The Best Book Gift Ideas

Books often make the best gifts, but they are certainly not all created equally. Step into a book store or a library for more than a few minutes and you are sure to find plenty of content not worth spending your precious reading minutes on (or inviting your kids to feast on either).

I am always adding to my carefully curated list of books to read and my favorite recommendations are those from good friends. So with that in mind, at the helm of the shopping season, I want to share some of my favorite books that would make excellent Christmas gifts.

IMPORTANT: Through tomorrow only, Amazon is running their annual $5 off any $20 purchase of book sale (use code NOVBOOK18). Codes like these don’t come around often so find some good books and get shopping!
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Change Makers

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

The nerdy side of me loved the all the research in this book. You can’t help but be motivated by it.

Awe: Why it Matters for Everything We Think, Say, and Do

Probably the best book I read this year. Paul David Tripps puts big concepts in simple terms and you are guaranteed to walk away with a greater view of God after reading this one.

Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul

Gosh, this book is lovely friends. The writing, the gardening parallels, all done with a simplicity that sticks to your bones. Also, Hannah Anderson’s latest book (on my Christmas list!) can be found here.

Going Deep

Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds

This book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to get more our of their Bible time. You can find her other (equally great) books here and here.

Unseen: The Gift of Be Hidden in a World That Loves to Be Noticed

Sara Hagerty is an artist with words and she uses her gift beautifully in this book. Both convicting and comforting, her words point our eyes and our hearts toward Christ like never before.

Prayer: Experience Awe and Intimacy with God

I’m kind of cheating here, because I’m right in the middle of this one, but it has been a slow, deep and beautiful read. Definitely an excellent gift for anyone who wants to dig deeply into prayer.

Moving Memoir

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslims Encounters Christianity

A real look at compassion, evangelism, friendship and theology that I’m pretty sure everyone needs to read.

Everything Happens For a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved

I recommend this one with the tiniest caution. I don’t necessarily agree with all of the underlying theology espoused in this book, but it is beautifully written and provides compassion-inducing insight into a suffering many of us are fortunate not to fully understand.

When Breath Becomes Air

Definitely not light reading, friend, but this book is incredibly thought provoking and important in so many ways.

Best Books for Kids

This section could really be a whole other post, so I’ll just share a few that have been (or currently are) big winners in our home.

Imagination Station Books

This is a series (read: great way to get kids hooked on reading!) of historical fiction books written with a Biblical worldview. My kids have loved them! The link below is for the first 6 in the series (best deal), but you can purchase them individually as well.

Gutsy Girls: Strong Christian Women who Impacted the World

My girls love these and they will find the latest book, Sojourner Truth, under the tree this year.

The Puffin in Bloom Classics

The books are so pretty! My oldest daughter is collecting the set and she is hoping to find Heidi under the tree this year.

Advent

This is the perfect reason to gift (or pick up) a book this time of year. I wrote an entire post on advent books over herebut this year I am excited to start Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp and I’ll be taking my kids through another book in the Jotham’s Journey series. If you haven’t discovered this series yet, you are in for a huge treat!

Okay, that is more than enough options to help you spend your $15 well, but if you want a few more ideas you can also peruse the following posts: