Too cool to miss
There’s not a science geek in the world who wouldn’t want to unwrap “Skulls: An Exploration of Alan Dudley’s Curious Collection” by Simon Winchester. Yes, indeed, this is a book filled with photos of a private collection of noggins from every kind of breathing critter. Have you ever wondered how a grizzly bear differs from a leaf-nosed bat, for instance? Surely you have someone on your list has… and this book will be a big winner for that person, for sure.
Another unusual book that I can’t get enough of is “Talking Pictures” by Ransom Riggs. Riggs says, in his introduction, that he’s a collector of ephemera, specifically, old pictures of total strangers… but they have to have something written on the back. This book is just part of his collection. It’s funny, it’s heartbreaking, it’s going to make your giftee gasp, and it’s going to make you both eager for the next volume.
Business
The businessperson on your gift list wants to get the most out of his or her ad bucks, so you can’t go wrong when you wrap up “Lead with a Story” by Paul Smith. This book offers excellent ideas for making a good business narrative that can be used in ads and to generate buzz. Speaking of leadership, look for “Leading So People Will Follow” by Erika Anderson. It’s a book about inspiring loyalty in your organization, and it features examples from many major corporations.
So you say that someone on your list can’t live without his smartphone. If that’s the case, then wrap up “The Big Disconnect” by Giles Slade. It’s about how technology and social media are changing the way we relate (or don’t). Wrap it up with a firm appointment for lunch – no cell phones allowed.
Your giftee might not talk about it, but building his (or her!) business is the main thing on his (her?) mind. So why not show you know by wrapping up “Triple Crown Leadership” by Bob Vanourek and Gregg Vanourek. Written by two successful businessmen, this book is filled with advice from leaders from sixty-one organizations around the world. Wrap it up with a package of sticky notes, because your favorite businessperson will need them while reading this book.
Business people know that there’s never too much education to be had, so wrapping up “How Excellent Companies Avoid Dumb Things” by Neil Smith is a good bet for your business-giftee. It’s filled with informative chapters for reflection, quick-to-read sidebars for time-pressed readers, and some surprising advice. Another book to wrap is “A Slice of the Pie: how to Build a Big Little Business” by Nick Sarillo. It’s a book on creating the right culture to gtow your business and make it successful, by a guy who makes pizza for a living.
For the businessperson who loves business biographies, you can’t go wrong with “The Einstein of Money” by Joe Carlen. This is the story of financial wizard Benjamin Graham, the man who changed the way we invest money. It’s drawn from notes, interviews, and Graham’s own memoirs, and your finance fiend will love it.
By now, your business giftee knows that much of success comes from between her ears. So here are two books you know she’ll love: first, “SuperReading for Success” by Ron Cole, a book about improving her reading speed and memory, and how it can further her career. And then there’s “Wired for Success” by Wendy Jago, which is a book on how brainpower can be boosted for brain-training optimization.
LGBT interest
Who’s not interested in Hollywood scandals? You know your giftee is, so you know you’ll get a big smile when you wrap up “Full Service” by Scotty Bowers. This book is filled with OMG moments, featuring yesterday’s stars and the man who knew them — all too well.
Another biography you may want to wrap up is “Inside the Vortex” by Justin Hernandez. It’s a series of personal essays on life, dating, living, and surviving from the creator of the blog “Naked in New York City.”
Your novel lover loves a good mystery, too, so he’ll love “Third You Die” by Scott Sherman. This whodunit, the third in the series, features former call boy, part-time PI Kevin Conner in yet another sluethfest, this time a gay porn sensation who took a short swim in a long river.
Also look for “The Mile” by Robert Lennon. It’s the story of a man who tires of the way his life is going and decides to step up his running game. Will there also be love to chase?
Kids books (picture books)
Moms of toddlers will surely appreciate it if you wrap up “Big Boys Go Potty” or “Big Girls Go Potty,” both written and illustrated by Marianne Richmond. These easy-to-understand books will are helpful, gender appropriate, and kid friendly. Bonus: Giving them to a toddler doubles as a gift to Mom and Dad, too.