Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who

David M. Ewalt traces the evolution of Dungeons & Dragons from its 1974 debut as a niche hobbyist product to its status as a global cultural phenomenon. The book functions as a cultural history, examining how the game’s mechanics, community, and intellectual property have shaped modern tabletop role-playing, video games, and broader popular culture. Ewalt explores the tensions between the game’s chaotic, collaborative nature and the commercial pressures of its publishers, while also profiling the diverse communities of players, designers, and fans who have kept the hobby alive through decades of change.

Description adapted from Open Library bibliographic data ↗.