This is for someone who is genetically unable to pass a secondhand bookstore without spending money. For someone who knows that the book is better than the movie even before it comes out.
No matter how many people turn to podcasts and videos, the written word will remain the preferred medium of many. Individuals like these require a very particular intellectual diet - you can find several of their favorite treats in here.
You’d think giving someone a reference book as a gift might be a bit dry, but the World Atlas of Coffee is a refreshing tome that reveals the world of coffee in an entertaining way. James Hoffman gives a unique and enthralling tour of coffee’s history, impact and importance.
What really is the fastest, safest way of improving your race times? According to these three authors, all of who are respected figures in the world of running, the answer lies in training harder, but less frequently than most marathoners think.
Lisa See (author) is well known for her novels depicting foreign eras and societies with compassion, understanding, and objectivity. This book is no exception, primarily following a Chinese girl’s odyssey from a near-feudal life into the modern world.
A sure-fire gift for any music therapist, producer, DJ or teacher, this book explains the effect of melody on the brain. A real eye-opener, it manages to deepen the mystery of how we perceive sound rather than dispelling it.
The Jedi and Sith from Star Wars are mysterious warriors who use the power of the Force. In this amazing box set, you’ll get to learn the inner workings of both religions.
This book by Paul Duncan is a chronicle, in George Lucas’s own words, of the real-world Star Wars saga from 1977 to 1983. Its massive volume, visual storytelling, narrative flow, and sheer beauty make it the gift for a Star Wars fan who has everything else.
The work of Gary Larson isn’t just in the big leagues, but more like in a league of its own. His particular brand of deadpan, gentle yet sometimes biting absurdism continues to stand alone in its particular niche.
Decorations make great gifts, especially when they’re personalized in some way. Luciana Frigerio’s Book Sculptures spell out a message of your choosing, and look great as well. You can’t go wrong with this one.
Whether you just need to see the keyboard in dim conditions or don’t want to disturb your wive while watching television, this little gadget can be a life saver in many situations.
If you look up the symptoms of a rash, a runny nose, or a headache, this book will tell you the worst conditions this could possibly be a sign of. Once you’ve done this a few times and remain alive and kicking, the fear gets sucked out of this process.
How do you get from an idea to a full-fledged book that you won’t tear into shreds once it’s ready? It’s much easier than most people suppose, and allows for the most personalized gift imaginable.
In a world riddled with false advertising, toxic workplace politics, and hustlers of various types, we need to strike a balance between trust and skepticism. Intelligence isn’t enough to protect you from being lied to, but this book will help.
One of Feynman’s principles is that clear thinking and clearly presenting your ideas go hand in hand, and it shows in this book. Any science or engineering student will benefit from it.
The average trained canine can recognize 160 words, but their actual abilities may be far more extensive. With this book, the dog of your friend or relative can learn more, just like Chaser.
Some of the 200-plus widely-held myths debunked in this book may be of relevance to you, but most of them are more likely to come in handy in trivia contests and at dinner parties.
Author Randall Munroe has won the hearts of millions of smart people with his unique mixture of humor, sensitivity, absurdism, and hard science. In this book, he turns his wacky sense of humor to all manner of things that don’t make sense.
Need to cheer someone up? This book falls somewhere between the more sappy self-help titles advertised on TV and academic works that approach the subject from a theoretical viewpoint. It really is inspirational.
With a special carbon microfiber compound designed by NASA, this eyeglass lens cleaner is a cut above the typical soft towels. A nice gift for anyone bespectacled.
Local Sri Lankan craftsmen transform treated paper sheets into a number of attractive products: notebooks, greeting cards, gift boxes and even business cards. If you buy this, you will also help create jobs and conserve trees.
There’s nothing in this book that I wouldn’t want to order in a restaurant. Although designed around dogs’ nutritional needs, you can basically make the exact same dinner for a two- and four-legged family.