This is embarrassing to admit, but I haven't read much in the way of nonfiction books about video games. Don't get me wrong: there's some incredible work out there. In general, however, I've found that digging around for more books very quickly slides into work that is prohibitively technical, academic, or both.
Seeing how all of you people here at Kotaku know more about video games than pretty much anybody else I've ever met, I wanted to see what books you have to recommend. Or documentaries. Or whatever, really. Is there anything that you have encountered that proved to be particularly inspirational, informative, thought-provoking, or just plain fun? What are the sacred texts that have helped with your own life as a person who loves games?
Please sound off in the comments with any and all recommendations. As a journalist I have a soft spot for nonfiction, but anything with that involves words is welcome!
Here's a template to follow if you're into that sort of thing:
[Book Name]
[Image]
Why it qualifies: What do you like about it? What is unique or compelling about the story or how the author captures the subject at hand?
Anything else: What happened after you finished the book? Did it lead you further down any path in video game literature? Is there any experience level required for reading your favorite book or series? If so, what's the best starting point for an interesting newbie such as yours truly?
Image via The Found Animals Foundation
To contact the author of this post, write to yannick.lejacq@kotaku.com or find him on Twitter at @YannickLeJacq.