Review: Some practical advice for selecting the right gifts
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 30, 2013
I know people who love choosing the perfect gift for each friend or relative they're getting gifts for, but for many people - like me - it's mostly a chore, something to be avoided until the last minute. Kudos to author John Wilson for trying to put some method into the sometimes maddening process of gift selection. In his short book "Gift Ideas 101," he presents twelve basic approaches to selecting an appropriate gift for each person on your list. Some of his ideas are fairly obvious (some people would most appreciate cash or gift cards, for example), but some of them aren't (numerology in several varieties or even astrology).Two different ways to use checklists lead off the book. One checklist method focuses on the individual, homing in on their characteristics and interests, the other is more random and includes a list of 200 gifts that can be selected or may give you other ideas. One approach is to simply ask the intended recipient (or someone in their family) what they want - just hope it's not too expensive for your budget! Don't think only of physical gifts; some people might love to receive a prepaid flying lesson or bonsai lessons (I got bonsai lessons once, and I loved it). Books and magazine subscriptions are still popular, you just need to know if the giftee prefers printed material or digital. The author emphasizes that much of the pain of gift selection results from waiting till the last minute. Properly done, it's a year-round activity, always being on the alert for a gift that a particular person might love.The book contains some good ideas, including some innovative approaches that many readers may not have considered. Some are down to earth, and some are even a bit whimsical, but they're all intended to help select a gift that will be appreciated, and to make the gift-giving process a bit less painful.