I included some of my favourite Etsy products in my collection of the best stocking stuffers and small gifts for book lovers, but this list is 100% Etsy.

Browse and find some inspiration for the best bookish gifts that aren’t books this Christmas, including gorgeous products from both UK and US Etsy stores. These make for the perfect small gifts for book lovers, as well as ideal companions to give with a beautiful book gift.

The best gifts (that aren’t books) for book lovers from Etsy

1. Literary Emporium Bookish Mug and Tea Set

How about combining a beautiful book, a box of relaxing tea, and a cute book-themed mug as a thoughtful gift for your favourite book lover? This bookish mug and tea set from UK-based Etsy store Literary Emporium is sure to be a hit with bookworms.

2. Reading list bookmark

I read a lot… and often lose track of what I’ve been reading. To remedy this, these reading list bookmarks are a fun offline way to track what you’re reading and what you think of each book. I think they would be a great gift to accompany a beautiful book.

3. Old books candle

How could I not mention a bookish candle? Etsy has so many fantastic options to choose from, including this gorgeous soy candle from Frostbeard Studio. I received it as a Christmas gift a few years ago and loved it. The smell of aged paper and dusty shelves? Yes please.

4. Book reading tracker print

I love this reading tracker print from the UK-based Etsy shop britishbookart. It’s perfect for bookish and creative people, offering the freedom to illustrate the print with the spines of the books they’ve been reading. You can also get a cute bookmark version of the book tracker print.

5. Reading tracker bookmark

From the same shop, you can also find this lovely reading habit bookmark to celebrate the days you pick up a book in the year ahead.

6. A candle inspired by a favourite book

Okay, just one more bookish candle. I love this idea of a book-themed candle with the cover of a favourite book and tailored scents to match the book.

Booked Candles, a North Carolina-based Etsy store, includes bookish candles inspired by popular books such as Where the Crawdads Sing, It Ends with Us, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

This candle inspired by Circe by Madeline Miller offers a potent, heady blend of sweet, spicy, and earthy notes that’s infused with cedarwood, orange, clove, and patchouli.

7. Book quote pencils to annotate books

How about these book quote pencils from UK Etsy store mapleandgrace to make notes in books or a reading journal?

8. Custom-made book stack poster

I love this idea for a customizable book poster that features the spines of favourite books. The only question to decide: which books will you choose? The elegantly minimalist print below is from a UK-based shop, but here are some US-based alternatives.

9. Bookish stickers by StickySociety

These bookish stickers by StickySociety on Etsy are a cute small gift for the book lovers in your life to adorn their laptop, reading journal, or workspace.

10. A beautiful reading journal

Every bookworm deserves a beautiful book journal to track what they’re reading. One of my favourites is this lovely journal by UK-based Etsy store lucysaysido.

It’s fountain pen friendly, lays completely flat, and includes space for 100 double-page reviews… as well as lists for book club suggestions, books to read next, characters to remember, favourite quotes, and more.

11. A pretty booklover bookmark to mark your page

You can’t go wrong with a bookmark as a gift for book lovers. This gorgeous bookmark with a tassel makes for a perfect stocking stuffer or a small gift to accompany a beautiful book present.

12. A custom poster of a favourite book

How about a poster of your loved one’s favourite book as a personalized gift to treasure? These custom posters by UK seller Whoom let you choose a book and a favourite quote for a fully-customized poster print.

13. Cute magnetic bookmarks

Quirky magnetic bookmarks can be a unique gift for book lovers to enjoy using in their daily reading time. I love these bookmarks from StickySociety on Etsy.

14. Bookish wrapping paper and washi tape

To wrap up your gifts for bookworms, why not continue the theme with a bookish wrapping paper? Texas-based Etsy shop janemount has some gorgeous choices.

I also love this gorgeous book-themed washi tape from Literary Emporium…

After thinking about gifts for others, why not treat yourself? Enjoy curling up with one of the coziest books for winter reading or one of the most heartwarming Christmas books for some time to relax and unwind.

The post 14 of the best gifts for book lovers from Etsy in 2022 appeared first on Tolstoy Therapy.

When I think about the best Christmas books for adults, these are the books that come to mind (although I have included some Christmas books for children here too).

Read on for unique and cozy Christmas books from unexpected authors, as well as the most famous Christmas books and classics that are still worth reading in 2022. These are all great choices to read in December to get you in the festive spirit. What will you read and enjoy this year?

The best books to read at Christmas in 2022

1. The Penguin Book of Christmas Stories by Jessica Harrison

This gorgeous new addition to the Penguin Clothbound Classics series is a treasure trove of heartwarming Christmas stories. With stunning cover art by Coralie Bickford-Smith, this collection shares the most magical, moving, and wintery Christmas short stories from around the world. It’s especially beautiful as the clothbound hardcover edition.

From frozen Nordic woods to glittering Paris, a New York speakeasy to an English country house, bustling Lagos to midnight mass in Rio, and even outer space, this ultimate festive anthology contains tales from some of the best short story writers, offering little-known treasures from authors including Truman Capote, Dylan Thomas, Saki, and Chekhov.

2. Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien

Did you know that there’s a Christmas book for adults and children by J.R.R. Tolkien? Well, more specifically it’s a collection of his letters to his kids as Father Christmas.

These heartwarming and wonderfully inventive letters share tales of life at the North Pole – including the reindeer escaping and scattering presents all over the place – accompanied by scrawled notes from the Polar Bear and messages from Ilbereth the Elf in his elegant script.

With gorgeous illustrations and Tolkien’s trademark creativity, these letters are a delight to read at any age (and, of course, wonderful to read to children).

3. Christmas at River Cottage by Lucy Brazier and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

This gorgeous Christmas recipe book is a wonderful addition to any festive library. Christmas at River Cottage is a culinary guide that travels from the autumn equinox, through advent and Christmas, and merrily into the new year, offering inspiration, traditions, and delicious recipes for every festive occasion along the way.

As well as tried-and-tested versions of the Christmas classics, the book shares ideas for show-stopping centrepieces, sparkling cocktails, prep-ahead canapes, edible gifts, and livening up leftovers. There are also some handy tips for planning ahead, making natural decorations, effortlessly feeding a crowd, and orchestrating Christmas Dinner so you can also enjoy the magic of the day.

4. Christmas with L.M. Montgomery

These heartwarming holiday stories about everyone’s favourite red-headed orphan feel like a warm hug. Escape into this Christmas collection to join Anne of Green Gables in experiencing the joys and trials of Christmas and the hope of the New Year.

5. The Deal of a Lifetime and Other Stories by Fredrik Backman

From the bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and Beartown comes this collection of three deeply moving stories about facing life’s greatest struggles and treasuring what’s truly important.

One of these stories, The Deal of a Lifetime, is a profound and compassionate novella set on Christmas Eve, telling the story of the intertwining destinies of a man who has built a global business empire but lost his family in the process and a courageous little girl fighting for her life. This story asks: if you had the chance to change your legacy, would you take it?

6. A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens

How could I not include A Christmas Carol in a list of the best Christmas books? Dickens’s classic tale is the quintessential Christmas short story (and one of the best books to make a tradition of reading every December.)

If you treat yourself to a hardcover, I’d recommend this gorgeous Penguin Clothbound Classics edition. It’s a stunningly beautiful book to treasure, complete with some of Dickens’s lesser-known Christmas short stories to enjoy with a slice of stollen.

7. A Literary Christmas: An Anthology by The British Library

This Christmas anthology from The British Library is a real gem of a book. Complete with delicate illustrations, it’s a festive compendium that curates both famous and lesser-known Christmas poems, short stories, and prose extracts by some of the greatest poets and writers in the English language.

From George Eliot to Kenneth Grahame, Jane Austen to Dylan Thomas, read a few pages a day from this wonderfully festive book to soak in the Christmas spirit.

8. Advent: Festive German Bakes to Celebrate the Coming of Christmas by Anja Dunk

Candles are twinkling, the Christmas tree is decorated, the smells of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove fill the kitchen… the Advent season has arrived.

In her cookbook Advent, Anja Dunk shares her favourite recipes for the very best traditional German festive bakes. From lightly spiced Lebkuchen, to marzipan-filled Stollen, edible tree decorations, and a gingerbread house adorned with delicate treats and sugar icicles, this joyfully cozy clothbound volume with fairy-tale vibes and stunning photos will be a family favourite for years to come.

9. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Which children’s books remind you of Christmas? For me it’s either The Snowman by Raymond Briggs (which will always feel like Christmas morning to me) or this iconic choice, The Polar Express by author and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg.

A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical train to the North Pole. After passing through nocturnal forests, towering mountains, and a barren desert of ice, the Polar Express makes its way to the city standing alone at the top of the world. Here, the boy will make his Christmas wish.

Now a beloved Christmas classic for millions of adults, children, and families, The Polar Express is also a Caldecott Medal winner as one of the most beautifully illustrated children’s books.

10. Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

For a Christmas book that’s a little different, read Hogfather by the master of comedic fantasy, Terry Pratchett. In this Discworld novel (which is perfectly fine to read as a standalone), Death takes on the role as Santa. The result is a festive feast of darkness, but with jolly robins and tinsel too.

11. The Book Of Christmas by Christopher Winn

Why do we celebrate Christmas the way we do? In The Book of Christmas, bestselling author and acclaimed historian Christopher Winn lovingly casts a revealing eye over the stories, myths, legends, and traditions from around the world of the most celebrated festival of the year.

From the Druidical origins of mistletoe’s symbolism, to why we send cards, hang decorations, sing carols, eat turkey, and much more, discover the fascinating truth (and oddities) behind this very special holiday in this beautifully produced book, accompanied by charming illustrations.

12. Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

This year, coorie in with one of the coziest books to read at Christmas. In Winter Solstice, the rippling effects of a tragedy bring five characters together in a large, neglected estate house near the Scottish fishing town of Creagan for the shortest day of the year. It’s a slice-of-life romance book about love, loyalty, and rebirth, without much drama or being overwhelmingly sickly sweet.

For more comfort reads to savour at Christmas, enjoy my collections of the most wholesome books that feel like a hug in a book and the coziest winter books.

You might also like my suggestions for beautiful books to give as gifts in 2022 and the best stocking stuffers for booklovers too.

The post 12 of the best Christmas books to get you in the festive spirit appeared first on Tolstoy Therapy.

Here are some of my favourite stocking stuffers and small books for 2022, including some that I’ve received as gifts before, or will be sharing with loved ones this Christmas.

These include beautiful small hardcovers, reading journals, bookmarks, bookish accessories, and perfect companions to reading (hello, tea).

Many of these bookish gifts are from Etsy to support small businesses. And as a fairly minimalist and planet-conscious person, I’ve also chosen gifts that the readers in your life will actually use and appreciate, rather than just causing clutter. Enjoy!

The best stocking stuffers for book lovers in 2022

1. Reading Journal: For the Love of Books by Paper Peony Press

I love this hardcover book journal and planner for book lovers to track, log and review what they’re reading from Paper Peony Press.

2. Galatea by Madeline Miller

Madeline Miller’s two novels, Circe and The Song of Achilles, have been some of the most popular books of the last decade. This short story, Galatea, is a wonderfully elegant and concise story you can read in less than an hour, but it still feels fully formed.

Galatea is now available as a beautiful little hardcover that makes for a perfect stocking stuffer for bookworms.

3. Book quote pencils by mapleandgrace

How about these book quote pencils from Etsy store mapleandgrace to make notes in books or a reading journal? For more like this, I’ve shared more of the best gifts for book lovers from Etsy.

4. Bookish stickers by StickySociety

Know someone who loves adding stickers to their laptop, reading journal, or notebooks? These bookish stickers on Etsy are a cute small gift for the book lovers in your life.

5. Kate Spade book canvas tote bag

This lovely Kate Spade canvas tote bag with a book stack print is a perfect stocking stuffer for book lovers to use when heading to the library or bookshop (or just everyday life).

6. Pukka relaxing tea selection box

A good book and a cup of tea are the perfect companions for some time for self-care. Give the readers in your life a little bit of luxury with this delicious selection box from Pukka, one of my go-to tea brands.

7. Book-shaped natural soy candle by TDVCandleStudio

How lovely is this book-shaped soy candle from Etsy? It’s a quirky and unique gift for the book lovers in your life, or teachers too.

8. Literary postcards for bibliophiles

I love sharing literary postcards with other bookworms. This set of 50 postcards features gorgeous illustrations by Jane Mount of a variety of book stacks, evoking memories of classic novels and modern favourites.

This makes for a wonderful gift for voracious readers, book lovers, aspiring writers, librarians and book club members.

9. The Art of Making Memories: How to Create and Remember Happy Moments by Meik Wiking

Meik Wiking has written some of the most popular books for gifts from the last few years, including The Little Book of Hygge. This follow-up book, The Art of Making Memories, is another heartwarming small hardcover that is a perfect stocking stuffer for 2022.

10. Literary Emporium Bookish Mug and Tea Set

How about combining a beautiful book, a box of relaxing tea, and a cute book-themed mug as a thoughtful gift for your favourite book lover? This wonderfully bookish mug and tea set from Literary Emporium on Etsy is sure to be a hit with bookworms.

11. Aesthetic book posters by MoonArtStudiosCo

How about a poster of your loved one’s favourite book as a personalized gift? These posters by MoonArtStudiosCo feature some of the most popular books from the last few years.

12. Cute magnetic bookmarks by StickySociety

Quirky magnetic bookmarks can be a unique gift for book lovers to enjoy using in their daily reading time. I love these from StickySociety on Etsy.

13. Handmade pressed flower and glitter bookmarks by FloralResinTreasures

For something even more unique, what about these beautiful handmade bookmarks with pressed flowers and glitter from FloralResinTreasures?

14. Book Club: A Journal by Read It Forward

Do you know a bookworm who’s a member of a book club, or wants to join one? With this book club journal, readers can prepare for, keep track of, and remember their reading discussions. It also contains 200 book recommendations and meeting activities to inspire any book club.

15. Embroidered Guest Book by Rifle Paper Co

With this beautifully embroidered and unique guestbook from Rifle Paper Co, you can give the book lover in your life the chance to create their own book and compile memories and anecdotes from friends and visitors.

16. The Puffin In Bloom gift set

It’s no secret that I love the Puffin In Bloom book series. These gorgeous books include some of the most beloved classics – including Heidi and Anne of Green Gables – with covers illustrated by the co-founder of Rifle Paper Co, Anna Bond. They’re also available as a beautiful gift set.

17. Book Darts: Thin Stainless Steel Mini Bookmarks

Looking for stocking stuffers that book lovers will actually use and appreciate? These book darts from Stellar Factory are fantastic. Use them to mark your place in books that you need to refer back to and never worry about running out of Post-its.

18. Five-Year Journal Keepsake Set by Rifle Paper Co

Book lovers often love journal writing too. For a unique gift, this five-year journal keepsake set from Rifle Paper Co is gorgeous. I think it’d be an especially memorable and personal gift for someone who has just started a new chapter in life, such as a degree, job, or moving abroad.

19. Old books candle

Just one more bookish candle. I received this gorgeous soy candle from Frostbeard Studio a few years ago and loved it. The smell of aged paper and dusty shelves? Yes please.

20. Bookish wrapping paper

To wrap up your gifts for bookworms, why not continue the theme with a bookish wrapping paper? Etsy shop janemount has some gorgeous choices.

I also love this gorgeous book-themed washi tape from Literary Emporium…

After thinking about gifts for others, why not enjoy curling up with one of the coziest books for winter reading, or one of the most heartwarming Christmas books?

The post 20 of the best stocking stuffers & small gifts for book lovers appeared first on Tolstoy Therapy.

For this post, I’ve focused on the most beautifully designed books I’ve ever read – with stunning covers, illustrations, binding, and attention to detail. But I’ve also thought about my top choices from posts I’ve shared before – especially, the most beautifully illustrated and beautifully written books, as well as the best books to give as gifts.

These are all books that feel special. They feel like books to give as gifts, to display on your coffee table, or at least to give the best location on your bookshelves.

Featuring some of the best books published by Penguin Clothbound Classics and Folio Society as well as indie publishers, here’s my shortlist of the most beautiful books in the world to treasure in your own library.

The most beautiful books in the world to treasure on your bookshelves

1. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Milkweed Editions, 2020)

Braiding Sweetgrass is a true love letter to the land, combining indigenous wisdom, science’s findings on the mysteries of nature, and the teachings of plants. Robin’s beautiful writing is gorgeously presented in this elegant hardcover by Milkweed Editions. This edition has lived on my bedside table for the last year; it’s the perfect book to read when you can’t sleep, want to soothe your nerves, or need a reminder of the beauty of life.

2. Every Color of Light by Hiroshi Osada (Enchanted Lion Books, 2020)

Every Color of Light is a spellbindingly beautiful illustrated children’s book by Hiroshi Osada, Ryōji Arai, and translator David Boyd, offering a gorgeous celebration of light in all its forms. Illuminating the wonders of life for readers young and grown, it’s a book to treasure for years to come.

3. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy (HarperOne, 2019)

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse brings together Charlie Mackesy’s unique pen and ink drawings with a gentle fable that shows the beauty of a life well-lived, intertwining the two with so much joyful simplicity.

It’s a book to treasure as a hardcover, but I also loved listening to the audiobook earlier this year. Charlie Mackesy’s narration is accompanied by a beautiful music score by Max Richter and wildlife sounds of rural England. (It’s fantastic.)

4. The Odyssey by Homer (Penguin Clothbound Classics, 2010)

There are 90 books in the Penguin Clothbound Classics series, and it’s hard to pick a favourite – they’re all stunning. But I’ve allowed myself to choose two of the most beautiful for this list, the first of them this gorgeous edition of The Odyssey. It was the first book I bought from the Penguin Clothbound Classics series, and I’m sure I’ll be turning back to it for years to come.

With an introduction by Peter Jones, this is the translation of E.V. Rieu with a revision by his son, D.C.H. Rieu.

5. The Body – Illustrated: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson (Penguin, 2022)

This remarkable new edition of Bryson’s fact-packed yet wonderfully accessible head-to-toe tour of the human body is a visual feast, accompanied by hundreds of stunning photographs and illustrations. Named a Sunday Times Science Book of the Year, this modern classic is a guide to the marvels of the human body, its functions, and its remarkable ability to heal itself.

6. The Cosmic Dance: Finding patterns and pathways in a chaotic universe by Stephen Ellcock (Thames & Hudson, 2022)

In The Cosmic Dance, image alchemist Stephen Ellcock does what he does best: bringing together remarkable images for a spellbinding, thematically-organized visual journey, in this case exploring the ancient belief that the cosmos is reflected in all living things.

Spanning the entire history of art, this adventure begins with the microscopic and the elemental; continues with representations of the human body as a cosmos in miniature; and finally revels in the colossal, celestial, and infinite. It’s a book to marvel at and to inspire deeper contemplation, allowing us in the words of William Blake, to ‘see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour’.

7. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (Penguin Clothbound Classics, 2017)

My second pick from the Penguin Clothbound Classics series is this beautiful edition of War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy – which, conveniently, also contains my favourite translation by Anthony Briggs. I recommend this beautiful hardcover a lot here on Tolstoy Therapy; with its marriage of Tolstoy’s writing with such a gorgeous design, it’s a deserving choice for every bookshelf.

8. How to be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery (Mariner Books, 2018)

How to be a Good Creature is another of my best-loved beautiful books – and illustrated books. This wholesome “memoir in thirteen animals” by Sy Montgomery makes for a perfect gift, celebrating the joy of sharing a life with animals with heartwarming illustrations by Rebecca Green. As we read it, we receive a gentle reminder of how to be a good creature in our own lives, too.

9. The Unwinding by Jackie Morris (Unbound, 2020)

I included The Unwinding in my selection of the best books to give as gifts in 2022, delicately crafted by the Kate Greenaway Medal-winning artist Jackie Morris. Here, Jackie bridges the magical land between awake and dreaming where fairytale characters explore and magnificent creatures dwell.

It’s a beautiful book designed to ease the soul and help you unwind for the day, unlocking a peaceful space where our imagination can stretch and quiet reflection can bring us tranquility.

10. Gratitude by Oliver Sacks

This little hardcover edition of Oliver Sacks’s last essays has brought me so much comfort over the last five years – and it’s travelled a lot, too. While living in Switzerland, I stumbled upon the book in a Zurich bookshop and also bought a copy for Iain, my then-boyfriend and now-husband. The book returned with me to the UK, and now, living together here in Denmark, Iain and I have a shared bookshelf for our favourite beautiful books, including Gratitude.

11. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (Folio Society)

This delicately crafted edition of the childhood classic brings Kenneth Grahame’s words to life with 83 wonderful illustrations by Charles van Sandwyk. Like every other beautiful book by the Folio Society, care has been lavished on every page and detail: from the pen-and-ink designs on the endpapers and slipcase, to the luxurious Modigliani paper, and the gold block printed cloth cover.

12. Lyra’s Oxford by Philip Pullman (Knopf Books, 2021)

Philp Pullman’s books are some of the most beautifully illustrated books in the world – just look at the stunning metallic clothbound Folio Society edition of The Secret Commonwealth, or the hardcover edition of Serpentine.

Here, I’ve chosen this special edition of Lyra’s Oxford as my top pick: a delightfully gift-worthy book with full-colour illustrations by renowned print-maker Chris Wormell, printed with foil, embossing, and a place-marker ribbon. As a perfect companion to His Dark Materials trilogy, Lyra’s Oxford brings you back to Pullman’s magical world to share the story of Lyra in the years after the events of The Amber Spyglass.

13. Botanicum by Katie Scott and Kathy Willis (Big Picture Press, 2017)

Botanicum is on the shortlist of hardcovers I most enjoy picking up from my shelves here in Copenhagen and enjoying a few pages. As part of the Welcome to the Museum series, this is a world-class botanical exhibition in a book; celebrated as an educational children’s book, but just as fantastic for adults in love with the botanical world.

14. The Annotated Arabian Nights (WW Norton & Co, 2021)

Like Emily Wilson achieved for The Odyssey with her new translation in 2017, Yasmine Seale’s proficiency in (and poetic ear for) Arabic, English, and French shines through in this lyrical and accessible new translation of The Arabian Nights.

Accompanied by hundreds of stunning illustrations by Paulo Lemos Horta, this exquisite edition lets readers travel into the evocative dreamland of the stories and their history.

For more beautiful books, enjoy my curated lists of the most beautifully illustrated books, the most beautifully written books, and the best books to give as gifts in 2022.

The post 14 of the most beautiful books in the world to treasure forever appeared first on Tolstoy Therapy.

That said, there’s always a place in my heart and house for beautiful books, and they’re usually what I give to others too. For 2022, here are some of my favourite beautiful books to give to booklovers.

I’ve included some of the best new books for 2022, beautifully illustrated books, fantastic books about books, and other choices that most bookworms will appreciate (even if it seems like they have every book already).

Looking for small bookish gifts? You might also like my lists of the best stocking stuffers for book lovers and the best bookish gifts from Etsy.

The most beautiful books for gifts for booklovers in 2022

1. Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien: The Deluxe Hardcover Edition

With Christopher Tolkien as your guide, take a tour through this wonderful gallery of enchanting art produced by his father, J.R.R. Tolkien. It’s a book to treasure for any fan of Tolkien, offering a feast for the imagination.

Presented in a gorgeous cloth slipcased edition, this wonder of a book confirms Tolkien’s talent as an artist with examples including delicate watercolors depicting Rivendell, the Forest of Lothlorien, Smaug, and Old Man Willow, to drawings and sketches of Moria Gate and Minas Tirith.

2. A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reader by Maria Popova

Like everything else from Maria Popova, the mind and heart of The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings), A Velocity of Being is a gorgeously curated book celebrating the joys of reading.

Maria Popova has brought together some of the most wonderful culture-makers – writers, artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and philosophers — to reflect on the joys of reading, how books broaden and deepen human experience, and the ways in which the written word has formed their own character. 

A beautiful illustration accompanies each letter about how books have shaped a contributor’s life, sharing stories from figures as diverse as Jane Goodall, Neil Gaiman, Shonda Rhimes, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Elizabeth Gilbert.

This is a thoughtful and beautiful book to give to bookworms who you think have already read everything.

3. Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer’s Guide by Cecily Wong and Dylan Thuras

From the ever-curious minds behind Atlas Obscura comes this adventurous guide to the diverse food that defines our world, spanning each of the seven continents.

Like a feast of tapas, this delightful book offers a selection of traditional delicacies, unexpectedly delicious treats, and hidden gems to feed your sense of wonder.

4. Wanderlust USA: The Great American Hike by gestalten

I received a gorgeous copy of gestalten’s hardcover Wanderlust Europe as a gift a couple of years ago, and it’s since become one of my favourite travel books to enjoy pride of place on my shelves. This companion book, Wanderlust USA: The Great American Hike, is also stunning.

It’s a stunning guide to the best U.S. long-distance treks, short day trips, and extended weekend adventures, compiled in a hardcover that’s perfect to give to adventurous loved ones this holiday season. Once you see it for yourself, you’ll probably want your own copy too.

It’s one of the best travel books to show off on a coffee table and keep turning to for inspiration, complete with wanderlust-inspiring photos and maps.

5. The Unwinding: And Other Dreamings by Jackie Morris

In this beautifully illustrated book to prompt dreaming and creativity, the Kate Greenaway Medal-winning artist Jackie Morris bridges the magical land between awake and dreaming where fairytale characters explore and magnificent creatures dwell.

The Unwinding is a book written with the chief purpose of easing the soul, unlocking the peaceful harbours where our imagination can stretch and quiet reflection can bring us tranquility. It’s a wonderful book to gift to readers both young and grown to treasure for years to come.

Maria Popova of The Marginalian describes it as, “A quiet masterpiece . . . a love story, a hope story, a story out of time, out of stricture, out of the narrow artificial bounds by which we try to contain the wild wonderland of reality because we are too frightened to live wonder-stricken.”

6. Water, Wood & Wild Things: Learning Craft and Cultivation in a Japanese Mountain Town by Hannah Kirshner

“With this book, you feel you can stop time and savor the rituals of life,” shared Maira Kalman about Water, Wood & Wild Things. I came across this beautiful book in my local library recently and fell in love with it.

Water, Wood & Wild Things is artist and food writer Hannah Kirshner’s journey through the culture and cuisine of one misty Japanese mountain town, its evergreen forests, local water, and smoke-filled artisan workshops.

Part travelogue, part meditation on the meaning of work, and full of Hannah’s beautiful drawings and recipes inspired by her time in Yamanaka, this is a soothing and inspiring book about what it means to find purpose in cultivation and craft and sustain traditions.

From making a fine bowl to harvesting rice, this tender book is a celebration of craftsmanship, creativity, quiet dedication, and the simple beauty of life.

7. Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami

“Murakami is like a magician who explains what he’s doing as he performs the trick and still makes you believe he has supernatural powers,” writes The New York Times Book Review about this anticipated book for 2022.

Novelist as a Vocation is an insightful look into the mind of the master storyteller behind Kafka on the Shore, Norwegian Wood, and 1Q84.

It’s a unique look at the lonely and patient craft of writing, sharing Murakami’s musings on the sparks of creativity that inspire his surreal words, his prodigious output, and the life that he has devoted to his craft.

8. Collective Wisdom by Grace Bonney

In this gorgeous book, Grace Bonney, the bestselling author of In the Company of Women (another fantastic book to gift!) curates the best lessons, inspiration, and advice from women over 50.

Best enjoyed as a hardcover, Collective Wisdom is a rich and multilayered collection of interviews, conversations, and intimate photographs of over 100 trailblazing women who describe the ups, downs, and lessons learned while forging their unique paths. 

From an Olympic athlete and a NASA team member to award-winning artists, activists, writers, and filmmakers, Grace Bonney celebrates the stories of those who have been there and know the road, generously sharing their wisdom across generations.

9. Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

“Over a hill, at the end of a road, by a glittering stream that twists and turns stands a farmhouse.”

If you have young children to buy gifts for this year, use it as an excuse to buy this gorgeous new picture book from Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall. That said, it’s a book that’s just as exquisite for grown readers.

Step inside the dollhouse-like interior of Farmhouse and relish in the joyful daily life of the family that lives there, rendered in impeccable, cozy detail.

10. Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

In this beloved and lyrical classic, Anne Morrow Lindbergh gracefully weaves her meditations on youth and age, love and marriage, and solitude and contentment as she settles into a vacation by the sea.

Drawing inspiration from the shells on the shore, the mother of five, acclaimed writer, and pioneering aviator casts an unsentimental eye on the trappings of modernity that threaten to overwhelm us, offering a reminder of the bliss to be found in carving out space for contemplation and creativity within our own lives.

11. Island Dreams: Mapping an Obsession by Gavin Francis

Island Dreams is a delight to browse, read, and hold. Gavin Francis’s memoir of a life obsessed with maps is cloth-bound with gold detail and makes for a perfect gift for curious travellers, cartophiles, and book enthusiasts.

I picked up a copy from an independent bookshop in Edinburgh, and know so many others who would love it too.

12. Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread by Michiko Kakutani

Ex Libris is another perfect book to give to booklovers. This is literary critic Michiko Kakutani’s personal selection of over 100 works of fiction, nonfiction and poetry, with passionate essays on why each has had a profound effect on her life.

From Homer’s The Odyssey to Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Ex Libris covers a rich and vast range of old and new classics, accompanied by gorgeous illustrations from lettering artist Dana Tanamachi.

13. Wild Places (Inspired Traveller’s Guides) by Sarah Baxter

I love the Inspired Traveller’s Guide series from White Lion Publishing, including beautifully illustrated books such as Hidden Places, Artistic Places, and this favourite of mine: Wild Places.

From the Galápagos Islands to St Kilda in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, this beautiful celebration of the solace of wild places transports you to some of the most awe-inspiring corners of the world from your armchair.

14. Gratitude by Oliver Sacks

A small but mighty book, Gratitude is Oliver Sacks’s most tenderly-curated collection of essays. Dr Sacks reflects on and gives thanks for a life well-lived, expressing his thoughts on growing old, facing terminal cancer, and reaching the end with wisdom and appreciation.

It doesn’t take long for Oliver Sacks’s writing to soothe my spirit and help me to breathe easier. Gratitude makes for a perfect gift, too – I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve given it to.

15. The Annotated Arabian Nights by Yasmine Seale and Paulo Lemos Horta

Like Emily Wilson achieved for The Odyssey with her new translation in 2017, Yasmine Seale’s proficiency in (and poetic ear for) Arabic, English, and French shines through in this lyrical and accessible new translation of The Arabian Nights.

Accompanied by hundreds of stunning illustrations and edited by Paulo Lemos Horta, this exquisite edition lets readers travel into the evocative dreamland of the stories and their history. It’s a huge book, packed with annotations and special details, and it makes for a really special gift.

For more gift inspiration, you might also like my curated lists of the best new books for 2022, bookish stocking stuffers, gifts from Etsy for book lovers, and the most beautiful books to treasure.

The post 15 of the best books to give as gifts in 2022 appeared first on Tolstoy Therapy.

I’ve shared before my selection of the best beautiful books to treasure for years to come, but here I wanted to focus on the most beautiful illustrated books for adults (with some beautiful children’s books, too).

Here are some of my favourite beautiful books with stunning illustrations, covers, and typesetting that make for the perfect gift for yourself or others.

The most beautiful illustrated books to admire and treasure

1. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (illustrated by James Weston Lewis)

How could I not mention the Folio Society? Last year I gave Iain a beautiful edition of The Hobbit from the Folio Society for his birthday, and there are countless others I’d love to receive from their collection.

This edition of Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods is one of them. I love the vintage feel of the illustrations from James Weston Lewis and the cloth-bound cover. And just look at the spine!

2. The Fox and the Star by Coralie Bickford-Smith

Before writing The Fox and the Star in 2015, Coralie Bickford-Smith had already won a reputation for gorgeous illustrations as the award-winning designer of the iconic Penguin Clothbound Classics series.

With her own beautiful book inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, Coralie Bickford-Smith weaves a fable for readers both young and grown. With your copy, fall into her magical and immersive tale about loss, courage, and the friendship between a lonely Fox and the Star who guides him through the dark forest.

3. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (illustrated by Daniel Liévano)

This stunning edition of Kafka on the Shore is another Folio Society book crafted with so much loving attention. It’s probably my favourite writing by Murakami, too.

4. Life by Cynthia Rylant and Brendan Wenzel

Like the other illustrated children’s books on this list, this is just as perfect for grown-up readers. Life is Cynthia Rylant’s moving meditation on finding beauty in the world and gaining strength from life’s challenges.

Accompanied by Brendan Wenzel’s stunning landscapes and engaging creatures, Life makes for a perfect inspiring gift for readers of all ages.

5. Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul by Nikita Gill

In this empowering reimagining of fairytale classics accompanied by spellbinding original tales, Nikita Gill dismantles the old-fashioned tropes, bids goodbye to the docile women and male saviours, and blurs the lines between heroes and villains.

With beautiful hand-drawn illustrations by Gill herself, this is a gorgeous collection of stories for a new generation.

6. Wild Places by Sarah Baxter (illustrated by Amy Grimes)

I love the Inspired Traveller’s Guide series from White Lion Publishing, including beautiful books such as Hidden Places, Artistic Places, and this favourite of mine: Wild Places.

From the Galápagos Islands to St Kilda in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, this beautifully illustrated celebration of the solace of wild places will transport you to some of the most wondrous corners of the world during your own reading time, wherever you are in the world.

7. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

How can I not mention this? The Boy, the Mole, The Fox and the Horse is just as known for its pen and ink drawings as for its writing that shows the beauty of a life well-lived with so much joyful simplicity.

It’s a book to treasure as a hardcover, but I also loved listening to the audiobook earlier this year. Charlie Mackesy’s narration is accompanied by a beautiful music score by Max Richter and wildlife sounds of rural England – it’s fantastic.

8. The Tree Book: The Stories, Science, and History of Trees by DK

“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky” Kahil Gibran. As a tree nerd with a weakness for illustrated botany books, I couldn’t help but notice this book from DK published earlier in 2022.

9. How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery (illustrated by Rebecca Green)

I’ve talked about How to Be a Good Creature for years now. I’ll probably keep talking about it. This memoir and celebration of a life lived with animals is just so simply and memorably gorgeous, complemented by heartwarmingly wholesome illustrations by Rebecca Green.

10. How to Catch a Mole: And Find Yourself in Nature by Marc Hamer

Beautifully written, life-affirming, and completely unique, How to Catch a Mole offers a memorable portrait of one man’s deep, unbreakable bond with his natural surroundings in the Welsh countryside.

In this quiet but powerful memoir, Hamer infuses gorgeous poetry with stark and simple observations on nature that will inspire you to see your own corner of the world differently. This edition is wonderfully illustrated by Joe McLaren.

11. Mountain Song by Lucy Fuggle

I wrote this one, so I’m probably a little biased. That said, the illustrations are probably what I love most about Mountain Song. The cover was designed by Alana Louise Lyons, and the book interior contains lovely pen and ink illustrations by Louise Morgan. You can read more about the hardcover and order a copy here.

12. Island Dreams: Mapping an Obsession by Gavin Francis

Island Dreams isn’t illustrated in the same way that the others in this post are. But it is full of stunningly beautiful maps, so I think that still counts.

This is Gavin Francis’s project to “map an obsession” and dive into our collective fascination with islands, blending stories of his own travels with psychology, philosophy, and the great voyages of history.

For more exquisite books, you might also like my collections of beautifully written books, beautifully illustrated children’s books for readers young and grown, and the most beautiful books of all time to treasure forever.

The post 12 of the most beautifully illustrated books for gifts or your shelves appeared first on Tolstoy Therapy.