A 2026 Non-Obvious Holiday Gift Guide · Monday, October 26
Best Books for People Who Don’t Read Business Books
Smart, non-obvious reads for people who usually skip the business book genre.
The Twelve Books
Books for People Who Don’t Read Business Books
The Future of Storytelling
by Charles Melcher
Future of StoryTelling founder Charles Melcher charts how stories are moving beyond the page and screen into immersive, interactive experiences that are rewriting the storyteller’s craft.
About the author. Charles Melcher founded Future of StoryTelling and the book producer Melcher Media, which has put more than 15 million books in print.
Trash Talk
by Rafi Kohan
Rafi Kohan explores the art, science and psychology of talking trash, from locker rooms to boardrooms, and what verbal combat reveals about competition itself.
About the author. Rafi Kohan is an Atlanta-based writer and editor whose work has appeared in GQ, Rolling Stone and the Wall Street Journal. His first book, The Arena, was a PEN/ESPN finalist.
The Museum of Lost Things
by Sam Kean
Sam Kean tells true tales of fabled treasures, legendary cities and mythical creatures that vanished from history, and why we keep searching for them.
About the author. Sam Kean is a Washington, D.C. writer whose bestsellers include The Disappearing Spoon and Caesar’s Last Breath. His work has appeared in The New Yorker and The Atlantic.
Disrupted
by Dan Lyons
Journalist Dan Lyons’s riotous memoir of going from Newsweek to a tech startup at age 50. Still the funniest and sharpest book ever written about startup culture.
About the author. Dan Lyons was a technology editor at Newsweek and Forbes, created the Fake Steve Jobs blog, and wrote for HBO’s Silicon Valley.
True or False
by Cindy Otis
Former CIA analyst Cindy Otis delivers a practical guide to spotting misinformation and fake news. A skill that has only grown more essential every year since it won.
About the author. Cindy L. Otis spent a decade as a CIA analyst, briefer and manager. She now works on disinformation and writes for USA Today’s Board of Contributors.
Parisian Charm School
by Jamie Cat Callan
Jamie Cat Callan’s delightful guide to the French art of charm: presence, conversation and everyday elegance as skills anyone can practice.
About the author. Jamie Cat Callan is the author of eight books, including French Women Don’t Sleep Alone, translated into fourteen languages. She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley.
Strangers to Ourselves
by Rachel Aviv
New Yorker writer Rachel Aviv’s extraordinary reported meditation on the stories we tell about mental illness, and what happens when the diagnosis becomes the identity.
About the author. Rachel Aviv has been a New Yorker staff writer since 2013, covering psychiatry, education and criminal justice. She won a National Magazine Award for profile writing.
The Butterfly Season
by Lea Korsgaard
What 64 butterflies taught one writer about nature’s great mysteries and the meaning of life.
About the author. Lea Korsgaard is a Danish journalist who co-founded the news outlet Zetland and serves as its editor-in-chief. This book was a bestseller in Denmark.
Questions Without Answers
by Sarah Manguso, illustrated by Liana Finck
A hundred of the best questions with no answers, gathered from strangers and drawn as tiny comics. Funny, strange and surprisingly philosophical.
About the author. Sarah Manguso is the author of Ongoingness and Very Cold People. Liana Finck is a New Yorker cartoonist whose books include How to Baby.
Make Believe
by Mac Barnett
Children’s author Mac Barnett on the craft of telling stories to children.
About the author. Mac Barnett has written more than 60 children’s books and served as the ninth U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
The Trickster’s Hat
by Nick Bantock
A mischievous apprenticeship in creativity: playful experiments and rule-breaking prompts for anyone who feels stuck.
About the author. Nick Bantock is the British-born artist behind the Griffin & Sabine books, which have sold more than five million copies. He lives on Salt Spring Island, B.C.
Salt & Flickers
by Howie Goldklang
An art-forward coffee table book, more sacred object than book: illustrations, essays and meditations on motion, madness and meaning.
About the author. Howie Goldklang is a poet, screenwriter and former Division 1 hurdler who founded the Silver Lake Track Club, supporting young runners in Los Angeles.
Prefer A Mystery?
Future Words Secret Gift Box
Ssshhh! If you’re ok with a secret and love surprises, this box is for you!*
Join The Waitlist*Available first come first serve. May include free sample products from partners, bonus notebook, non-obvious goodies, mystery books from author friends and lots more. US mailing addresses only.
Buy It Local
Every book in these guides can be ordered by your local independent bookstore.
- Find your nearest indie bookstore.
- Ask for the title by name. Booksellers can order almost anything.
- Tag your local bookstore and tell us which guide sent you.
Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is November 28, 2026. It is a good day to pick up a few books from the shop around the corner.
A Note From Rohit
How These Books Were Selected
Every book in these guides was chosen by me, from my own bookshelf. As an avid reader and the host of the Non-Obvious Book Awards, I see a lot of books every year. These gift guides compile my absolute favorites.
- Readability. Every book offers a great reading experience.
- Originality. All titles are “non-obvious” and thoughtful.
- Giftability. The packaging and design must be impressive as a gift.
- Award Winners. Many books are past selections of the Non-Obvious Book Awards.
All books in this guide were hand selected and read by a human. AI was not used in the book selections.
Coming December 1
The 2026 Non-Obvious Book Awards winners are announced December 1.
Many books in these guides are past winners, shortlisted titles and longlisted titles from the awards. See the full list of past selections.
Explore The Book Awards
The 2025 winners
