A compendium of nearly 2,000 nuggets of information that are essential when talking about such subjects as cultural history, literature, theater, art, architecture, and philosophy. Page by page, it will help you become a more precise and polished conversationalist. It will help you exchange ideas with knowledgeable people without feeling foolish... and with humble folk without sounding pompous. More importantly, it will give you insights that will enrich your experience of the world around you.