Alec Longstreth's Reviews > Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Ball

Heads up: I consider my opinion of this book to be biased but also informed (I co-created seven issues of a pinball zine with Jon Chad from 2010-2015, and have read lots of pinball books, own a pinball machine, etc).

This is a five-star pinball book. A three-star pinball book would merely walk you through the history of pinball, and talk about some of the innovations that were introduced to various machines over the years. This book does cover that information, but what makes it special is that Jon Chad delves much deeper into SOUL of pinball - he tries to uncover what actually makes it such a magical immersive experience to play.

Using masterful cartooning, Jon explores the alchemical combination of experiences that are used to create a game of pinball: illustration, lighting, sounds, animation, physics, coding, rulesets, and more! If, like me, you're someone who loves pinball, but have never been able to fully express WHY you love it - this book does an amazing job of unpacking everything that happens as you play pinball, and how it affects the player. I plan on buying multiple copies to share with people in my life that have never really understood my obsession with pinball.

If you've never played pinball, you're in luck! In addition to the engaging historical narrative, the back of the book features tips for how play, a vast glossary of pinball terms, and a list of other pinball books and movies to continue your learning.

I give this book my highest recommendation! I read the whole thing in one sitting, and long afterwards I was still thinking about some of the ideas it explored, and even individual panels and pages which were so brilliantly illustrated with Jon's nib.

You'll never find a better book about pinball!