is so closely associated with America and American capitalism. Did you know that Monopoly assisted the escape of Allied prisoners-of-war in the 1940s, and went on to play a part in the downfall of Communism in the 1980s? Want to find out how? Pick these plums out for yourself from this richly enjoyable confection.