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PowellsBooks.Blog
Authors, readers, critics, media − and booksellers.

Lists

What I'm Giving: The 2019 Edition

by Powell's Staff, November 29, 2019 8:25 AM
What I'm Giving

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 to Cook Everything: Completely Revised Twentieth Anniversary Edition How to Cook Everything: Completely Revised Twentieth Anniversary Edition
by Mark Bittman

To: My friend who can’t cook but keeps inviting me to dinner.
From: Your pal, who's been sneaking food to your dog under the table. (Boy, that dog loves me.)

How We Fight for Our Lives 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

The Wild Unknown Archetypes Deck and Guidebook The Wild Unknown Archetypes Deck and Guidebook
by Kim Krans

To: All my friends who love tarot/oracle cards, Jungian archetypes, and beautiful art (so all my friends, pretty much?).
From: Your enabler

Survival Math 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.




Books mentioned in this post

Acid for the Children: A Memoir

Flea

Civilized to Death: The Price of Progress

Christopher Ryan

Survival Math: Notes on an All-American Family

Mitchell Jackson

Mother Winter: A Memoir

Sophia Shalmiyev

Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, and Advice for Living Your Best Life

Ali Wong

Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb Trilogy #1)

Tamsyn Muir

Astro Poets: Your Guides to the Zodiac

Alex Dimitrov and Dorothea Lasky

Primitive Technology: A Survivalist's Guide to Building Tools, Shelters, and More in the Wild

John Plant

Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love

Jonathan Van Ness

The End Is Always Near: Apocalyptic Moments, From the Bronze Age Collapse to Nuclear Near Misses

Dan Carlin

Reading Beauty

Deborah Underwood and Meg Hunt

Embroidered Life: The Art of Sarah K. Benning

Sara Barnes and Sarah K. Benning

The Wild Unknown Archetypes Deck and Guidebook

Kim Krans

For Small Creatures Such as We: Rituals for Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World

Sasha Sagan

How Things Work: The Inner Life of Everyday Machines

Theodore Gray and Nick Mann

Nothing to See Here

Kevin Wilson

How We Fight for Our Lives: A Memoir

Saeed Jones

Our Dogs, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond

Alexandra Horowitz

On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal

Naomi Klein

Horror Stories: A Memoir

Liz Phair

How to Cook Everything - Completely Revised Twentieth Anniversary Edition: Simple Recipes for Great Food

Mark Bittman

The Great Pretender: The Undercover Mission That Changed Our Understanding of Madness

Susannah Cahalan

Hello, Cookie Dough: 110 Doughlicious Confections to Eat, Bake and Share

Kristen Tomlan

Initiated: Memoir of a Witch

Amanda Yates Garcia

Agent Running in the Field

John Le Carré

The Beautiful Ones

Prince

Celestial Bodies

Jokha Alharthi and Marilyn Booth

Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators

Ronan Farrow
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