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I've always been confused by the prospect of books a gifts.

A gift card to a book store? Yes, absolutely. Specific books that you have listed? Yeah, sort of? I don't know. A special edition (signed, etc.) of a known favorite? 100% yes!

So what are people's thoughts on this?

• Are you for it?
• If not, are there any circumstances where you would be?
• If you are for it, why? Like, do you just believe that anyone gifting you a book would know your tastes enough (and what you already own enough) to know what to get you?

I would love to get books as a gift as long as they come with the option to replace them. I used to give books as gifts as well, but not anymore. As you said, it is a matter of taste.

I think a gift card is the best for all concerned, the giver and the receiver.

I would prefer a gift card. A book you might think is good might not appeal to me. However if you ask me about my prefrence before purchasing a book then I won't mind as much. Nevertheless, gifts are gifts.

A gift card would be best for every book lover and especially for someone who you know reads but you don't know what books they love the most.

A real book could be given to someone you know well, as you'll know about their tastes and gift them accordingly. Think about that time a friend of yours mentioned this book to you which they would like to read. Gift them that book.

That is actually what my family is doing for Christmas this year. We each said what genre of book we wanted and our Secret Santa is going to buy us a book from that genre. I really love getting books as gifts because I have a hard time convincing myself to buy them for me.

My own experience:

Around the time that I was really getting into reading and forming my (then) preferences, I had someone give me books for my birthday, and they were not anything that I would ever read. This was someone who was supposed to know me, had borrowed books from me.
So, yeah, books, much like music, are too personal to be a good gift outside of some very specific situations, for me.

Some of my favorite books have been ones I've received as gifts. I don't think I'd want a book from just anyone, but someone I'm close to who read something and wants to share that experience with me is always something I love.

I would very much appreciate a book for a gift! The thought matters, and I am always interested in knowing why one would pick a particular book for me to read. A gift card is much better though because I can select something I would enjoy.

This year for Christmas someone insisted on getting me a book, so I gave them a list of a few that I'd like to read. I told them to pick one and give it to me the next time we meet and I'm actually quite excited to see what they chose.

Yes! Books are extremely expensive, and I enjoy most books. I hope someone bought me one for Christmas.

Please Santa...

I would prefer a book as a gift especially if the giver knows the kind of books I like, but nevertheless, I like books as gifts.

If I know the person well and I know what sort of book they like, then yes. Or gifting a book or book set they really wanted for a long time, then also yes. If not, a gift card is a great option.

If you know the person and what they would like then yes. But if you don't then stick with a gift card at a book shop or something.

If you know the person well, you may give him the specific book you chose.otherwise, the card is a good idea if you are not sure of the prospect's taste.

I'd love to get books as gifts! But, yeah, books are personal, so I hope at least the giver knows my preference, or at least they won't take it to heart when I start criticizing the book they give. "Sorry, it's the author. Not you."

Similarly, I'd love to give books as gifts, but only to people I know pretty well, so I know how much they love reading and what kind of books they'd like to read. It's very rare, though. I don't think that many people around me love reading. So it would be a gift card for them.