The Ultimate Book Gift Guide : 2017 Edition
As a writer and a reader, books are one of the best aspects of life in my opinion — and they're always at the top of my gift lists every holiday season. Last year I rounded up a list of some of my favorite recommendations in the Ultimate Book Gift Guide, and this year I decided to add to the list. If you already perused last year's list, start from the top, as that's where I'll be adding the newer recommendations.
No matter who is on your shopping list (or maybe you're just looking for some good reads yourself!), you're bound to find some good options below. As with last year, I've tried to offer suggestions for who might enjoy the books, but definitely click the links to check out the titles that appeal to you, since you never know who might enjoy certain titles!
And if you have any recommendations for books that make good gifts, feel free to leave the titles in the comments section below!
FOR ADULT FAMILY MEMBERS
For the one who could use a little more magic in her life...
The Rules of Magic / Alice Hoffman
For the aunt who really needs a life overall...
Reinvent Me / Camilla Dollerup
For anyone (or related to someone) battling addiction...
Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions / Russell Brand
For the cousin who is really into his dog (and science)...
Being a Dog: Following the Dog Into a World of Smell / Alexandra Horowitz
For the aunt who is obsessed with animals...
How to Find Your Spirit Animal / David Carson
For your dad who loves Charles Dickens...
The Man Who Invented Christmas / Les Standiford
For everyone in your family who doesn't understand introverts...
Text, Don't Call: An Illustrated Guide to the Introverted Life / Aaron Caycedo-Kimura
For your mom, who's always trying to make things cozy...
The Little Book of Hygge / Meik Wiking
For literally anyone related to you or who has a family...
It Didn't Start with You / Mark Wolynn
For your uber-opinionated and vocal grandfather...
The Joy of Argument / Albert Navarra
For your too tough-and-cool for self-help uncle...
10% Happier / Dan Harris
For your memory-hoarding mother...
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up / Marie Kondo
For your self-involved (but secretly sweet) teenager...
Tiny Buddha's 365 Love Challenges / Lori Deschene
For your not-quite-on-the-same-page spouse...
The Five Love Languages / Gary Chapman
For your romance-novel-reading mother-in-law...
Other People's Love Letters / Bill Shapiro
For your hilarious (and a bit odd) aunt...
Furiously Happy / Jenny Lawson
For your sibling with a kid who's struggling in school...
Thinking Organized / Rhonna Gordon
For the dad who thinks feminism is for women only...
Feminism Is for Everybody / bell hooks
For your aunt and uncle who're constantly bickering...
Blamestorming / Rob Kendall
For your health-conscious, foodie brother-in-law...
In Defense of Food / Michael Pollan
For the mother who puts everyone else first...
Too Nice for Your Own Good / Duke Robinson
For your brother who needs a bit of inspiration...
This is How / Augusten Burroughs
For your father-in-law who loves a good mystery...
Knights in White Satin / Philip DiPirro
For your sister who's against ever marrying...
Spinster / Kate Bolick
For your aunt who's self-identifies as a dog mom...
Inside of a Dog / Alexandra Horowitz
For the cousin still working on that novel...
On Writing / Stephen King
For the niece struggling through her 20s...
It's a Wonderful Lie / Emily Franklin
For the aunt who loves daily bits of insight...
Stay Positive / Dani DiPirro (me!)
For your spouse (read it together!)...
Love 2.0 / Barbara L. Frederickson
For the sibling you've not-so-subtly resented for years...
Forgiveness / Dani DiPirro (me!)
For your parent who's curious about self-improvement...
The Positively Present Guide to Life / Dani DiPirro (me!)
FOR KIDS AND TEENAGERS
For your teenage niece / nephew / neighbor / anyone...
Turtles All the Way Down / John Green
For all the kids who adore funny and smart books...
Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt / Ben Clanton
For the teen who needs to get out of her comfort zone...
Surprise Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into the World / Lisa Currie
For the kids and teens who'd rather stay in then go out...
Introvert Doodles / Maureen "Marzi" Wilson
For every child or teen or adult on your list...
Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too / Jomny Sun
For your slightly neurotic niece or nephew...
Owl at Home / Arnold Lobel
For a teenager at odds with her mother...
The Runaway Bunny / Margaret Wise Brown
For the child who's not like his/her siblings...
The Trumpet of the Swan / E.B. White
For the teen who doesn't like standing out...
The Perks of Being a Wallflower / Stephen Chbosky
For the little toddler who's always a bit grumpy...
Have You Filled Your Bucket Today? / Carol McCloud
For the little one who's always daydreaming...
Once Upon a Cloud / Claire Keane
For the middle-schooler adjusting to a new place...
I Capture the Castle / Dodie Smith
For the teen with a potentially self-destructive friend...
Looking for Alaska / John Green
For the teenage girl who love the broody boys...
The Wind Blows Backward / Mary Downing Hahn
For the girl who needs some modern advice...
Girl Talk / Christie Young
For the little girl who wants a place of her own...
Mandy / Julie Andrews Edwards
For the creative teenager who needs a pick-me-up...
Pick Me Up / Adam J. Kurtz
For the deep-thinking, graphic-book-loving teen...
Persepolis / Marjane Satrapi
For the teenager always snapping Insta pics...
A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book / Elsie Larson
For the super creative (and a little spooky) kid...
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick / Chris Van Allsburg
For the kid who loves animals more than people...
Guardians of Being / Eckhart Tolle
FOR YOUR FRIENDS
For the pal who needs a spiritual boost...
White Hot Truth / Danielle LaPorte
For the antisocial buddy you rarely see...
Solitude: In Pursuit of a Singular Life in a Crowded World / Michael Harris
For the super busy boss babe who needs to chill...
Chasing Slow: Courage to Journey Off the Beaten Path / Erin Loechner
For anyone who struggles with anxiety or OCD...
Turtles All the Way Down / John Green
For your friend who loves The Little Prince...
Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too / Jomny Sun
For the friend who's a (not so) secret badass...
Bad Girls Throughout History / Ann Shen
For the friend going through a really tough time...
Loving What Is / Byron Katie
For the always-judging-others friend...
Compassion / Dani DiPirro (me!)
For the friend sighing, "I should try meditating..."
You Can Master Meditation / David Fontana
For the friend who needs to dump him/her ASAP...
The No-Contact Rule / Natalie Lue
For the friend who cancels plans to read instead...
Quiet: The Power of Introverts / Susan Cain
For the friend struggling to get pregnant...
The Fairy Rebel / Lynn Reid Banks
For the friend who's scared of (but needs to) change...
Start Where You Are / Meera Lee Patel
For your super creative, artistic, cool friend...
In Progress / Jessica Hische
For the friend who constantly seeks external approval...
I Need Your Love: Is That True? / Byron Katie
For the friend who recently said goodbye to a pup...
Dog Heaven / Cynthia Rylant
For the buddy who's constantly worrying...
The Power of Now / Eckhart Tolle
For the friend with a rocky mother/daughter relationship...
Boundaries / Anne Katherine
For your sassy friend who needs a happiness boost...
How to Be Happy, Dammit! / Karen Salmansohn
For your whimsical friend who loves a bit of magic...
The Night Circus / Erin Morgenstern
For a friend who seems like she's really lost...
Wild / Cheryl Strayed
For the friend that still keeps a diary...
The Folded Clock / Heidi Julavits
For the pal that needs to figure out what she wants...
The Desire Map / Danielle LaPorte
For the guy who's always crying over his ex...
The Great Gatsby / F. Scott Fitzgerald
For your feminist friend who feels all the feels...
I Am an Emotional Creature / Eve Ensler
For your buddy who's always searching the next rush...
Hector and the Search for Happiness / François Lelord
FOR YOUR COLLEAGUES
For the creative stuck in his comfort zone...
Surprise Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into the World / Lisa Currie
For anyone who doesn't anything remotely creative...
Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives / Adam J. Kurtz
For the coworker filled with ideas (and restless energy!)...
Tinker Dabble Doodle Try / Srini Pillay
For the creative-but-frazzled coworker...
Calm / Michael Acton Smith
For the coworker who needs to follow her passion...
The Crossroads of Should and Must / Elle Luna
For the too-creative-for-this place coworker...
Big Magic / Elizabeth Gilbert
For the coworker who's always super stressed...
Living in the Moment / Dani DiPirro (me!)
For the colleague always around adults...
The Little Prince / Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
For someone who needs a bit of motivation...
It's Not How Good You Are... / Paul Arden
For the coworker who's always complaining...
Gratitude / Dani DiPirro (me!)
For the a stylish guy/gal who loves soul-searching...
Style Statement / Danielle LaPorte
For the coworker getting his kids a puppy...
The Puppy Primer / Patricia B. McConnell
For the guy always yelling in his office...
Emotional Agility / Susan David, PhD
For that colleague always looking for gossip...
PostSecret / Frank Warren
For that guy always looking for a project...
The Happiness of Pursuit / Chris Guillebeau
For the colleague always finding the bad stuff...
You Can Be an Optimist / Lucy MacDonald
For the coworker who should run her own business...
#GirlBoss / Sophia Amoruso
For the HR guy who loves analyzing people...
The Social Animal / David Brooks
For your colleague who can't choose a lunch spot...
The Paradox of Choice / Barry Schwartz
For the boss who's perpetually stressed out...
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work / Richard Carlson
For the trivia-loving data dude in IT...
The Visual Miscellaneum / David McCandless
For the admin who needs to pursue her dreams...
Now Is The Time To Do What You Love / Nancy Whitney-Reiter
I hope this updated list helps you find the perfect book for everyone on your list! (Or, let's be honest, for yourself, 'cause I know you're looking for something for you too!). If you purchase any of the books and enjoy them, don't forget to leave a review on Amazon. It helps authors (like me!) so much. And if you're curious about my books (many of which are sprinkled throughout this list), check out my Amazon Author Page here!
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