As an avid midlife gamer with nostalgic interest in gaming history I enjoy reading gaming books.
In this picture you can see the gaming books I own. My favorite is "Masters of Doom" followed by "The Ultimate History of Video Games" (I am aware there is a second volume).
I would like to hear more recommendations from you.
P. S: Note that PC gaming is my thing therefore it is highly unlikely that I will get a book about consoles or console games.
I can't personally recommend them yet but I've read great things about the lock on "magazines" (they look more akin to coffee table books) and have a set in my cart that I'm going back and forth on