Lies, theft, and cover-up: the history of Monopoly you've never heard
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Lies, theft, and cover-up: the history of Monopoly you've never heard

B2Upper-intermediateAugust 6, 202649 min

Monopoly is one of the best-selling board games of all time. It heralds free market economics and celebrates the American dream. That's a far cry from the original intent. This week on our series Hidden Histories, we go back in time to reveal the swindling and cover ups that robbed Monopoly's inventor of her fair share and turned her scathing critique of capitalism into her worst nightmare. (This episode originally aired in 2022) Guests: Mary Pilon, author of The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World's Favorite Board Game Support public media with NP...

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that we hope will make you rethink how the world works.

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turning its original message on its head.

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0:00

Right now, we are living through some of the most tumultuous political times our country has ever known. I'm David Remnick, and each week on the New Yorker Radio Hour, I'll try to make sense of what's happening, alongside politicians and thinkers like Cory Booker, Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney, and so many more. That's all on the New Yorker Radio Hour, wherever you listen to podcasts.

0:21

Hey there. This summer break on ThruLine, we're bringing you a collection of hidden histories that we hope will make you rethink how the world works. Like this story about Monopoly, the all-American board game that's urged us to own it all, turning its original message on its head.

0:45

Here it is. My family played at Christmas Eve. That was our tradition growing up. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, so it was cold and rainy. We had a lot of time to stay inside and play games and nostalgia.

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