Monopoly is by far one of the best known and best selling games of all time. Over 280 million copies have been sold in 81 countries. In addition to its classic original design it also appears in hundreds of "themed" editions for movies, corporations, sports teams, and other entities. It could easily be said that it is one of the most recognizable and widely played games in the world. It has even inspired its own world championship competition where players from many different countries test their skills at this quintessentially American game.

But how exactly did Monopoly become such a success? Who invented it and how did it become the cultural icon it is today?

Philip Orbanes — the man who knows about all things Monopoly and the writer of The Monopoly Companion, a book primarily devoted to winning strategies for the game — is the perfect person to answer these questions. His book Monopoly: The World's Most Famous Game — And How It Got That Way is a rich history of this classic board game. He traces the game back to its earliest roots as The Landlord Game, which was created in 1903 as a way to teach students about progressive real estate tax policy.

It circulated underground for years on college campuses until it made its way to Atlantic City, New Jersey, where Charles Darrow was introduced to the game and made the final refinements to it that helped make it a bestseller. He self-published the game as Monopoly until he finally sold it to Parker Brothers (they rejected it the first time he submitted it). The rest, as they say, is history.

But it is the history of the game's growth in popularity that makes Most Famous even more compelling. Orbanes takes us inside Parker Brothers to learn how critical decisions were made that helped maintain the game not only as an American bestseller but also spread the game's popularity worldwide. He also uncovers little-known facts such as the details behind the use of the game in World War II to smuggle maps and money to captured Allied prisoners of war. Additionally, the author shows how economic changes over the years helped influence the game's popularity and its multiple other companion products.

Furthermore, Orbanes weaves a little personal history into the story. He has been chief judge at the World Monopoly Championships since 1979 and takes us inside the crucible of competitive gaming.

Indeed, Orbanes recounts such a masterful tale and intersperses so many surprises about Monopoly that the reader can't help but admire the collective genius of the inventors, game publishers, and business executives that helped give the game a unique place in our culture.

If you enjoy playing Monopoly, you will want to read Monopoly: The World's Most Famous Game -- to find out how it got that way.