Stephanie Gayle

You know what makes a great holiday gift? Books! Here's some reasons why:
They don't require batteries or power adapters or other fussy accessories.
They are easy to wrap. (I'm scissor challenged--always have been. So my gift wrapping often looks as though it was done by a small child. But books have edges and are rectangular or square and flat. Love that.)
Books come in many subjects and age-appropriate levels. Plus, if you don't know what book to buy your seven-year-old nephew you can ask the bookseller and she will offer suggestions. Awesome.
They can be shipped very cheaply (use Media Mail).
Books can inspire conversations unlike, say, fruitcake.

But, you say, none of my family or friends read! Ha! For the non-readers in your life there are picture books and photography books.

I've asked for books, and I've enjoyed them long after the last of the nog was drunk and the dried pine needles were vacuumed.

Disclaimer: I write books. Some of my friends write books. This could be viewed as a thinly veiled sales pitch by the very jaded (such as myself).