Erin Mitchell
If you’re reading this, you’ve likely eschewed the madness that is the busiest shopping day of the year, live in a country that is not America, or have been out and returned with enough strength remaining in your fingers to use the computer machine. Whatever the case may be, thank you for stopping by.
Since the holiday shopping season is now underway, I thought it would make sense to share some thoughts on why books make great gifts. If you’re reading this, I don’t need to convince you, but perhaps you need to convince someone else. I hope this will provide extra quivers for your bow should that be the case.
1. People who don’t read books haven’t found the right stories.
Years ago, I was telling my brother-in-law about a book I’d enjoyed, and he confessed that he couldn’t remember the last book he’d finished. Said he started books, but never finished them because they were boring. I immediately put this one in his hands (damned if I can now remember which book it was), and he read it completely and loved it. Rediscovered that stories are not meant to be boring, and that not all stories suit all readers. When you give a book as a gift, you put in the work of finding a great and suitable story for the giftee, which makes the present immeasurably more valuable.
And speaking of value…
2. Books are relatively inexpensive.
None of us are rolling in disposable income and this time of year can be especially tough as we try to think of thoughtful presents that don’t necessarily come in a small, shiny blue box.
3. You can purchase books however you want to.
Hate chain stores? Fine. Love them? Ok. Supporting only indies? That works. Doing all your shopping online? No problem. However you want to shop and wherever you live, you can find a retailer to sell you books.
4. You care about the people to whom you’re giving gifts.
Books are certainly not the easiest gifts, because thought, consideration, and reading all go into selecting the right one for the right person. A gift card they are not; they’re about the least generic gift you can find. When you give someone a story you’ve enjoyed, you’re giving them a piece of yourself. Without having to sever any limbs.
5. Books are easy to wrap.
I’m wrapping-ly challenged. Making anything that is not some form of square or rectangle look like it was wrapped by a sober adult rather than a 3 year-old on crack is difficult for me. Books, therefore, are ideal.
So there you have it. Go ye forth and gift books. Have fun!
