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She doesn’t need another lotion, throw blanket or (as much as I love them) candle. You want something thoughtful, conversation sparking, exciting—but what?! A book, that’s what.
After working for Oprah.com—where reading autobiographies, self-improvement, business and personal growth books were actually part of the job—and devouring them over the past eight years for Life Between Weekends, there are a few titles I always recommend, as well as a few hot-off-the-presses releases I’ve loved, so I wanted to share them here. Without further ado, here are the best nonfiction book gifts for friends and acquaintances alike, which feel a little more personal than the typical gift card or generic gift.
1. Glossy
While this book starts as an in-depth look at the oh-so millennial beauty brand Glossier, it also delves into our 2010s cultural obsession with creating—and then taking down—”girl bosses,” aka photogenic 20something and 30something female founders. It shows what grit it takes to launch a beauty brand and how Weiss defied the odds, raising enormous capital for Glossier as she navigated what it means to be a founder versus CEO. The portrait is not always flattering, but it does seem fair. $22 at Amazon
2. Beginner’s Pluck
The friend who’s searching for meaning—and a way to earn a living while making an impact in the world—needs this book. Written by Liz Forkin Bohannon, the founder of fair-trade fashion brand Sseko, the tome delves into how Sseko got its start, with practical lessons and actionable advice along the way to help readers launch a purpose-driven career. (Peep our full review here.) $12 at Amazon
3. The Crossroads of Should and Must
If you know someone who’s burned out or feels like they’re unsure of what to do next in life or in their career, get them this book. Typically, those feelings of working yourself to the bone and feeling resentment are a major sign you’re living in “should,” as in, doing everything you should be doing—or, more accurately, what others think you should be doing. This book will help you find your “must,” as in, the thing that both inspires and fuels you, making you excited to take on the day. $12 at Amazon
4. Untamed
If you haven’t heard of this Reese’s Book Club pick, order a copy for yourself and everyone you know…then start your own book club around it. Glennon Doyle‘s insights into breaking free of people-pleasing, others’ expectations and her own negative self-talk will have you looking at your own life with fresh eyes. Promise. $11 at Amazon
5. Tell Me Everything
You think you know Minka Kelly, but you have no idea. This memoir is more vulnerable than an MTV Diaries doc, as the actress shares how she navigated life with a complicated mother who struggled with addiction, abusive boyfriends and father figures, acknowledging how her highs and lows shaped her but didn’t break her. (See our full review of the book here.) $19 at Amazon
6. Big Magic
That friend who’s feeling uninspired? Blah? Or just loves a creative pursuit? Gift this book, if they haven’t read it already. Liz Gilbert‘s insights will help them overcome fears of failure or rejection that hold us all back from living a more extraordinary life, and isn’t that a gift we could all use? $12 at Amazon