Time Travel discussion

Universally appealing?

Is there a book that you can recommend to just about anyone, confident that they'll like it? Or a book that you give to just about everyone? Perhaps you have a go-to book for baby showers, or graduation celebrations? Or a book that seems to get people who don't read much back in the habit?

I know that there's nothing truly universally appealing, but some come close. For example, Old Friends is a picture-book that I just discovered, and feel confident recommending to anyone who is, or is ever going to become, a senior citizen....

I'm a runner and I have recommended Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen to just about everyone. It's not just about running.

I've purchased several vintage sets of the Sesame Street books (Library, Treasury, On My Way) for pre-school aged kids (including my own) for birthday gifts because I remember them fondly from my childhood and they're great teaching tools getting kids ready for kindergarten.

I've recently recommended Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary to friends who like sci-fi. I've also recommended Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff to friends who like non-fiction.

Oh, some interesting leads there! Did I make a mistake asking this question? My poor to-read lists!

I really enjoyed both of the books Samantha mentioned.

Perhaps a bit less conventional, but the book I've gifted most to others is "Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat". I've read it many, many times.

Oh, yes, Calvin & Hobbes. Very popular, and deservedly so.

My co-worker and I have very different book tastes. She prefers non-fiction and I prefer fiction. She recommended "Never Mind the Bullocks: Here is the Science" to me and I am really enjoying it and I recommended "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah to her and she likes it so far.

Never Mind The Bullocks, Here's The Science
The Nightingale

Hannah's book was recommended by a member of my irl book club, in which we read what we want and then booktalk our favorites.