Why you should buy books for the holidays

Straight and simple books are among the most versitile gifts.

-Crunched for money? There are cheap paper backs ($2.99 for kids books and as low as $5.99 for adult paperbacks) or classy high quality paperbacks.

-Books are better for your than sugar-filled sweets and in some cases they probably taste better too.

-Books can be enjoyed over and over. Or enjoyed and passed on.

-Let’s face it it’s perfectly legal to sneak a peek or two (or 300 pages worth) at books you buy for other people. As long as you keep it in fantastic shape.

-There really are books out there for everyone, even people who don’t think they’d enjoy books. There are books on every topic, exploring every angle and every crevice of our lives. And for those who don’t like reading? There are lots of photo-based books that require no reading but still invoke a sense of awe.

-In times of stress (like recessions) what people need almost as much as jobs and money is an escape. Books ARE escapes.

These are just some of the reasons. Please, please consider buying books for the holidays.

Next week I’ll be posting my book guide for the holidays so come back then to see where to start if you want to give books.

(By the way, a gift card to a bookstore means that your friend or loved on can buy things other than books too. It might not help publishers, but it will help the bookstores.)