Giving a present to someone you know is easy, but giving a present to someone whom you barely know or somebody who already owns everything can be quite mind-boggling. Almost always, you're left with the usual options: give a check; mail a card or send some flowers.

Why not try something more educational, well thought out and lasting? Why not give a book? Well, yes, book giving may sound boring too, but remember that what you're giving as a present is not just the book itself but the ideas contained in the book. Here are some options you can choose from.

• COOK BOOKS. When all you know about your gift recipient is that he doesn't eat meat or that she has a sweet tooth, cook books are the way to go. Cook books can be general recipes but in most cases, they are also published according to cuisine (Chinese, Italian, French, etc.) or meal type (vegetarian, meat, potatoes-only, chocolates, main course, dessert, appetizers, etc.).

These reading materials not only contain recipes but also nicely done food photographs which make pretty eye candy. You'll never know that all your gift recipient really needs is a gentle push to try out cooking.

• INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS. Take your pick from poems, short stories or prosaic essays. Inspirational books possess a feel-good quality in them and are often attractively packaged, making them ideal gifts to the perfect stranger. You'll have to read the title and the cover of the book to check if it's something the gift recipient may like or need, but generally, your guess work will stay minimal.

Titles such as “Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul” or “Purpose-Driven Life” are self-revealing. Take care not to stray too much on the religious side though, as inspirational books often share the same shelf with religious writings – unless of course your gift recipient feels strongly about his faith.

• JOKE BOOKS. Laughter is the best medicine, and books with such sense of jolly humor are almost always embraced with welcome arms. To pick out the best one, you'll have to do some sleuthing on the gift recipient first.

Find out what types of jokes cracks him out, as well as his personality and mindset. Ditch slapstick humor if your gift recipient is your boss; try instead something humorous but intellectual and at par with his mindset. If your gift recipient is a young and vibrant teenager, go for graphically illustrated joke books whose humor and visuals will surely be well appreciated.

• DO-IT-YOURSELF OR SELF-HELP BOOKS. If your gift recipient is a serious hobbyist or a person with a clear outlook in life, then getting the perfect book for him is a piece of cake. Do-it-yourself books make the perfect choice. Varieties may include arts and crafts, weight loss and dieting, gardening, home improvement and even medical books that specialize in home treatments and remedies.

Do-it-yourself books and self-help books make great gifts, because they remind the recipient that although you barely know him, you support and wish him the best of his endeavors in life.