Lists
by Powell's Staff, November 29, 2019 8:25 AM
The only thing better than getting books for ourselves is helping other people find the perfect picks for their friends and families. Ask any bookseller: There's almost limitless satisfaction to be found in picking out the right book for someone's science-obsessed niece, tetchy great aunt, or father (who's adamantly refusing another random military history). To help you get in touch with your inner bookseller, we've put together a list of 30 eclectic books and the recipients we can imagine opening them with a squeal of delight and a loving gaze for their clever gift-givers.
Acid for the Children
by Flea
To: My old Gen X college friends, who would sit around in coffees shops in their flannels, debating whether Eddie Vedder or Anthony Kiedis was a better front man.
From: That one friend who knew that a band is only as good as its supporting musicians.
Agent Running in the Field
by John le Carré
To: My tía, who's read every mystery and thriller on earth.
From: Your niece, the happy recipient of all the novels you finish.
Astro Poets
by Alex Dimitrov and Dorothea Lasky
To: My literary friend who always lets me know when Mercury is in retrograde.
From: Jill L.
The Beautiful Ones
by Prince
To: My very Minnesotan family, and everyone I’ve ever met — Prince is somehow both wholly original and universally resonant.
From: Your surprisingly funky Midwestern aunt
Catch and Kill
by Ronan Farrow
To: My friend who works for a newspaper and believes that a properly intrepid reporter can uncover anything.
From: Your friend, who is glad that newspapers (and prestige magazines) still exist.
Celestial Bodies
by Jokha Alharthi
To: My best friend from college, a global citizen who loves prize-winning fiction.
From: Mary S.
Civilized to Death
by Christopher Ryan
To: My friend, who spends a lot of time making sure that the food for her extreme hiking trips is paleo.
From: Your friend, for whom glamping is too much to ask.
Dear Girls
by Ali Wong
To: My 16-year-old self, who attempted to have a stand-up career.
From: You, but older and wiser, who now knows that bombing is part of the process.
Embroidered Life
by Sara Barnes
To: My friends who agree there’s nothing better than crafts and houseplants on a rainy afternoon.
From: That friend who gets a little too excited about cozy season.
The End Is Always Near
by Dan Carlin
To: My uncle, who is a podcast history buff and a pessimist.
From: Your nephew, who is a book history buff and a pessimist.
For Small Creatures Such as We
by Sasha Sagan
To: My mom, who taught me to see and believe in the wonder and magic of nature and science.
From: Your very, very grateful daughter
Full Throttle
by Joe Hill
To: My persnickety nephew, who devours well-written short stories that scare him senseless.
From: Your aunt, who likes being scared, but not too much.
Gideon the Ninth
by Tamsyn Muir
To: My dear friend Myrna, who enjoys skeletons, snark, and a good plot twist or two.
From: Your friend who loves fiction with an attitude.
The Great Pretender
by Susannah Cahalan
To: My true crime-loving aunt who enjoys both medical history and a good mystery.
From: A fellow murderino
Hello, Cookie Dough
by Kristen Tomlan
To: The kid inside us all. (P.S. Raw cookie dough is irresistible, but can be unsafe to eat. Mix up some safe-to-eat dough and delicious-when-cooked cookies.)
From: Your Mother (Also, wear your bike helmet!)
Horror Stories
by Liz Phair
To: My college friend, who had every song on her first CD memorized within two minutes of buying it.
From: Someone who can still sing all those songs by heart with you, all these years later…
How Things Work
by Theodore Gray
To: My brother and my 7-year-old niece, who build amazing inventions together.
From:Your mechanically-minded Aunt Tessa
How We Fight for Our Lives
by Saeed Jones
To: My memoir-loving friend who appreciates poetic prose and honest, complex stories.
From: Nick S.
Imaginary Friend
by Stephen Chbosky
To: My neighbor in high school, who spent every hectic bus ride reading Stephen King with complete absorption.
From: That girl who read Misery over your shoulder and slept with the lights on for a week.
Initiated
by Amanda Yates Garcia
To: My sister, who knows how to draw power from all sorts of places to overcome obstacles.
From: Your brother (and frequent obstacle)
Mother Winter
by Sophia Shalmiyev
To: My best friend, a fierce feminist and lover of beautiful prose.
From: A fellow appreciator of personal stories
Myths and Legends of the World
by Lonely Planet Kids
To: Armchair explorers, Percy Jackson lovers, and appreciators of well-illustrated fairy tales.
From: Madeline, who fits all three of the above categories and will definitely be gifting this to herself.
Nothing to See Here
by Kevin Wilson
To: My best friend, unflappable nanny extraordinaire.
From: Your friend, who envies your cool head (if not your job).
On Fire
by Naomi Klein
To: My friend Piers, who believes we are probably doomed, but still wants to fight for the future.
From: Your friend, who expects you to get results. And quickly, please.
Our Dogs, Ourselves
by Alexandra Horowitz
To: My best friend Lori, who tried to keep my dog when we moved apart, because she’d finally figured out that doggos equal LOVE unlike anything else.
From: The friend you blame every time you bring ANOTHER rescue dog home.
Over the Top
by Jonathan Van Ness
To: My Queer Eye-obsessed friends who are inspired by JVN’s political activism and overall fabulousness.
From: Your buddy, who wishes their hair was as gorgeous as Jonathan’s is.
Primitive Technology
by John Plant
To: My roommate, who watches The Walking Dead solely for the post-apocalyptic survival tips.
From: Your partner in preparation
Reading Beauty
by Deborah Underwood and Meg Hunt
To: My bookworm nieces, who enjoy a modern fairy tale retelling where the heroine saves the day.
From: Your feminist, book-loving aunt
Sous Vide
by Hugh Acheson
To: My brother, Jack, a chef who is always trying out the latest cooking gadgets, and making amazing dishes from scratch.
From: Your big sis, Aub, who is grateful to be the recipient of your food experiments, anytime.
Survival Math
by Mitchell S. Jackson
To: My brother who loves stories of grit and self-exploration.
From: Your sister who would read anything written in Mitchell Jackson’s gorgeous, unique voice.
Surivial Math
by Mitchell S. Jackson
To: My brother who loves stories of grit and self-exploration.
From: Your sister who would read anything written in Mitchell Jackson’s gorgeous, unique voice.
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