Description: "Even if you've never played Dungeons & Dragons, you probably know someone who has: the game has had a profound influence on our culture. Released in 1974--decades before the Internet and social media--Dungeons & Dragons inspired one of the original nerd subcultures, and is still revered by millions around the world. Now the authoritative history of the game is revealed by an award-winning journalist and lifelong D & D player. David Ewalt recounts the development of Dungeons & Dragons from the game's roots on the battlefields of ancient Europe, through the hysteria that linked it to satanic rituals and teen suicides, to its apotheosis as father of the modern video-game industry. As he chronicles the game's surprising origins (a history largely unknown even to hardcore players) and examines D & D's impact, Ewalt interweaves subculture analysis with his own gaming experiences to shed light on America's most popular (and widely misunderstood) form of collaborative entertainment."--Publisher description.
Brief description: Joe Manganiello is an actor, author, producer, director, screenwriter, Emmy Award-winning voice actor, and reality competition host. He holds a BFA in acting from The Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama. Best known for his work as an actor of stage, screen, and film, in projects such as: True Blood, the Magic Mike films, One Piece, Justice League, Spider-Man, Nonnas, Pee Wee's Big Holiday, How I Met Your Mother, Rampage, Sabotage, What to Expect When You're Expecting, and The Kill Room, and as the host and executive producer of Deal or No Deal Island. He previously financed, produced, and directed the award-winning documentary La Bare, and produced and starred in the films Bottom of the 9th, Shoplifters of the World, and Archenemy. Manganiello also works as a chief creative officer for Dungeons & Dragons and along with being tasked to write and develop the world of Dragonlance for the screen, he was also recruited to direct and produce D&D's upcoming, official history documentary series. He is the author of the books Bloodlines and Evolution, and he serves on the board of directors at both UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and The Children of Armenia Fund and is an advisory board member for both Liquid Death and Colossal Biosciences. After a quarter century living in Los Angeles, he moved back home to Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
Review Quotes: "Incredibly endearing and sentimental. Of Dice and Men underlines the history, brings everything back to games, and gives non-believers a chance to understand what it is that makes TTRPGs so powerfully fun." -Rascal News