Carsten Möllering

I recommend Aikido Shugyo by Shioda Gozo.

I myself don't think technical books to be helpfull for a beginner. Because what you train in the dôjô will allways be different - at least in some details - from what you find in a technical book. Those books can be really interesting or even helpfull when you know what to look for and how to judge what you are told.

I think, Aikido Shugyo helps to get a feeling of where you train and in what spirit you will train. Reading about the founder of a style gives an impression and it directs one's view in a similar direction like other practioners of the style may have.

... maybe ...