books for people you don't really know

[JI7]

everytime i have given a book as a gift to someone it was when i knew something about the person's interest in that book.

are there any books that you would give to almost anyone even if you don't really know what kind of stuff they are into ?

i don't want to give anything very political because i know i would hate it if someone gave me some right wing sean hannity crap. so unless i know the person's views i don't want to give anything like this. and even if i knew they were republicans i wouldn't buy them a right wing book.

how about good books which do have a message that is probably liberal but isn't really a liberal or political book ?

[Midlodemocrat]

1. I think coffee table type books about nature, etc are

pretty safe. I got one of those in a gift exchange a few years back and I have really enjoyed it.

It is definitely not something I would buy for myself.

[evlbstrd]

2. Art books.

Or, "The Complete Calvin and Hobbes," a three volume boxed set.
What budget?

[GOPisEvil]

3. I gave a book about a city "then and now" to a friend's husband.

It's not his hometown, so I figured it would be a way for him to learn about the town he calls home. Plus, it has lots of pictures. :) He claimed to like it. So, if there's something like that for your city (or theirs), that might make an interesting gift. I bought the one for my city and it's interesting stuff.

[jane_pippin]

4. Here are some options for you to consider:

Coffee table books, as someone mentioned, are usually easy and there are so many subjects they cover that you should be able to find something.

Cookbooks are another good option. There are some great ones out this year--America's Test Kitchen has one that's pretty good, and I think Betty Crocker has some reissues/updated books this year too. For vegetarians, try Moosewood--they've got the classic and some specialty books on soups or dessert. And there are a lot of good books about wine, if the person is into that.

Some biographies might be a good idea too--Frank McCourt, of Tuesdays with Morrie fame has a new one that's supposed to be pretty good called "Teacher Man" about his life as a teacher in New York. Joan Didion has one called "The Year of Magical Thinking" about her life after her husband died. Jerry Lewis has one called "Dean & Me" about him and Dean Martin. Alan Alda also has a biography out too, but I don't know too much about that one--I've heard good things though. There're are a few Lincoln related books too, like Lincoln's Meloncholy and one I got for my dad, "Team of Rivals" about how Lincoln brought in people with opposing viewpoints to his cabinet, by Doris Kearns Goodwin. That's the one I'd suggest if you want to go political but not go one way or the other.

If the person is a big dog lover, there's a story of the worlds "worst" dog called Marley & Me. I forget who it's by, but some friends of mine just loved it. There are also a lot of funny little pet books you could pick up. Oh, and there's a National Geographic book on March of the Penguins. It's thin, but it's a nice little book.

I could go on and on, as you may have guessed by now, but I'll give it a rest. If you want more suggestions I'd be happy to think of some for you--just let me know. Good luck! :hi:

[jane_pippin]

6. Ok, I can't stop myself--here are a few more ideas:

A book by Studs Terkel could be good. Any book by him. His books are collections of his interviews from the past few decades--if you don't know him, he was a radio host in Chicago for years and years. He's got some that focus on the lives of ordinary working people, some with famous people, one about the Great Depression--he's fantastic and almost anybody should be able to get into him.

Humor wise, there's always the Daily Show book but that might be too political. There's also the Prarrie Home Companion joke book that I've heard good things about.

History books might be good too--Guns Germs and Steel was a big one a year or so ago, and there are all kinds of history books with really narrow subjects like Salt, or Clay--it's a little odd, but interesting. And there's a book about Shakespeare called "Will in the World" that looks interesting too.

Alright. I have to finish cleaning my house now. :D

[sbj405]

5. I like the "Best American . . ." series

they have short stories, science and nature writing, nonfiction, sports writing, travel writing, etc. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618427058/qid=1135376219/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-7799508-1131046?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Also, something like "Why do men have nipples?" which is sort of a general interest book.