My 10 Favourite Books You Should Give Someone For Christmas
I love books. They’re an awesome gift to give to people we love. When you read a book, you absorb the lives and experiences of other people into your own, and I think everyone deserves the pleasure and knowledge that comes from that. So, here’s a list of books that I absolutely adore. I tried to be helpful by explaining what type of person might like each book. Happy reading friends!
10. Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss
I have been tearing through the digital version of this. If there’s one person I’ve listened to more than anyone else in my life, it’s Tim. He interviews brilliant people about how they do what they do and who makes them what they are, in an attempt to de-construct what makes them amazing. There is so much wisdom packed into this book from people of all walks of life: tech entrepreneurs, writers, world-class power lifters, actors, you name it.
Give it to: The person in your life who is always trying something new in order to improve themself.
Link: http://amzn.to/2kZGEiA
9. Vegabonding by Rolf Potts
As I prepare to spend my last semester of university abroad in Italy, I have been re-reading parts of this book over and over. It’s a guide to travelling the world on a small dime, that teaches you to focus on creating adventures rather than buying them. Tim Ferriss LOVES this book and talks about it frequently in his podcast.
Give it to: the traveller in your life, or someone young who needs to explore the world.
Link: http://amzn.to/2AKXkOB
8. The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
I read this book this summer and I could not put it down. It tells the story of Ken Kesey, author of the renowned One Flew Over the Cukoo’s Nest, and his band of pranksters, taking acid as they travel across America in a hippie-painted bus for three years. Wolfe writes it in such a unique way, as if you were actually there with him.
A great buy for: the wild people in your life.
Link: http://amzn.to/2C5Bhmj
7. Just Kids by Patti Smith
This book filled me with love. It’s the story of Patti Smith, a young, broke artist (who is now extremely successful), as she spent her youth trying to make it in New York City. All the characters she meets (like Andy Warhol) and beautiful experiences she has (making a home out of a one-room apartment with no furniture) left me feeling warm and inspired.
A great buy for: the big softy in your life who makes or loves art.
Link: http://amzn.to/2Ae10rh
6. Autobiography of a Yogi by Parmahansa Yogananda
This book has a lot to teach about Eastern philosophy, love, and spirituality. It’s long, but worth the read. It’s the story of a famous Yogi, who had an interesting life growing up in India, then relocated to North America to spread the teachings of Yoga.
Give it to: the spiritual person or the soul-seeker in your life.
Link: http://amzn.to/2C5BohJ
5. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson
Mark Manson is a famous blogger, and really gets self-help. One of the main lessons from the book is that your problems are not unique, so you should fix them. He tells this lesson through a collection of inspiring stories. Highly recommended if you feel like your life could be better or if your sense of direction has been hard to find lately.
Give it to: someone who doesn’t read that often — it’s really engaging and motivates the reader to improve.
Link: http://amzn.to/2Abi9BZ
4. In My Own Way by Alan Watts
Alan Watts quit the priesthood to popularize eastern philosophy. You might know him from his popular talks that can be found on youtube, such as “What would you do if money was no object?”. This is his autobiography. He writes about everything from his childhood in England, to his decision to quit the priesthood, to spending later parts of his life in Big Sur. He writes so damn elegantly.
Give this to: the literary genius in your life who loves writing and storytelling, or someone who is deeply spiritual.
Link: http://amzn.to/2z2wl24
3. Choose Happiness by John Samuel Gray
Sam has been an amazing mentor to me since I started university. He’s one of the most exciting people I know, and spends his time working as an entrepreneur and self-help coach. I really respect his brutal honesty. His book is about how you can find happiness in your life by changing your habits and learning about yourself.
I would recommend this book to anybody.
Link: http://amzn.to/2B8bjk6
2. Bit Rot by Douglas Coupland
Coupland is and has been my favourite writer since I can remember. He also happens to be Canadian. Through his storytelling, he criticizes society in clever ways, and I laugh out every time I read his books. Bit Rot is a collection of short stories and essays compiled from his career. I couldn’t put this down either.
Recommended for: creative people, especially the wacky ones in your life who may or may not enjoy cannabis.
Link: http://amzn.to/2C4kK1V
1. The Inevitable by Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly is the founder of Wired magazine, and he’s really on top of the world of technology. This book details the technological “forces” that will shape our future, such as constantly remixing every part of our lives, or changing from static documents and web pages to hyper-updated flowing ones.
Highly recommended for: the business-person or tech-lover in your life.
Link: http://amzn.to/2BDi1iT
0. AI Dreams by Jack Bunce
Okay, I’m guilty. I recently published a book of stories and essays about the future of technology. I’ve worked for a handful of startups, including Triage.com, who are building Artificial Intelligence to diagnose skin cancer using your smartphone camera. I love technology, and I wrote this as a way for you to take a peek at how the world will change over the next few decades as a result of up-and-coming technologies (ie. AI, automation, connecting our brains to the internet).
If you buy it, thanks for the support ❤.
Link: http://amzn.to/2Ab4bQq
And that’s a wrap! These are some of my favourite books across a broad variety of topics, and I think you’ll find something for any kind of person in your life. Happy reading!
