Chapter 49 - All I Want For Christmas

Wow! Here it is December and we are almost ready to say goodbye to 2020! My personal theme for the year was focus (get the 2020 thing?), but even I have to admit that has been a struggle after the roller coaster year we've had. Like you I'm sure, many of the things I had planned to do have just fallen by the wayside as we've worked hard just to adjust to new norms.

While I've done a fairly good job of sending presents and cards this year, (I feel that cards were especially important), there are still a few people on my list who need presents. Here I am sliding into the last days of pre-Christmas activity with a few loose ends to tie up. If you are also trying to finish up the Christmas rush here are some suggestions.

Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travel List 2: The Best Places on the Planet by Lonely Planet - Obviously this year was a year when travel was extremely limited so if you have a friend or family member who has wanderlust this just might be the present for him/her. The full color book lists 500 places ranked by the travel gurus at Lonely Planet as places you just must visit. This beautiful book has a retail of less than $25.00.

Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten - I first became aware of this book when a customer asked us to order it for her. Ina, who always makes cooking easy and fun, has compiled a wonderful collection of dishes that feed body and soul and just might keep you from grabbing a pint of ice cream from the freezer!

The Art Book (Revised and Expanded 2020 Edition) by Phaidon - This originally came out in 2012 but the new and expanded edition contains an additional 40 works of art and artists. Each page of the book lists an author and his/her major work, time period, and art movement the work represents. If you have an art lover in your life - this might just be the gift you are looking for!

Victory: World War II in Real Time by The Associated Press - In celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II, this book covers the war through "breaking news” stories and photographs from the Associated Press who was the main US chronicler of the conflict. The war is depicted chronologically so the reader can follow the events as they happened. If you have a history buff in your life this could be a great gift!

Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe by Brian Greene - For the science oriented readers among us, this new (2020) book by Brian Greene would be a good choice. In this book, Greene writes about humankind's search for meaning in our universe as he goes from the big bang to the end of time.

What's on your Christmas book giving list this year? Please share.