The Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties

Banish awkward silences boring weather talk or (worst of all) the embarrassing conversation gaff with this pithy hilarious guide to effortless party banter.. Weve all been there. Youre at a party surrounded by the most important people in your life. Youre cool. Youre casual. Youre 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 youll know that Chicago Seven wasnt a boy band Martin Luther never fought for civil rights and Franz Kafka isnt German for I have a bad cold. Youll be the smart one whos the center of conversationand nothing beats that feeling.