Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas   12/19/2005 - 1,319 views, 2 Comments

Bill Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything

This is an absolutely fantastic, and fascinating book. As Bill Bryson reached middle-age, he realized that he knew far too little about the world in which he lived, and so he basically followed around any expert whom he could find, absorbing everything that he could, and then did a core dump which became this book. This is one of those books that, when you read it, you find yourself saying to something on nearly every page, “Wow..that’s really interesting, I didn’t know that!” Then you find yourself telling others things which start with “Did you know that (something you read in the book)?” and everyone else says “Wow! I didn’t know that!”

It’s a great book (click the picture for details):

Electric Food Steamer

We use our electric food steamer several times a week. Not only is it quick and easy, but it’s the best way to serve vegetables and fish! And very few people actually seem to own an electric food steamer, so it’s a great gift - one of those things that they’d never think to buy for themselves, but once they have it they don’t know how they lived without it. And of course, they think of you every time they use it!

This is a good one (click the picture for details):

A. Scott Berg’s Kate Remembered

This is a surprisingly interesting book, even for someone who isn’t a Hepburn fan. The author became friends with Katherine Hepburn a dozen or so years before her death, maybe more, and as a writer, he kept notes of all of his conversations with her (with her permission). As his friendship with her deepened, he was often invited to her country home, where her real, personal life came alive. Writing as both a friend and a journalist, he paints a complete and wonderful portrait of Hepburn, with lots of little tidbits and facts that can only be had by someone with the sort of relationship he developed.

Kate remembered is a great read! (Click the picture for details):

Tilia Vacuum Food Saver

This is another one of those gifts that people never buy for themselves, but once you have one, you don’t know how you lived without it. And they are great for more than just food - toiletries, articles you are storing for the season, and packing for a trip, for example. It’s nice to have one of the sets which comes with everything, like the one below.

This is one of the full sets (click on the picture for details):

Canon Elph Digital Camera

This is hands-down the best all-around point-and-shoot digital camera anybody I know has ever used. We have four in our family, and nearly everyone I know who has a digital camera either has a digital Elph, or wishes that they had a digital Elph.

This is as great a camera for a seasoned photographer who needs an every-day carry-around camera as it is for a beginner, and is even a great camera for a child from, say, ages 6 and up!

This one here is 3.2 megapixels, which is plenty for the average person, and is a great price (click on the picture for details):

Do you have a great last minute Christmas gift idea? Feel free to add it below!