Most gifted books: Top five

I was listening to a podcast by Tim Ferriss recently and noticed that he often asks his interviewees which books that they have given as gifts the most.

I am not sure whether the person being interviewed has had a chance to prepare their response but the answers can sometimes be insightful and sometimes droll.

It is also a great small talk question, much better than "what do you do?"

It got me thinking about the books that I have given most as gifts. So without further ado (cue drumroll).....

The top 5 books I have given as gifts:

1. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. In a high school essay I described it as an intellectual version of Rocky. It is the story of a seagull who is bored with fighting for food and seeks to learn to improve his flying and along the way finds others who are also motivated to push themselves and as a result becomes happy. A great short book to inspire whether you are 10 or 80 or anywhere in between.
2. Oh the places you will go by Dr Seuss. This well balanced motivating book is my go to gift for any child's birthday party that I attend. From age 3 to 18 years old it has great life advice from being prepared to wait, to celebrate the wins and also be prepared for losses. We also have about 4 copies in various states and scribbled notes around our house. 
3. On the road by Jack Kerouac. A great travel journey and celebrated for its description of the Beat generation. I read this book on a long train journey from Paris to Portugal through Barcelona and Madrid. It was so good that I forgot to look out the window and resolved on the return train journey to not start any new books so I could look out the window. But it was that good a book.
4. Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. Written between the 2 world wars it tells the story of 2 families of children and the sailing adventures they have in the English countryside in the Lake District. Filled with plenty of nautical references as the children immerse themselves in a world of pirates and explorers and natives in a mix of Patrick O Brien and Robinson Crusoe. Very British, illustrated with helpful sketches every 20 or so pages it inspired a love of adventure and sailing when I was growing up that continued into my passion for travel. 
5. Freaknomics by Steven D Levitt. An awesome book that uses economics to delve into the hidden side of everything. I did economics at university...before this book was published and wished that the teachers could have made what can be a very dry area of study way more interesting.

What books do you gift the most ?

Thanks for reading

​Andrew