Best Christmas Gift Books for Every Kind of Reader (Part 1)

The best book gifts are matched to the person, not the bestseller list. A reader who loves a gripping sci-fi adventure will not necessarily thank you for a heavy history, and the friend who is always working on themselves may already own three habit books. The ten picks below are each matched to a specific kind of reader, so you can go through your Christmas list and find the right book for each name.

1. For the Self-Improver: Atomic Habits by James Clear

A practical, clearly written guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones through small changes that compound over time. It works for almost anyone who wants to improve something in their life, which makes it a safe gift for a colleague, a sibling, or a friend starting the new year with big plans.

2. For the Person Who Wants to Understand Money: The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

A collection of short, story-driven chapters arguing that how we behave with money matters more than how much we know about it. It requires no financial background, so it suits a young professional, a new business owner, or anyone who finds personal finance books intimidating.

3. For the Memoir Lover: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah's memoir of growing up in South Africa during and after apartheid, as the son of a Black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss father, at a time when his very existence was illegal. Funny, moving, and often startling, it is an easy recommendation for readers who like a true story with a strong voice.

4. For the Sci-Fi Fan: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

A lone astronaut wakes up on a spacecraft with no memory of who he is or why he is there, and slowly realizes that the survival of humanity depends on him. Fast, funny, and full of clever problem solving, it is a good gift for science fiction fans and an even better one for people who think they don't like science fiction.

5. For the Fantasy Reader Who Wants Something Different: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

A man lives alone in an infinite house of halls, statues, and tides, until fragments of a forgotten life begin to surface. Short, strange, and winner of the 2021 Women's Prize for Fiction, it suits the fantasy reader who has already read the big series and wants a single, unforgettable standalone.

6. For the Lover of Sweeping Stories: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Two half-sisters are born in different villages in eighteenth century Ghana, one married to a British slave trader and the other sold into slavery, and the novel follows their descendants across generations in Africa and America. Each chapter is almost a short story, which makes it a good gift for readers who like historical fiction but have a busy December.

7. For the Reader Who Needs Comfort: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

A retired orc mercenary opens a coffee shop in a city that has never seen coffee, in a gentle, low-stakes story that helped start the "cozy fantasy" trend. It is the ideal gift for a tired friend who wants something warm and easy to read over the holidays.

8. For the Curious Mind: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

A sweeping history of humankind, from the first humans to the present day, asking how our species came to dominate the planet. It gives a general reader a big picture of history in one volume, and it tends to start conversations at the dinner table, which is no bad thing at Christmas.

9. For the Reader Who Loves a Good Question: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Nora Seed finds herself in a library between life and death, where every book is a different version of her life, had she made different choices. Warm and thought provoking, it is a good gift for anyone going through a change, or anyone who likes fiction that leaves you thinking about your own choices.

10. For the Classic Lover: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Elizabeth Bennet's sharp wit and Mr. Darcy's slow-burn change of heart remain as enjoyable now as they were in 1813. A handsome hardback edition makes a lovely keepsake gift for a reader who already knows the story, and an inviting entry point for someone who has never tried Austen.

Where to Find These Books in Kenya

All the titles above are in stock at Readers' Republik, with delivery across Nairobi and the rest of Kenya. Explore more in these collections:

Frequently Asked Questions.

What is the best Christmas gift book if I don't know what the person likes to read? Atomic Habits, The Psychology of Money, and Born a Crime are all widely appealing, easy to read, and rarely feel like a risky choice.

Which of these books is best for someone who doesn't read much? Legends & Lattes and Project Hail Mary are both fast, enjoyable reads that pull people in quickly, and The Psychology of Money is easy to read in short chapters.

Which of these makes the best gift for a teenager or young adult? Project Hail Mary, Born a Crime, and Atomic Habits all work well for older teens and young adults.

Is there a Part 2 to this gift guide? Yes, Part 2 covers ten more reader types and ten more books, so you can keep going down your list.

Which of these books are good for readers who love African stories? Homegoing and Born a Crime both draw on African history and experience, and both are very readable.