Gifts for Grads - Books are Easy to Wrap

Let's face it, when it comes to great gifts for High School and College Grads, "money" is the right answer.

But how imaginative is that? When you want to include a thoughtful little something for the graduate, consider a book that won't feel like another assignment, but that will engage the graduate's gray matter.

Here, three suggestions. Got other ideas? Share them in the comments or on my Facebook page!

Great book for any female graduate, public health or medical school graduate: The Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks

(Yes I know it's a new HBO movie. Yes of course the book is better. Also, remember - should said grad be celebrating with a little getaway, she'll incur no data charges when reading an actual book.)

Perfect gift for the grad with an entrepreneurial bent, but without a plan: Life is Good - The Book

An excellent pick for either a high school or college grad - and under $20!

Excellent idea for a college grad with an interest in plants and biology: The Cabaret of Plants

Lots of big words, even more fascinating info. Note: not for the kid who had to repeat biochem. 



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Consider this your friendly reminder: 'tis the season to stock up on graduation cards, money and/or gift cards, and thoughtful gifts -- that are easy to wrap and make you look smart. Books might even help the graduate find his or her way to health, happiness, enlightenment, or at least, a job. 

If that sounds a bit unlikely, remember - books are easy to wrap. 

Enjoy graduation season! 

Grad gift: More than a money holder

Sure, grads need cash. It's gotta be the most appreciated gift of all time. Gift cards are almost certainly the second favored item, right? And they're easy on the giver, minimal shopping and wrapping and all that. But.

They're so. You know. Nondescript. Unimaginative. Borrrrrrring.

Giving a grad a gift like cash or pre-paid gift cards is practical, sure to inspire sincere "thanks" and yet, the grateful word is so often accompanied by the look that says, "Boy, you put a lot of thought into that, huh?"

Enter the book. You can stand out from the other check-writing, gift card-toting graduation party attendees by sticking your check, cash, or gift card into a clever (good) book. You know I love The Naked Roommate (snicker if you want to; it is full of practical advice for college-bound high school grads) but there are more, newer titles to consider - some perfect for college graduation gifts, as well as high school pomp and circumstance. Some ... are really only "perfect" if you know the graduate's parents really well. Just think before you wrap, OK?

A few on my graduate gift-giving radar:

No Money? No Problem (see how that title could double as an excuse for the low amount of your check?), Cool Shit (sort of 'The Dangerous Book' for teens/adults who aren't quite grownups) and the give-at-your-own-risk Get Laid. 

No, I don't make this s... stuff up. What about you? What books are you wrapping up for graduates in the class of 2012? Please share... it's almost party time!

Turn to Books for Mother's Day, Graduation

Want to get mom a page-turner for Mother's Day? Give a grad a good book? Well, of course I wholly support that notion.

You could go for the easy choice - a book about moms, like the ones I reviewed for The Plain Dealer a few Mother's Days ago (now available on Kindle). Or wrap up the resume-building book of the month for your grad and cross 'get a gift' off your to-do list.

Or you could take a different tack and not point out mom's mommy-ness (trust me, by the 6,000th time you've heard yourself referred by your parental moniker instead of your name, you get it) instead, celebrating what mom is in addition to all that maternal goodness.

Similarly, while the grads you know will surely appreciate money, awesome business card holders, money, briefcases, money, how-to-get-a-job books, or money, perhaps they too would welcome a chance to shake off the label ("student" or "graduate") they've worn so long, and would revel in a little token honoring their personhood.

To stir your imagination, then - 

Is mom a shutterbug?
Beyond Snapshots and several other nice titles for moms who are ready to take their fancy cameras off the Auto setting and take awesome photos of children (theirs or someone else's) can be found at my favorite photo-tip site, Digital Photography School.

Speak to her romantic side...
Book clubs are snapping up and tittering about 50 Shades of Grey and it's the first of a trilogy, so there's more where that came from if she likes it. ("It" being erotica, aka soft porn, but quite well written - at least, so I've heard.)

Or maybe mom's into yoga, beekeeping or blackjack. I think you get my point. Before she was a mom, that woman had her own personality, her own interests, her own je ne sais quoi - and she still does. (It's just really, really hard to see behind the mommy mask.)

Take the same approach to shopping for a graduate, and your gift is sure to stand out. You can go for the obvious - pick one of those well-timed 'how to get a job' books - or you could think, what does he like to do? Where does she wish she could go? and go from there.

If you can't come up with a title that's a perfect fit, you can always fall back the cliched but pleasingly psychedelic Dr. Seuss title, Oh! the Places You'll Go! It appears on everyone's annual what-book-to-get-for-a-grad lists, but frankly, I think giving that as a graduation gift screams "amateur," don't you? 

On the other hand, there are those grads you have to buy a gift for whom you'll never really get to know (boss's son, for one) and such standard fare is appropriate in those cases. Maybe The Naked Roommate isn't appropriate for the boss's son, but I couldn't leave it out of this piece - it's my all-time favorite title for a high school graduate.  OK, now off to shop, ya'll. You have some gifts to buy!
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What to get the teacher?
I'd be silly not to mention this great title for a teacher gift: 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of .... OK, Cleveland comes to mind (I know the author, wink, wink) but several dozen other cities also occur to me. That's because the 60 Hikes within 60 Miles of .... books are available for Seattle, San Diego, Chicago, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and oodles of other major metro areas. After a long school year, I'm pretty sure most teachers would love to spend a few hours on a nice, quite, peaceful trail that doesn't have to be graded, copied, or discussed at a meeting. Just sayin'.

The Naked Roommate Makes a Good Graduation Gift

If you can believe the cover blurb, Harlan Cohen's The Naked Roommate and 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College is THE #1 GOING-TO-COLLEGE BOOK! Dubious as I am, after picking it up this weekend, in all seriousness, I recommend it as a great graduation gift. And it's under $20!

I'm on a bit of a losing streak lately with books, buying titles I was "sure" would delight that disappointed instead, so I was glad the weekend allowed for a bit of browsing at Borders. (Doubly glad our nearby Borders is still open!)

The Naked Roommate, 4th edition, hit shelves April 1. I recommend it because it's one of those great books that actually lives up to its title - the good advice inside is as easily-absorbed as the catchy cover and title. 

I suspect most people (ok, old people like me) who made it through college would give much of the same advice to today's graduates, and being the parent of a teen, I'm pretty darned sure the kids won't listen. So I'll put it this way: I sure wish I'd read the chapter on credit cards before my junior year,  and the advice about getting to know your advisor probably would have made a world of difference in my college (and career) experience.

But enough about my mistakes. Cohen has done a very nice job packaging his advice, and he offers at least a little to help in dealing with a variety of college experiences. 

He leads with a few short sections on arriving on campus and what to do about homesickness, then covers social situations (from the titular roommate to drugs, clubs, and religion) and writes less than 20 pages each on Greek life and athletics. In between, he spends more time (an entire chapter) on 'Life Inside the Classroom,' which is also packed with good advice. At the end of each chapter there's a summary called Harlan's Tip Sheet. If the college-bound student read only those tips, the book would ease the student's transition and improve his odds for success.

In short, I'm glad that I found the book, and I plan to take The Naked Roommate to a few graduation parties with me. (As a gift!) Sigh. I'll admit that was a bit crass. I hope you'll forgive me for trying a little SEO experiment with this alluring title.

For additional titular pleasure, visit Cohen's website all about The Naked Roommate.