<\/p>\n
The Harry Potter series, the Bible and \u201cAtomic Habits\u201d are the top three books and series people are gifting this holiday season.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s\u00a0according to a recent survey<\/a>\u00a0of 2,000 American readers who celebrate the winter holidays, which unveiled book gift giving trends this holiday season.<\/p>\n While the Harry Potter series still largely reigns supreme in people\u2019s hearts, other contemporary titles were popular in the poll as well, such as the Twilight series, \u201cThe Alchemist,\u201d \u201cIt,\u201d \u201cThe Night Circus\u201d and \u201cRich Dad Poor Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n A few classics also made the top 10 list, including \u201cTo Kill a Mockingbird\u201d and \u201cGone with the Wind,\u201d and other quirky or unexpected honorable mentions include \u201cHow to Think Like a Roman Emperor,\u201d \u201c1984,\u201d \u201cCooking for Dummies\u201d and \u201cWatership Down.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The survey was commissioned by\u00a0ThriftBooks<\/a>\u00a0and conducted by Talker Research, and the findings revealed that over half of respondents (51%) plan to give a book as a holiday gift this year, with young Americans being surprisingly most likely to give literary holiday gifts (millennials 66%, Gen Z 52%).<\/p>\n This season, many book gifters (28%) said they\u2019ve opted to share a specific title with someone because it went viral or was incredibly popular on social media.<\/p>\n And other popular sources of inspiration for bookish presents include recommendations from friends and family (49%), bestseller lists (36%) and book seller websites (31%).<\/p>\n In a risky move, nearly three-quarters of book gift givers (72%) also said they\u2019ll sometimes select a title to give someone even if they\u2019ve never read it themselves, making their sources for recommendations and selections all the more important.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the study proved, books make excellent, timeless gifts,\u201d said Barbara Hagen, vice president of marketing at ThriftBooks.\u201d But picking the right book for someone is important, and there are so many good places to look for the perfect read, from Bookstagram and BookTok, to book sites, bestseller lists and even the top 10 book list we uncovered in this study \u2014 many of which are well-known classics which can be purchased used.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking at gift-giving habits more generally, six in 10 (60%) of those who\u2019ve ever gifted a loved one a book disclosed that books are actually one of their one of their favorite presents to give to others, and 40% of all respondents said a book is their most cherished gift they\u2019ve ever been given.<\/p>\n And Gen Z and millennials were more likely than older generations to value books as gifts, being most likely to enjoy giving them (millennials 70%, Gen Z 63%) and receiving them (millennials 49%, Gen Z 48%).<\/p>\n The results found that books can create strong bonds between givers and recipients. According to the findings, the majority of respondents (76%) feel moved and touched when someone is able to pick out a book for them that perfectly suits their taste.<\/p>\n And the intentionality goes both ways between parties, with those who love giving books as gifts citing wanting to share something they love with the recipient (48%) as their top motivation for gifting books.<\/p>\n Books can be both sweet and practical gifts, with almost all respondents (89%) feeling that with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), it\u2019s more important than ever to cultivate the habit of reading, and to encourage it in others as well.<\/p>\n Nearly three in four (73%) also said books feel more meaningful than other types of gifts, and people prefer both giving (95%) and receiving (89%) printed titles as gifts, rather than digital versions.<\/p>\n Looking at how this shows up in gifting trends this season, book Advent calendars (e.g. a countdown to Christmas in which a collection of individually wrapped books is given as a gift) are popular, with 39% or respondents saying they\u2019d love to receive a book Advent calendar and more than a quarter (27%) even planning to give one to someone this year.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s clear that this year, people want to both give and receive intentional gifts that offer a little bit of escapism, along with groundedness and practicality,\u201d said Hagen. \u201cBooks are perfect for this, and if you\u2019re so inclined, book Advent calendars.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Research methodology:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans who will celebrate a winter holiday in 2025 who have access to the internet;<\/strong>\u00a0the survey was commissioned by\u00a0ThriftBooks<\/strong>\u00a0and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between\u00a0Oct. 16 and Oct. 22, 2025.\u00a0<\/strong>A link to the questionnaire can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR\u2019s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research\u00a0Process and Methodology page<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nSocial Media\/Viral Books Inspire Gifting<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Book Advent Calendars are Popular This Season<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Most Popular Books as Holiday Gifts This Year:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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