Newman's lucid and engaging introduction guides the reader through the world of videogaming. It traces the history of the videogame, from its origins in the computer lab, to its contemporary status as a global entertainment industry, where characters such as Lara Croft and Sonic the Hedgehog are familiar even to those who've never been near a games console. Topics covered
It certainly succeeded on describing what videogames are, in case you are a person who has never played videogames. If you are interested in the industry, the process, the design, or an in-depth analysis of codes used in game design... go somewhere else. Nintendo's Iwata Asks taught me more than this whole book. This is a book trapped in the white tower of academia- almost no interviews with actual developers or publishers, just references to other scholars' work. Hopefully the next edition will be more illuminating, but for now, that princess is in another castle. (If you actually do want some great recommendations, message me.
If you will read only one book about game culture and game design, choose this one. It provides a big picture from early Huizinga to the Games Industry.