Gifts for Readers

Books and reading gear for people who read, listen, write or love a good mystery.

What are they into?

Book lovers

All 19 ideas →

  1. Glocusent LED Neck Reading Light

    Hangs around the neck and lights the page without lighting the room, so a partner can sleep. Works for paperbacks and e-readers alike.

    GlocusentUnder $25Stocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  2. Vekkia Clip-On Book Light

    A small rechargeable clip light with warm and cool settings. Better than a phone flashlight for late-night chapters on a plane or in bed.

    VekkiaUnder $25Stocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  3. Moleskine Passions Book Journal

    A hardcover reading log with tabbed sections for books read, wish lists, quotes and loans. Satisfying for readers who like to keep track.

    MoleskineUnder $50

    See it on Amazon

  4. Brightech Litespan LED Reading Floor Lamp

    A slim floor lamp with a flexible neck that aims bright light straight at the page. The fix for the reading chair in the dim corner.

    BrightechUnder $100

    See it on Amazon

  5. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB)

    For the reader whose nightstand is collapsing. Glare-free in sunlight, warm light at night, waterproof, and it borrows library books through Libby.

    Amazon$100 and up

    See it on Amazon

Fantasy readers

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  1. The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

    Book one of the Stormlight Archive, the big modern epic that many readers rank above everything else. For someone who has finished their last series and wants a long one.

    Brandon SandersonUnder $25Book

    See it on Amazon

  2. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

    A heist novel in a world where the hero won, with a metal-burning magic system that rewards attention. The usual entry point to Sanderson.

    Brandon SandersonUnder $25Book

    See it on Amazon

  3. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Hardcover)

    Dragon riders, a deadly war college and a romance between enemies. It is the fastest way into romantasy, and the sequels are already out.

    Rebecca YarrosUnder $50Book

    See it on Amazon

  4. The Lord of the Rings: Illustrated by the Author

    The full trilogy in one volume with Tolkien's own maps, drawings and paintings. A shelf edition for the reader who already owns three battered paperbacks.

    J.R.R. TolkienUnder $100BookFor display

    See it on Amazon

  5. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB)

    Thousand-page fantasy doorstops weigh almost nothing on a Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited is where much of LitRPG lives. The upgrade a fantasy reader will use every day.

    Amazon$100 and up

    See it on Amazon

Audiobook listeners

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  1. JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds

    Tiny, cheap earbuds with a long-lasting case. A stocking stuffer for the listener who keeps losing theirs.

    JLabUnder $25Stocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  2. Apple EarPods (USB-C)

    Wired earbuds that never need charging, for the listener whose wireless pair always dies halfway through a chapter. Plugs into a recent iPhone or iPad.

    AppleUnder $25Stocking stuffer

    See it on Amazon

  3. Audible Premium Plus Gift Membership

    Monthly credits for any audiobook they choose, plus the included catalog. You pick the number of months, it arrives by email, and nothing needs to be guessed about their taste.

    AudibleUnder $50Arrives by emailAn experience

    See it on Amazon

  4. Soundcore by Anker Life Q30 Noise Cancelling Headphones

    Solid noise canceling and very long battery life for a fraction of the flagship price. A sensible pick for a commuter who listens for hours a day.

    SoundcoreUnder $100

    See it on Amazon

  5. Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones

    Excellent noise canceling and comfortable enough for a full flight. Engine drone and office chatter fade away, and the narrator is all that is left.

    Sony$100 and up

    See it on Amazon

Writers and journalers

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  1. Moleskine Classic Notebook, Hard Cover, Large

    The familiar black notebook that lives in a bag and gets filled with ideas. Best with gel or ballpoint pens.

    MoleskineUnder $25

    See it on Amazon

  2. Midori MD Notebook A5

    Cream paper in a simple cover that lies flat. Takes fountain-pen ink well, and minimalists love it.

    MidoriUnder $25

    See it on Amazon

  3. LEUCHTTURM1917 Medium A5 Dotted Hardcover Notebook

    The standard bullet-journal notebook, with numbered pages, an index and two ribbon markers. Comes in many colors.

    LEUCHTTURM1917Under $50

    See it on Amazon

  4. Traveler's Company Traveler's Notebook, Regular Size, Brown

    A leather cover with swappable paper inserts that ages beautifully with use. A cult favorite among journalers, and it becomes theirs over time.

    Traveler's CompanyUnder $100

    See it on Amazon

  5. Kindle Scribe

    A large e-ink tablet that works like writing on paper, with no glare or notifications. Drafts and journals live in one place, and handwriting converts to text.

    Amazon$100 and up

    See it on Amazon

True crime fans

All 20 ideas →

  1. In Cold Blood

    The book that started modern true crime, about the 1959 Clutter family murders in Kansas. Fans should own it if they do not already.

    Truman CapoteUnder $25Book

    See it on Amazon

  2. I'll Be Gone in the Dark

    McNamara's obsessive hunt for the Golden State Killer, published shortly before he was caught. Gripping and humane.

    Michelle McNamaraUnder $25Book

    See it on Amazon

  3. Hunt A Killer Death at the Dive Bar

    A box of evidence, documents and clues to solve a murder at home. A one-night game for a fan who has always thought they could crack a case.

    Hunt A KillerUnder $50An experience

    See it on Amazon

  4. Soundcore Space One Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

    Solid noise cancelling and long battery life at a much lower cost than the big brands. A good choice for podcast listeners on a budget.

    Anker SoundcoreUnder $100

    See it on Amazon

  5. Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones

    Excellent noise cancelling and voice clarity for hours of podcasts on a commute or flight. Comfortable through a full season of episodes.

    Sony$100 and up

    See it on Amazon

Horror fans

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  1. The Shining

    The haunted-hotel novel that most fans only know from the movie. The book is scarier in different ways.

    Stephen KingUnder $25Book

    See it on Amazon

  2. Mexican Gothic

    A stylish gothic horror novel set in a rotting mansion in 1950s Mexico. A modern favorite for readers who liked Rebecca or Crimson Peak.

    Silvia Moreno-GarciaUnder $25Book

    See it on Amazon

  3. Resident Evil 4 (PlayStation 5)

    The remake of the action-horror classic, tense and very replayable. A good pick even for fans who played the original.

    CapcomUnder $50

    See it on Amazon

  4. Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 5)

    The faithful remake of one of the most respected psychological horror games ever made. Slow, foggy and deeply unsettling.

    KonamiUnder $100

    See it on Amazon

  5. Meta Quest 3S 128GB

    Horror is scariest in VR, where there is no looking away from the screen. A strong library of horror games makes it worth it for a fan who likes to be terrified.

    Meta$100 and upAn experience

    See it on Amazon

History buffs

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  1. SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

    A Cambridge classicist tells the story of Rome's first thousand years with wit and skepticism. A good choice for someone who liked the Rome documentaries and wants more.

    Mary BeardUnder $25Book

    See it on Amazon

  2. The Guns of August

    The Pulitzer-winning account of the first month of World War I, written with a novelist's pace. Many history readers name it as the book that hooked them.

    Barbara W. TuchmanUnder $25Book

    See it on Amazon

  3. Band of Brothers Blu-ray

    The ten-part HBO series following Easy Company from D-Day to the end of the war in Europe. Many World War II fans rewatch it every year or two.

    HBOUnder $50An experience

    See it on Amazon

  4. The Civil War: A Narrative, 3-Volume Box Set

    Foote's three-volume history, written as one long story and made famous by the Ken Burns documentary. Something a Civil War reader will work through for a year.

    Shelby FooteUnder $100BookFor display

    See it on Amazon

  5. LEGO Architecture Notre-Dame de Paris 21061

    A detailed model of the cathedral, including the spire rebuilt after the 2019 fire. Hours of building for an adult, and a striking piece to display afterward.

    LEGO$100 and upFor display

    See it on Amazon