Gifting Books
I’m very vocal about my love of libraries. We have 2 within walking/biking distance of our tiny home, and we visit them weekly.
When journeying beyond LA, we always try to explore the library of the town we’re exploring.
Above: West at the library in Santa Fe, NM (November 2019)
Any time we discover a book we particularly love, I try to support the author (and illustrator, when applicable).
Sometimes we will buy a copy of a book for ourselves or as a gift. Sometimes we’ll share our favorable opinion with friends and family, or publish our thoughts via Instagram. (As an author myself, I find this sort of word of mouth to be of such value— both personally and professionally.)
This holiday season, I wanted to share a few of our recent favorites that we are reading and gifting. Some were recently published, some are older. I’m posting them here to thank their makers for creating such informative or delightful publications.
For those who want to better understand why repurposing matters:
Secondhand, by Adam Minter
In a world that craves shiny and new, is there room for it all? Secondhand offers hopeful answers and hard truths, while revealing the marketing practices, design failures, and racial prejudices that push used items into landfills instead of new homes. Secondhand shows us that it doesn't have to be this way, and what really needs to change to build a sustainable future free of excess stuff.
For those who love tiny houses:
Tiny House, by Brent Heavener
This fittingly compact yet stunningly beautiful book by Brent Heavener (the founder of @TinyHouse) showcases some of the dreamiest and most clever small space residences I’ve ever seen. (I snapped a few preview shots below to share some of my personal favorites in the book.) It’s a great lil’ coffee table book that can easily be wrapped up in a reusable cloth napkin and slide into a stocking for a lucky recipient.
For those who love crafts:
Modern Rug Hooking by Rose Pearlman
If you’re into crafting items by hand for your home by hand, Rose’s exquisite new book is filled with how-tos for creating clever, lovely, low waste needle projects.
For those striving to live a greener lifestyle:
Sustainable Home by Christine Lu
Give a Sh*t by Ashlee Piper
For those raising little ones to be in tune with the natural world:
How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott D. Sampson
Picture books (with messages of love) for the lil’ ones:
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
For folks who want bright and colorful homes:
Living With Color by Rebecca Atwood
For those who want help styling and maintaining houseplants:
Wild at Home by Hilton Carter
For Americans who want to create and protect policies for a safer and more just existence for all:
Fight Like a Mother by Shannon Watts
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Additional books we enjoy and intend to share:
Woman of Color by Latonya Yvette
Simple Matters by Erin Boyle
Foxfire Living by Eliza Clark & Tim Trojian
The Way of the Woodshop by Aleksandra Zee
