Books : The Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties: An Irreverent Compendium of Must-Know Info from Sputnik to Smallpox and Marie Curie to Mao
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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 031.02
EAN num: 9780767922999
ISBN number: 0767922999
Label: Broadway
Manufacturer: Broadway
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 304
Printing Date: October 10, 2006
Publishing house: Broadway
Release Date: October 10, 2006
Sale Popularity Level: 82999
Studio: Broadway
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Product Description:
Banish awkward silences, boring weather talk, or (worst of all) the embarrassing conversation gaff with this pithy, hilarious guide to effortless party banter.
We’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.
[ART: SET THESE OFF IN A DIFFERENT COLOR?]
“Rasputin. Sure, Rasputin. The Russian guy, right? Who . . . who . . . whooooo was Russian.”
“Che Guevara? You mean the dancer?”
“Oh my God! Mao Tse-tung? They have the best chicken with cashews!”
The Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties was 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 Jeopardy: war, science, politics, philosophy, the arts, business, literature, music, religion, and more.
Armed with The Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties, you’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.
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Rated by buyers 
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I got this book because I though it would be an interesting overview on some general topics. As a college professor I know a lot about my subject area, but have a surprising lack of general knowledge about my colleague's specialties. After finishing it, I was frustrated enough at myself for wasting several hours that I'm taking time to write this review.
Here are my gripes with the book:
1. I know it would be impossible to include everything that you would need to know about a general topic, but there are a lot of possiblities left out.
2. The premise of this book is kind of silly (admitted, I was the dummy who read it, though)- From my experiences of parties you're either going to run into A.) ignorant rubes who are going to have NO idea what you are talking about; thus, you are going to look like a pretentious snob (not really something that is going to make you popular) or B.) people who have studied the subject in depth who are going to want to talk intelligently about it (meaning talking about more than what you could find out from a junior high school textbook). In this case you are going to look like an idiot/"wannabe". They will probably enjoy making fun of you once you leave, though. (Again, not really going to make you more popular).
3. The jokes were terrible and INCREDIBLY distracting. After about the very first chapter I just skipped anything that was in parentheses.
4. I seriously hope that the suggestions for ways to bring the topics into a conversation were strictly for entertainment value. Most were inane, obscure, or downright offensive. Seriously, if anyone is thinking about it don't bring up the Bataan Death March in casual passing. . .
Rated by buyers 
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What I really loved about this book is that I was actually laughing out loud while I was learning something new. Unlike a lot of these "did you know" books, this book gives easy to read and complete summaries of events or peoples lives and was chock full of useful info I could actually use in conversation (not just a jumble of funny facts). I also loved the "how to bring it up" suggestions at the end of each entry. The best thing was that after reading the book I was able to put my new "sounding smart" skills to work that night at a party I went to. I read some of the other reviews here and I suppose if you're one of those pseudo-intellectual know-it-alls you'll find some flaws in just about anything, but if you're normal person like me, I think you'll find this a fun, entertaining, and informative read.
Rated by buyers 
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Flat out, this book is great. It is funny without trying to imitate or be pretentious - while also being informative. Well worth the purchase.
Rated by buyers -
I had so much fun reading this book that I handed it out as presents at a dinner party I just gave. All my friends who were there thought it was so clever and easy to read. Much better than doggie bags. I thought it was not only fun to read but didn't make me feel stupid for not knowing all that stuff.
Rated by buyers -
This book is my brother's favorite (and now mine) for reading in the bathroom, for those long visits. Both sitting in the tub, or just sitting, this is the kind of information in a fun package that I can really get behind. I don't dig history dry and from a weighty tome but I do like to feel like I'm patching up some of the holes in my somewhat sketchy liberal arts education. I loved the commentary and I think the authors are geniuses. A TERRIFIC christmas or birthday gift for your Mom or Dad. It been fun to quiz one another on all the info, too. Buy it.
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