Every year one of my local friends buys my books to give as Christmas presents to her friends and family. I’m not talking about four books. No. She buys ALL my books for the year and gives them to ALL her closest friends and family. Like forty books. And I sign a message in each one.
It’s a delight to do this for her. And she loves being able to give such personalized gifts.
As I thought about giving books as Christmas presents, I realized books really do make the best Christmas presents and here are some reasons why:
1. Books offer variety to gift-giving. For piano teachers, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders, pastor’s wives, the mailman, and the myriad of other people we give gifts to, it’s easy to get into a rut with the same old types of gifts—candles, chocolate, shower gel, gift cards, or coffee mugs. Books are a unique gift and add a little something special and different to gift-giving.
2. Books are inexpensive. Most paperback books are around $10. We can hardly buy anything of value for $10 or less nowadays. Books are an economical gift.
3. Books meet everyone’s needs. The genres and variety of books are endless. There are books available to meet the tastes of everyone on our Christmas lists from the WWII fanatic to the Amish lover. Not only that, but reviews at online stores and Goodreads can help narrow down the selection.
4. Books are easy to send. For those faraway friends and family, books are one of the cheapest gifts to send via media mail in a bubble envelope. No worry about finding the right size box or having it break in transport.
5. Books promote health. Amidst the gift mania of iphones, ipads, ipods, laptops, DVD’s, and other items that facilitate our ever-increasing addiction to screens, books offer a healthy alternative. 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. (New York Times)
7. Books increase intelligence. Not only can reading be educational, enlightening us to the world and history, but research has also shown reading can actually make us smarter. “Recent scientific studies have confirmed that reading and intelligence have a relationship so close as to be symbiotic.” (Guardian)
8. Books can last a lifetime. Gadgets, toys, and clothes will wear out and break. Candy, caramel corn, and coffee will be consumed. But books can withstand the test of time and look great on a bookshelf forever.
9. Books are a gift that can be shared. Books are the kind of gifts that people can easily loan to friends and family. Books can be used over and over by many people, bringing immense happiness to countless. They are truly gifts that keep giving.
10. Books support authors. Low sales is usually the reason publishers cut authors from their rosters. Buying books from favorite authors helps ensure they will be able to keep publishing more books. Since we’re buying lots of things at Christmas anyway, why not include books on the list and help authors?
11. Books provide a trip to a new time and place. Not only does a book provide an entertaining story, but it also can take readers on “vacation.” Books can sweep us away to places we’ve never been and give us experiences like none before.
12. Books can inspire and encourage. One of the best things about books is that they have the power to change our lives. Stories help us realize we aren’t alone in our struggles, give us hope, and challenge us to live better lives. What other gift does that?
What other reasons can you think of for giving books as gifts?
Jody Hedlund
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One of my biggest difficulties in giving books as gifts is that most of my family aren’t Christians and have entirely different reading tastes than myself. Stubbornly and ethically, I refuse to purchase books for others that I wouldn’t feel comfortable reading myself. At the same time, I come from a very big family of voracious readers and would love to share my faith through great literature. That being said, Jody, I think your recent books, Luther and Katharina and Newton and Polly, are wonderful books to give non-believing historical readers. These are real people from our past and history cannot deny that faith is a large part of their story.
Hi Terrill,
Yes, I can totally see your dilemma! I think there are more and more books being published within the Christian industry that could “crossover” to non-Christians. The historically true books like Luther & Katharina or Newton & Polly do that. There are also authors who have a more subtle spiritual message but beautiful writing like Lisa Wingate’s The Story Keeper or Susan Meissner’s Secrets of a Charmed Life.
I loved this post! And all these listed are so true.
Thank you, Halee! Merry Christmas! 🙂
I love to give books. Sometimes it’s hard to know what someone may like. My grandchildren are getting several books from me. I grew up loving Pippi Longstocking and that’s one my granddaughter is getting.
I love the saying “something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read”.
LOVE that saying, Gail! It’s perfect! And what a great idea to give grandchildren books. My mom used to do that for my children as well when they were younger. It was such a blessing to fill our home with good books.
Books are such an important part of my life. I come from a family of readers, married an avid reader, and have made books a part of my children’s and grandchildren’s lives. I always give books for Christmas and echo all of your wonderful reasons for giving books.
One of my favorite memories is of a Christmas when I was about 12. I was given a beautifully illustrated book of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. I gobbled it up, returned to it many times, used it in my 5th grade classroom, and it still has a special place in one of my bookcases.
Thanks for a wonderful reminder of great gifts to give, and Merry Christmas!
Hi Betty,
What a wonderful Christmas memory. How special that you could use a book from your childhood in your 5th grad classroom. I’m sure you inspired many of your students to cherish books too! Hope you have a Merry Christmas too!
You listed great reasons to give books. Everyone I know enjoys new books, i.e. the feel, the smell. It also may introduce a new author to someone! Merry Christmas!
Hi Linda,
So true! It is a great time to introduce people to new authors! Merry Christmas to you too!
As an employee of a book distribution company….thank you for this post! I give books as gifts to family and friends for all the reasons you listed above and also because it keeps me employed :-). I myself love reading and am never without a book. As a matter of fact, I’m getting ready to start “Forever Safe” from one of my favorite authors this weekend – wink! wink!
Hi Amy,
I could revise point number #10 to include all those in the publishing industry, right? 🙂 Thanks for reading Forever Safe! Hope you enjoy it!
If it’s a book that I’ve read too, and my loved one now has a chance to read, this gives us an opportunity to actually deepen our relationship by discussing whatever it is we’ve now both read. I LOVE talking about books with my friends and family, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction. And with many of them on Goodreads, it’s easy to see what they “want to read” and find some that match up with my own list. 🙂
Ooh, that’s another good reason, Jocelyn!Reading and discussing the same books does deepen relationships. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve loved listening to audio books with my kids over the years–we enjoy discussing the books and the things we learn.
Hi…Jody……I am an old-fashioned hold a book in my hands type of reader.I just don’t want to read on a electronic device.Other good ideas for books is you can give them to people who are in the hospital and those at home recovering from illnesses or a surgery.I have personally found books to have a very calming relaxing effect and I read constantly.I have read most of your books the next one I will read is Newton and Polly…..Merry Christmas…..
Hi Diana,
Thank you for sharing another GREAT reason for giving books! They are really perfect for people who aren’t able to be physically active (gives them something else to do besides watch TV which can very old!). Thanks for reading my books and hope you enjoy Newton & Polly.
We bought mostly books for our young grandchildren this year. Books for the young these days address issues in a way they may understand beter than mom or dad telling them. Things like sharing often frustrate children, but when it’s put down on their level, it can reinforce the parents statements. Just another reason books are good for children as gifts and they can be given year round for no apparent reason.
Awesome post.
Jody, books have always been my very favorite gift to receive and I continue to give books as gifts. They are truly a gift that keeps on giving because they will either be re- read or they will be shared with others!Another advantage is that you don’t have to guess what size or what color is appropriate!