{"product_id":"the-book-of-fun-9780762480487","title":"The Book of Fun","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDive into this vibrantly illustrated history of everything humans have invented to entertain ourselves, from Chess and Nintendo to Drag Queen Story Hour and Burning Man.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Book of Fun\u003c\/i\u003e, Polygon co-founder Russ Frushtick divulges the hidden backstories and fascinating facts about your favorite video games, theme parks, festivals, sports, and more. With 80+ digestible, entertaining entries, it''s not justfodder for your next dinner party -- you might also discover your next great pastime, be it jousting, stunt acting, cheese rolling, or Swedish Bunny Hopping.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor fans of pop-history, pop-science, and the many things mankind has invented to waste time, \u003ci\u003eThe Book of Fun\u003c\/i\u003e explores:\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBoard Games:\u003c\/b\u003e The world''s oldest tabletop games(Senet, Go,Chess) and its most enduringly popular (Monopoly, Dungeons \u0026amp; Dragons, Settlers of Catan)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eToys:\u003c\/b\u003e The history of yourfavorite playthings, like Barbie,Beanie Babies, Slinky,Furby, and LEGO\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eVideo Games:\u003c\/b\u003e The console wars of the ''90s, the birth of game streaming, and unexpected Pokémon Go consequences\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTheme Parks:\u003c\/b\u003e Stories behind Coney Island''s Cyclone, Disneyland''s opening-day woes, and the bizarre parks built in a nuclear power plant and a Soviet bunker\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSports: \u003c\/b\u003eThe most fascinating athletic endeavorsacross the globe, from gladiatorial battles to Lucha Libre, pumpkin boat racing, and sumo wrestling\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eStunts: \u003c\/b\u003eHarry Houdini, Evel Knievel, Jackie Chan, and the incredible stunt artists you may not know\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFestivals:\u003c\/b\u003e From Carnival celebrationsaround the world to the stories of Woodstock, Burning Man, and a Spanish baby-jumping festival\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDressing Up:\u003c\/b\u003e The originsof jesters, Halloween, cosplay, drag queen style, and more\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eRoadside Attractions\u003c\/b\u003e: Wacky spectacleslike the 65-foot-tall Lucy the Elephant in New Jersey, the Mystery Hole in West Virginia, and the Cabazon Dinosaurs in California\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Running Press,U.S.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49404824355159,"sku":"9780762480487","price":19.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780762480487.jpg?v=1730487753","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/the-book-of-fun-9780762480487","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}