Everything You Know Is Pong

Bennett and Horowitz do something genuinely fun here — assembling serious literary talent to explore an absurd subject with real depth and affection, landing on Ping-Pong Diplomacy, basement rec rooms, and Bangkok backrooms with equal enthusiasm. The contributor roster (Hornby, Foer, Will Shortz) gives the book a credibility that transcends novelty, and the McSweeney's-grade production design makes it a pleasure to hold. It's extremely niche and sixteen years old, but cultural omnivores who love this kind of thing will find it exactly as good as promised.