What do you get for someone who keeps saying, “Oh, I don’t need anything.”
What do you buy for someone who is never happy with their gift and needs to work on their “thank you, this is great” expression.
What do you gift to someone who apparently has everything? Or at least has the money to buy everything?
What do you buy for someone who is not known to you that well?
For most of us the struggle to buy that perfect gift is real.
The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value. – Charles Dudley Warner
Luckily, there is one easy solution to all gift-related woes: Books. Yes, Books! Glorious, glorious books!
Hands down, books make the best gifts. There, I said it. I am a strong advocate of giving people books. If I could give one gift to everyone, it would be the gift of reading.
Here are five reasons why books make the best gifts ever:
1. There’s a book out there for everyone
Anyone who “doesn’t like books” just hasn’t found the right book yet. – JK Rowling
Books come in every genre, style, and font size. No matter their age, interests, or quirks, there is a book for everyone! There are a million books written on every single topic you can think about. Even if you must buy a book for a fussy person, you will find something. You cannot go wrong with choosing a book for someone on a subject matter they are particularly interested in.
2. There’s a free mental vacation with every book
Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them. And it’s much cheaper to buy somebody a book than it is to buy them the whole world! – Neil Gaiman
Giving someone a good book is pretty much sending them on mental vacation for free. One can ‘see’ the world, without moving an inch.
3. Books Help in Nurturing a Passion
The greatest gift is a passion for reading. – Elizabeth Hardwick
The joy of reading is a seed that has to be planted. When you gift books, you are helping someone find their passion. Books can open up your mind to experiences that might seem out of reach, expose you to places you’ve never been, expand your consciousness and change the way you think, and inspire you to do things you’ve never tried. Giving books as gifts is a great way to instill the love of reading.
4. Books are Inexpensive
You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy books and that’s kind of the same thing. – Anonymous
Books are a highly affordable way to shower your loved ones with love and affection. Sure, there’s the occasional pricey hardcover, but paperbacks and secondhand books are usually a bargain and there’s something for everyone’s budget.
5. Books Promote Intelligence and Health
A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.- George R.R. Martin
Not only is reading books entertaining but it is educational and enlightening too. Recent scientific studies have confirmed that reading and intelligence have a relationship so close as to be symbiotic. Research increasingly shows “that mental challenges like reading may help to preserve brain health and stave off symptoms of Alzheimer’s in old age.” Reading is also related to a longer lifespan.
So, there you have it – five reasons why books make the best gifts. You can’t go wrong with books, so treat your loved ones and yourself to a book and spread the joy of reading…
Do you like giving books as gifts? Did you receive any book as a gift?
I received this tag from Corinne Rodrigues at The Frangipani Creative It’s my pleasure to pass on this tag to Vinay R from A Bookworm’s Musing. There are 25 of us on this Blog Hop and it will be spread over 3 days – 6th, 7th and 8th December. Do follow the #WordsMatter Blog Hop and prepare to be surprised!
25 Responses
I’m with you on this a hundred percent. The first gift Jose gave me was a book and likewise! The next best thing is an Amazon voucher, no? 😉
Books are such a thoughtful gift and there can’t be any gift better than this. It’s a gift of wisdom and is always appreciated. Thanks for sharing Shilpa – such a beautifully written article!
Books still top our list of favourites (for all three of us!) when it comes to buying gifts! However, I have now realised that not everyone appreciates books the same way as we book lovers do. It makes me sad to think on all the wonderful things they’ll be losing out on (all the lovely reasons you’ve listed in your post) but, hey, that’s life! At such times, we make do with gift vouchers instead!!
That was informative, thanks for posting I really enjoyed reading it. it’s true that a book is very personal and takes people on a journey. I like that idea, because it shows you’ve thought about the person. Nice post.
That’s right, we can’t go about buying the whole world, but we can give the whole world in a book.
I have received a lot of gifts, but when it is books, I feel on top of the world. I am glad you’ve acknowledged that feeling. I may not be a great reviewer of books but that doesn’t stop me from reading books. I love it when it is a book.
Also, one of my goals next year with books has a twist. I decided I’m not going to buy any books for the whole of next year. I’m going to hit my dad’s library, read some from my TBR, re-read some books from the past(including some from this year’s). I’ll be gifting only books and If at all someone wants to gift me, then I’ll receive only books.
Lovely write-up Shilpa. Happy Reading forever. ♥️♥️
I didn’t even need to read this because I agreed with you at the title I love books and there really is a book out there for everyone and for every mood.
Jayanthy — I would love to read the list you finally put together, and what you end up reading and loving and hating next year!!!
I thought of a listicle for this post too, but somehow decided against it 🙂 I think suffice to say, I agree wholeheartedly with you on this 😀
Sadly people are losing their interest in books. Now they are more interested in useless stuff. Books can inspire and even change his/her thinking and transform their lives.
I agree! A book gifted to me sometimes introduces me to new genres and ideas too!
I love receiving books as gifts. But, I am afraid if somebody would gift me a non-fictional boring book 🙂
Anyways, loved all those quotes you shared Shilpa.
It is true isn’t it, there’s a book for everyone. Even those who don’t like too much reading, there’s one for them too. I love books on hobbies. They make the best gift when you know what the person is passionate about.
The bookish me can’t agree more. What a perfect gift books make!
I definitely agree with you. Books do make for the best gifts. I always love receiving books as gifts.
This is so true. I would love to receive and give books as gifts. They take you on a vacation for sure. It’s a stress buster that way,
I absolutely agree with you! These are 5 VERY good reasons to gift books! I truly feel bad for people who don’t read these days, and those who have let the habit slide past – I know that it is easy to give up on reading – but it is 1 joy i wish everyone would make place for in their lives – every single day 🙂
Oh I agree. These days there are so many varied kinds of books that there really is a book out there for everyone. They’re definitely the perfect gifts.
I love the ‘free mental vacation’ part. 🙂
Shilpa….did YOU gift me that glorious book – GLOW????
😉
Agree with all the reasons to gift books….you seldom go wrong with this gift!
So totally agree Shilpa about books being the best. I am not just a reader/lover of books but a hoarder too 😉
Loved the quotes you have put in there
I totally agree that books are the greatest gift for anybody that takes you to a different world. Even a non-reader will enjoy a picture book.
I love it when I receive books & I Love to gift it too.
Books are always welcome. I feel one can never ever have too many!
I second this! Books are the best gifts I have ever received. And the joy of gifting a book is just something else, especially when you introduce someone to an awesome new author that they haven’t read. Happy New Year!