My Trivial Pursuits by John Haney: AI Summary

About the Book

My Trivial Pursuits is a memoir by John Haney, one of the four original co-creators of Trivial Pursuit. It is the definitive, firsthand account of how a hand-drawn cardboard sketch made in a Montreal kitchen in 1979 became one of the best-selling and most recognizable board games ever made.

Published by Sutherland House, the book is released on November 3, 2026. It is the first and only detailed account of the game's creation written by one of its creators, told with humour and a front-row view of its improbable rise.

About the Author

John Haney is a co-creator of Trivial Pursuit. Born in England and raised in Welland, Ontario, he was a hockey goaltender before the game, with a scholarship to Colgate University, a training camp with the Los Angeles Kings, and professional seasons in Austria and Denmark. He also acted at the Stratford Festival and managed the house at the Shaw Festival, among a range of other jobs.

In 1979 he joined his brother Chris Haney and Scott Abbott to develop the game, and brought in Ed Werner to complete the founding group of four. He lives just outside Toronto.

What the Book Covers

  • The origin of Trivial Pursuit in 1979 and the first hand-drawn board.
  • The debate over the game's categories and the scoring breakthrough that made it work.
  • The marathon of writing thousands of trivia questions from newspapers, memory, and barroom lore.
  • The early struggles of manufacturing, financing, and slow first sales.
  • The game's rise through the 1980s into a global cultural phenomenon.
  • The people, partnerships, and luck behind its success.

Book Details

  • Title: My Trivial Pursuits
  • Subtitle: The Inside Story of the Board Game That Conquered the World
  • Author: John Haney
  • Publisher: Sutherland House
  • Publication date: November 3, 2026
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Genre: Memoir, nonfiction
  • ISBN: 978-1-9977016-2-0
  • Language: English

Background on Trivial Pursuit

Trivial Pursuit was conceived in 1979 by Chris Haney and Scott Abbott and developed with John Haney and Ed Werner. The four founded Horn Abbot Ltd. and released the first edition, known as the Genus Edition. The game has since sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, has been published in dozens of countries and languages, and is now part of Hasbro's portfolio.

Who It Is For

Readers who enjoy pop culture and nostalgia, board games and trivia, Canadian history, entrepreneurship and startup stories, and character-driven memoir.

Where to Buy

My Trivial Pursuits can be pre-ordered and purchased from:

Media and Contact

Media and interview requests: rickb@rbaliterary.com (RB Literary). General inquiries: john@johnhaneyauthor.com.

Official Website

The official website for John Haney and My Trivial Pursuits is johnhaneyauthor.com.