Peter Perla's Tribute Video (YouTube) courtesy of Connections UK Professional Wargaming Website

I would recommend The Art of Wargaming by Peter Perla, as it stands the test of time and is a myth buster and gives good practical common sense explanations. No magic, dispelling the aura of professional omnipotence and getting to the "heart of the game" for the "benefit of the players". It is all about the communication and narrative of the event.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA8LB4gr5-0

This is worth reading (or listening to in the final minute of the video) as advice to anyone interested in recreational and/or professional wargaming (see below, I can testify that Peter Perla had time for anybody, he even game me ten minutes):  

The annotated page of advice that Peter Perla wrote to Colin Marston inside the front cover of Peter's Art of Wargaming book (magnus opus) that rings so true! No finer words sum up wargaming! (If you cannot read the handwriting then it is worth listening to in the last minute of the video).

Wargaming Reading Material: Reference from UK Connections 2016 - Why Wargaming Works

I managed to sneak some wargaming reading material away with me on half-term holiday as well as some miniatures to assemble and paint (WWII 28mm Warlord Games Soviets and a quite random collection of things from a hobby shop). In particular I read a reference I had picked up from UK Connections 2016 on "Why Wargaming Works" by Peter Perla and Ed McGrady, the latter who was speaking at the conference and  also had the opportunity to socially chat with afterwards on the 'hobby' side of things (see below, it can be obtained via the link at the Connections UK website:Why Wargaming Works):

An interesting read; key points being 'the suspension of disbelief' as the gamer enters the 'game state', the power and the effect of the game and the fear of those in charge ("high starring generals" and "policy makers") who don't understand the "white magic" people experience when they are let to 'play' with their imagination and think things outside of the expected doctrinal responses. Wargaming provides a relatively low cost way to access the power to cut through reams of statistics and create live-events that coalesce the experience into meaningful dynamics, outside the participants normal 'comfort zone', for example by facing up to a broken plan and having to fix it within a limited time frame. Therein lives the commitment dilemma, to fix it you have to own it, to own involves responsibility for mistakes and transparency. Something as a hobbyist I can easily endure and walk away from (unhurt but perhaps with reflective frustration), but when your professional career is on the line, good luck - you just need to win almost at any cost. Fore reference to these dragons I would recommend listening to Stephen Downs-Martin for the perils encountered here ;)

http://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/WargamingToDeceiveBriefing.pdf
http://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/2016Analyse.pdf
http://www.professionalwargaming.co.uk/Downes-Martin.pdf

PS: I still think the article is actually a brilliant read! If you get a chance listen to the audio of their various talks at UK Connections. As I mentioned I managed to catch Ed McGrady and he is a commendable speaker that really draws you in to the subject matter.