Book Gifts for Graduates

This week I will be offering something slightly different in my review section. Rather than doing an in-depth review of just one book, I will be suggesting a few books that would make excellent gifts for the high school or college graduate. Naturally, the books will differ, depending on where the graduate is headed, but all will be gift-worthy.

For the high school graduate that will be heading off to college, The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College, authored by Harlan Cohen, is an excellent choice. While not every situation that is featured in the book will be a part of the average college experience, enough of them are valid to make the book interesting and relevant. It is also, especially in hindsight, fairly funny. The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg, offers insight into why we exhibit certain habits, as well as offers possible methods regarding how to change patterns that inhibit success. If you have been to, or are currently in college, (or, for that matter, have any business experience) then you know how quickly seemingly harmless habits can easily work against you. Duhigg is a business writer that has received accolades in his field, and this book is a good one for those starting out on a new path, be it college or career. The book may be a little self-help-meets-science for the recently graduated, but those even those exiting college should see the benefits of Duhigg’s writing.

I have always enjoyed books that continue to give something new each time I return to them. Few things fit that bill better than books of quotes. While I understand that books of quotes, like books of poetry, are not every reader’s favorite (including mine), they can offer some surprising insight. For those that are newcomers to such books, The Book of Poisonous Quotes, by Colin Jarman, is a great bridge book. It is absolutely hilarious and compiles some of the most cynical and funny quotes that can be found between two covers. If your graduate loves quotes (and, judging by Facebook, apparently everybody and their brother does), then this is for them. If they don’t, or have never forayed into the “genre”, then this is a great introduction. While it doesn’t apply to this book, necessarily, I feel that my earlier Facebook quip necessitates that I offer some advice regarding quote books: people, take quotes for what they mean in their original context. Tangent over.

While there are a plethora of great books that would make excellent gifts, these are a few sure-fire winners. I hope that your graduate enjoys them as much as I have, be it for laughs or for a little insight. Next week I will review an exciting and impressive offering by an unknown (to me) author, and I look forward to sharing it with you this upcoming Monday.