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).

Four Books That Inspired: Three Read and One Reading (Starting)

For those who need wargaming book recommendations in this time of enforced isolation, here are my recommendations:

Matthew B Caffrey's "On Wargaming", the summation of this man's wargaming knowledge into a venerable tome of insight, essential reading - understand the past to understand the future and not repeat the mistakes of the past (see below, available FREE at https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/newport-papers/43/):

Winning a Future War is the definitive guide as to how the USN prepared to fight the Great Pacific War that they "knew" was coming. It explains the reason why the "Ticket to Manilla" was not recognised as a viable strategy in the opening gambit of WWII (see below, also available FREE from, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/publications/publications-by-subject/winning-a-future-war.html):

From a recreational perspective I loved the "Wargaming Compendium" as it hit the mark for inspiring and charming teh reader with a "just go do it" feel (see below, I obtained the Kindle version when it was on offer and can see myself getting the hard-copy version too, more details to be found at: https://thewargamingcompendium.com/):

See previous post but I am in the middle of this and loving it from GLB, to those in the know, no more needs to be said (see below, this van be found at  http://www.wargaming.co/professional/details/professionalhandbook.htm or https://www.amazon.co.uk/Successful-Professional-Wargames-Practitioners-Handbook/dp/0244803641):

Happy reading and keep safe (distancing) in these troubled times!

Stop What You Are Doing And Read This .. FREE Wargame Book From The US Naval College

I do not know of a more inspirational wargaming practitioner and theorist than Matt Caffrey (see below, the long awaited book):

He is father of the universal Connections series of wargaming conferences over the last tree decades. He has summed his knowledge up in a book. In short read it and learn from a master. The book is available as a free download, it is that important. Please click on the following link:

https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/newport-papers/43/

A big thank you to Rex and Stephen at Paxsims for sharing this. Seriously if you don’t want to read this you are not a wargamer in my eyes, the hindsight and revelations are profound.