Gameplay accomodates it as well - it's not hands on all the time, so you can put on some tunes, place a book in front of you and mix it up.
Chronicles work well because of how book layout looked back in middle ages. Thiethmar chronicles, Gall Anonymous, Ibrahim ibn Jacob, Gesta Hungarorum - all compliment gameplay a lot.
And if you have 2nd monitor: Roland Warzecha, Skallagrim etc make for a good complimentary watch as well.
Vlandian-Aserai playthrough would be a great opportunity for similar reading on Templars, Richard Lionheart etc.
Although whenever I see someone ramp up about how X looked at in history, it can be painful, but that's universal for online unmoderated discussion about history, and as you say - the thing is to get people hooked. Getting into or hating history can usually fall to having good/bad teacher - this is a great opportunity to get people hooked.
The thing that makes me giggle is how many complaints sound as if a medieval fighter got access to TW forums. Cav OP, archers should not be able to kill elite knights etc. Love the little stuff like war-razor two hander (from Maciejowski Bible iirc), as well as many beautiful variations of medieval armour.
Every dig at something done not quite right makes me appreciate we're likely in the golden age of media for history nerds, and MB will be one of the highlights of this trend.