Don’t know what to buy? Gift a book
By M. Clare Haefner| Photos courtesy of the book publishers
Books make great gifts for family and friends at the holidays. With so many genres to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find a title to please any loved one’s interests. Here are a few titles I recommend this year.
The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present
by Paul McCartney (Liveright, November 2021)
Music lovers will enjoy this celebration of the life and music of Paul McCartney. From The Beatles and Wings to his solo career, The Lyrics pairs McCartney’s music lyrics and first-person commentaries on his life so far with handwritten notes, photographs and paintings — many of which have never been shared before. It’s an intimate look at the inspiration behind the music of one of the greatest songwriters of all time. Any fan needs this in their collection.
Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight
by Julia Sweig (Random House, March 2021)
For fans of history, politics and women’s issues, Julia Sweig’s biography of Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Johnson is a must-read. It gives insight into the Johnson administration and pulls from Lady Bird’s diaries during the White House years to reveal a woman ahead of her time — and an accomplished politician. The book offers a fresh look at the turbulent 1960s and offers insights into how Lady Bird worked to reshape Washington, beautify the country’s highways and secure her husband’s legacy. It’s not a quick read, but it is inspiring.
Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants
by George W. Bush (Crown, April 2021)
Former President George W. Bush shares his oil paintings of immigrants and includes their inspiring stories to put a face to a contentious issue in America today. This makes a great coffee table book, but is also worth reading to learn more about 43 people who came to America looking for a better life — and made the United States a better country for us all. This collection of art and stories follows Bush’s 2017 release Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors.
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone: A Novel
by Diana Gabaldon (Delacorte Press, November 2021)
Fans of epic romance will be pleased to unwrap Diana Gabaldon’s latest Outlander novel. Claire and Jamie Fraser’s story continues in 1779 as they are at last reunited with their daughter, Brianna, her husband, Roger, and their children on Fraser’s Ridge. While the family is overjoyed to be together again, the Revolutionary War is edging ever closer to Fraser’s Ridge in North Carolina. If this ninth Outlander novel is anything like the others, there will be lots of trying times — and romantic interludes — ahead for the Fraser clan.
The Judge’s List: A Novel
by John Grisham (Doubleday, October 2021)
Fans of legal thrillers will love John Grisham’s latest novel, which continues the story of investigator Lacy Stoltz. Three years after The Whistler, Stoltz has to stop a Florida judge with a kill list and an intricate knowledge of the law before she becomes his next target.
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
by Brené Brown (Random House, November 2021)
Best-selling author Brené Brown takes readers on a journey of what it means to be human, in her latest release based on her decades of research, calling it ”the framework for meaningful connection.”
Cooking at Home: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Recipes (And Love My Microwave)
by David Chang and Priya Krishna (Clarkson Potter, October 2021)
Foodies on a budget will love Chef David Chang’s guide to substituting, adapting and shortcutting their way to tasty meals at home. Give this and let a loved one unwrap inspiring new dishes to serve in their own kitchen.
The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family
by Ron and Clint Howard (William Morrow, October 2021)
Whether you grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show or Happy Days, or remember Ron Howard’s brother Clint from Gentle Ben or Star Trek, this dual narrative offers a look into how the famous brothers’ navigated life as child actors and how the lessons they learned shaped their adult careers.
