Following his highly acclaimed history of the crossword, Two Girls, One on Each Knee, published for the centenary of the puzzle in 2013, Alan Connor now turns his attention to the world of quiz.

As question editor for the cult BBC Two show Only Connect, Alan has form in this area, and The Joy of Quiz is a beautifully written celebration of our love affair with general knowledge. What is it about facts, or trivia, that so compels us to retain them, and then want to show off our ability to do so?

Delving back into the history of quiz in all media, and peppered throughout with examples of the best (and worst) of general knowledge questions, The Joy of Quiz is essential reading for all trivia fans.