I'm a bit of a late convert to the idea of buying books for the holidays, honestly.

Okay, that's not completely true. If there is a child, and that child is having ANY sort of occasion (and sometimes even if they are not), I buy a book. My go-to authors are always Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle, although I like to mix up it with a variety of children's authors I found while teaching but I digress, great books for children is another post.

Anyway, I've long had a REALLY tough time buying books for adults over the age of 12, unless they've expressed interest in a specific book or they are a good friend who shares my reading tastes, but does not read as much as I do. Perhaps this stems from the fact that I'm hesitant about most of my family and friends picking out a book that I would actually like (I'd usually prefer they just give me a bookstore gift certificate).

However, I have recently been determined to get my husband to read more and, by and large, I have been successful, by gifting him very specific books that he will love. He enjoys reading, but doesn't miss it if he isn't doing it and, so, will often go insanely long times without picking up a book (of course to me, anything more than 24 hours without a book in hand is insane!). Here are some ideas that have worked for me in buying him books that will make him excited to read:

1. Tie into leisure interests: I guess I'd already been doing this to some extent, giving my dad and grandfather different books of golf courses for birthdays and Christmas forever, but last year I was able to move this in a more meaningful direction. My husband is not only serious about his faith, he's also a huge Simpsons fan so in his stocking? "The Gospel According to the Simpsons." Sure, it took him 4 months to read it because he picked it up for little bits and pieces, but he read and enjoyed the entire thing and still makes references to things he read in it over a year ago!
   
   
2. Connect with life changes: This summer my husband and I became parents to an adorable little boy. My husband LOVES being a daddy and can't get enough of our son. This year he will be getting "Manhood for Amateurs" by Michael Chabon in his stocking, which contains a series of essays on fatherhood. This is where you want to be careful, though. Makes sure the book has some real meat to it. Some people might enjoy "Chicken Soup for the _____'s Soul," but I don't know of anyone who really reads the little coffee table books about funny things for dads/moms/etc. "Manhood for Amateurs" has been getting great reviews and promises to be an amusing, thoughtful book that just so happens to also be meaningful to my husband because of his stage of life.
   
   
3. Play to passions: My husband is a teacher and he loves his job. He doesn't necessarily love all of the stuff that goes along with being a teacher, but he can't get enough of helping kids and planning for their successes. He's not interested in books about teaching best practices, but give him a book about a revolutionary teacher who bucked the system for the sake of his or her students? You'll barely be able to pry him away (if you know anyone like this, he loves Rafe Esquith's books).
   
   
4. Go with what works: I'm all about getting my husband books about passionate, rebel teachers, or books that use research to push back against accepted classroom culture right now. They really get him excited both to read and to try new things in the classroom. If ever I can find related titles to what he has already devourered, I'm on it.
   
   
5. Keep your eyes open and a list in hand: This is really good advice (which I often don't follow) for ANY gift giving. I see titles throughout the year that I think would interest my husband, or a variety of other people on my gift list. If I don't write them down somewhere, chances are excellent that I won't even remember that I saw anything when the time comes.

Yes, this just happens to be what works with my husband, but I have every confidence that one or more of these suggestions can help you pick a book for anyone on your list - even those who are not big readers.