A book is a personal gift: it says you thought about what someone might enjoy or need. The trick is matching the book to the person and the moment rather than buying the bestseller of the week.
How to choose
- think about what they love talking about, not what you want them to read;
- check their shelves or ask a friend which authors they already own;
- when in doubt, choose nonfiction on a hobby or a beautiful edition of a classic;
- write a short note inside explaining why you chose it.
Ideas by occasion
- Graduation: Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss is a classic; for a more substantial read, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.
- New parents: a few favorite picture books such as Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown or The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, which will be read many times.
- Retirement: a book on a new hobby, a travel guide to a dream destination, or a long novel they never had time for.
- Difficult times: something gentle, like The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy.
Ideas by interest
- Cooks: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat teaches principles, not just recipes.
- Travelers: a travel narrative set where they are going, or a beautifully illustrated atlas.
- Science lovers: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.
- People who rarely read: short, gripping books or graphic novels, such as Maus by Art Spiegelman or Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.
- Young readers: series that hook them, such as Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan or Wonder by R. J. Palacio.
For the avid reader
Avid readers may own the obvious titles. Consider a special illustrated edition, a signed copy, a gift card to an independent bookstore, a book subscription, or a book light and stand. Translated fiction or a small-press title they might not discover alone can also be a great surprise.
For funny choices, see books that make you laugh, and for something thrilling, page-turning suspense.
