Modern pinball originated in outdoor games like bocce and bowls, which gradually moved indoors and were adapted for tables as billiards and bagatelle. These, with further refinements in 1869, led to the coin-operated “marble games” or “pin games” of the 1930s. When flippers were added in 1947, pinball as we know it was born. In this lively story of a consistently popular pastime, Ruben, a humor writer, comedian, and lifelong pinball obsessive, reports that pinball has not only survived a host of cultural and technological changes, it has evolved with them. A former competitive player at one time ranked 80th in the world, Ruben takes us to gaming conventions, tours pinball museums, and talks with pinball machine designers to discover what goes into the making of a true pinball wizard.
