Best Books for Christmas

Sumizeit turns nonfiction books into short summaries you can read, listen to, or watch.

Quick summary

A good Christmas book matches the person, not the bestseller list. For the curious friend, give Factfulness. For the person who wants a fresh start in January, give Atomic Habits. For anyone who likes a great life story, give Born a Crime, Becoming, or Educated. For a laugh, give Bossypants. Below you'll find twelve books sorted by who's getting them.

How to choose a the best books for christmas

Buying a book for someone else is harder than buying one for yourself. You can't see their shelf, and you don't want to guess wrong and hand them homework.

A few rules help. Pick a book you've read or at least read a summary of, so you can say why you chose it. Avoid anything that hints at a problem, like a weight loss book or a book on fixing your marriage, unless they asked for it. And when you're unsure, choose a story. Memoirs and narrative nonfiction work for almost everyone because they read like novels.

If you want to test a book before you buy it, read the summary on Sumizeit first. It takes a few minutes and tells you whether the ideas fit the person.

For the friend who loves a great life story

Becoming by Michelle Obama

This memoir follows Michelle Obama from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to the White House. She writes about her family, her career, her marriage, and the pressure of public life with real honesty. It works for readers of nearly any age. Here's the Becoming summary, and you can see what she reads in Michelle Obama's book recommendations.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Noah was born in South Africa to a Black mother and a white father when apartheid law made their relationship illegal. He tells the story of growing up there with a lot of humor and a lot of heart. His mother is the star of the book. It's funny, tense, and moving, and people finish it in a weekend. See the Born a Crime summary.

Educated by Tara Westover

Westover grew up in a survivalist family in rural Idaho and didn't step inside a classroom until she was a teenager. She went on to earn a PhD from Cambridge. The book is about education, family loyalty, and what it costs to choose your own path. It's a hard read in places and a great gift for someone who likes to think. Read the Educated summary or our longer Educated book summary post.

For the person who likes to laugh

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Fey's memoir covers her years in improv, writing for Saturday Night Live, and creating 30 Rock. It's sharp, self deprecating, and full of practical thoughts on working with difficult people. It's one of the best books to give a coworker or a sister. Check the Bossypants summary.

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Alderton writes about friendship, bad dates, and growing up in your twenties. It's funny and warm, and it has a few lines that make you put the book down and stare at the wall. It's a great pick for a friend in her twenties or thirties. See the Everything I Know About Love summary.

For the curious person who wants to learn something

Factfulness by Hans Rosling

Rosling argues that the world is in better shape than most of us think, and he backs it up with data. He also explains why our brains lean toward drama and fear. It's a hopeful book, which is a good thing to give in December. Take a look at the Factfulness summary.

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

McDougall goes looking for a hidden tribe of Mexican runners and ends up in a story about ultramarathons, injury, and why humans love to run. You don't have to be a runner to enjoy it. It reads like an adventure novel. Read the Born to Run summary.

Business Adventures by John Brooks

This collection of stories about famous business events is a favorite of Bill Gates, who has called it the best business book he's read. It's a thoughtful gift for a manager, founder, or anyone who likes to see how big companies get into trouble. Here's the Business Adventures summary.

Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull

Catmull co founded Pixar, and he writes about how to build a team that can keep making good work. It's about management, but it's also about fear and honesty. Give it to anyone who leads people or makes things. See the Creativity Inc summary.

For the person who wants a fresh start

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Every January brings a wave of people who want to change something. This is the book that helps them follow through. Clear explains how small, repeatable actions add up over time. It's the safest self improvement gift on the list. Start with the Atomic Habits summary.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Gilbert writes about living a creative life without letting fear run it. She's warm, funny, and a little bit mystical. Give it to a friend who says they've always wanted to write, paint, or start something. Here's the Big Magic summary.

A Gentle Reminder by Bianca Sparacino

This book is a collection of essays and short pieces about healing, letting go, and starting again. It's gentle and quick to read, which makes it a good choice for someone going through a hard year. See the A Gentle Reminder summary.

More gift lists for specific readers

Some readers need a narrower list. If you're shopping for someone who likes a dark story, try our guide to the best true crime books. For someone who loves biography, see the 20 best biographies of all time. For a romance reader who prefers to listen, our list of romance audiobooks is a good start.

Buying for someone in business? Try the best books for founders or the best leadership books. For a person who follows famous readers, the posts on Joe Rogan's book recommendations and Elon Musk's reading list make good shortcuts. And if you want a big menu, see 100 life changing nonfiction books.

A few tips for giving the best books for christmas

Write a short note inside the cover. Two sentences about why you picked it means more than the book itself. Order early, because popular titles sell out in December. And don't feel bad if you pick a paperback. Most readers prefer one they can toss in a bag.

If you're not sure the person reads much, go for a short book with a strong story. Born a Crime and Bossypants both work well for people who haven't read in a while.

Final thought

The best Christmas book is one that makes the person feel seen. Think about what they've been dealing with this year, what they love, and what they'd never buy for themselves. Then pick the book that fits.

And if you're buying for yourself, that's allowed too.

Sumizeit turns nonfiction books into short summaries you can read, listen to, or watch. Try it at sumizeit.com.