Books on the Nightstand, Episode 56 (14:17)

Don’t forget to download both of the Books on the Nightstand Gift Guides: Our general guide, which features mostly books for adults, and our first-ever Kid’s Books Gift Guide!

Is it possible to buy a book for someone you don’t know well? We think it is. Faced with holiday gift giving events like Secret Santas or Yankee Swaps, or even just that cousin you don’t see that often, how do you pick the perfect book? Of course, books of trivia or fun facts, like You are One-Third Daffodil, which Michael has written about before, would appeal to just about anyone. Ann mentions books that are displayed at the cash register area of the bookstore are often the perfect “one-size-fits-all” gifts. She also mentions Detective Stories, which is part of the Everyman’s Pocket Classics, and features stories from contemporary writers all the way back to Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Allan Poe. Ann then discusses The Black-Out Book, a compilation of 500 games, puzzle, jokes and pastimes used by British families to pass the time during the dark nights of the Blitz.

We continue our gift guide category spotlight this week by cover books about Nature and Animals. Michael tells us about Homer’s Odyssey, the tale of a blind cat and the woman who loves him, perfect for fans of Dewey or Marley and Me. Slightly more science-based, but still eminently readable is The Bird, a history of all things avian. Ann discusses the beautifully-illustrated Bedside Book of Beasts, which chronicles creatures both real and imagined. Visit the book’s website to see samples of several interior pages.

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