The Gift That Keeps On Giving!

‘Tis better to give than to receive!”

It is December, 2022 and many of us have begun the process of buying gifts for our friends, family and loved ones for the holiday season! While many holidays are being celebrated, most have in common some form of gift giving. It’s a way to show our love and appreciation for those people whom we hold near and dear in our heart. However, the question is, what should we give? Should we buy something? Give money or a gift card? And how much should we spend? To be honest, all of these considerations can cause lots of stress and take away the joy of the actual giving. And then of course the question… will they like it?

What do you give the “girl” or “guy” who has everything?

I’d like everyone reading this to consider giving…the gift of a good book!

My name is George Davis and I’m the CEO/Executive Director of Touchstone Tutoring & Mentoring Services, Inc. A 501 C 3 non profit company. We provide excellent youth and community education programs and perhaps our signature program is The Frederick Douglass Reading Society (FDRS). I started the FDRS because I believe that if it is one single thing that drives progress in education it is becoming a reader! And I’d like to touch on a few points about reading as it applies during the holiday season.

Books are great gifts because they are inexpensive, they can be life changing, they’re for all ages and reading them together is an excellent group activity!

Books have probably never been more inexpensive than they are right now! Companies like Amazon and Ebay have tons of books, old and new, for sale at a variety of great prices. You can buy them new, or used. There are still brick and mortar companies like Barnes and Noble where books can be purchased from as well. Depending on the condition, subject matter and whether it’s still in print or not, a book can be purchased from anywhere from a buck or two on up… Personally, I love to go thrifting (goodwill stores, flea markets, garage sales, etc.) and you can find great variety and bargains there as well! You can purchase a good book or two for your loved ones and it definitely won’t break the bank.

Now… the question then becomes, will they actually read the book once it’s been given to them? Well, it’s certainly possible because a good book can be life changing! It’s true that while a good number of Americans don’t read extensively as a whole, a carefully selected book, suited especially for them, has a great chance of being read and appreciated by most anyone who can in fact read. Do you know someone who wants to lose weight? Find someone to be in a relationship with? Make more money or change careers? Well, imagine them opening a carefully selected book for them, by you, wrapped beautifully, that addresses something near and dear to them that they really want to learn about? It might even be a hobby that they’re really into, like sports or music. Maybe they don’t read in general, but they are so interested in the subject matter that they read it because you brought it to their attention… It can literally change their life. By presenting them with new information, or a point of view they hadn’t considered. It may be a catalyst for them to make a big change in their life. Or just be a source of entertainment that’s kind of unique to them in this age of social media, apps and endless music and tv streaming services and the like.

Books are for all ages. For a few bucks, you can find books for toddlers right on up to Grandma and Grandpa and everyone in between! And it’s a great group activity! You can read to each other. A family or group of friends can read the same book and have regular discussions on what was read. And it can be powerful too. The topic can be something specific to that group that’s informational, or just entertaining.

I’d personally recommend at least one book for each of your loved ones on a topic or subject that shows your personal knowledge of their needs, likes or dislikes. Also, make sure it’s personalized. Most books have a blank page or two right around the beginning where you can sign your name and write a personal message to them. I guarantee, they won’t throw it away, even if they don’t read it immediately. And months and years later, imagine the great sentimental value to them to read that special message you wrote just for them!

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t add that there are great portable digital reading devices out there that make great presents too! And much like movies, tv and music, there are subscription services and sites (like Chicago Public Library!) that offer digital books and audio versions if the one to whom you are giving prefers that method.

In the end, reading, and reading more often provides endless opportunities of growth, information, and overall enjoyment! And whatever method of reading you give, it’s something that can be enjoyed over and over again for years to come. So… this holiday season, while you are thinking about what to give your friends, family and loved ones, give the gift that keeps on giving!

The gift of reading!