The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Díaz (fiction) - At face value, a story about a nerdy outcast in love, which means most people I know will relate to it.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Díaz (fiction) - At face value, a story about a nerdy outcast in love, which means most people I know will relate to it. Pulitzer Prize winner. The Elements of Typographic Style by Bringhurst (design) - Most designers I know already own a copy, but interesting for laymen. The Little Schemer by Friedman & Felleisen (programming) - Fun and educational for anyone interested in programming, at just about any level.