A few weeks back, I posted on five unconventional gift ideas for adults. One of those ideas came from Huffington Post contributor Pavel Somov, who promoted the idea of the "inbox stuffer" as an out-of-the-box gift idea this holiday season. In an information age, he argues, it's so much more useful (not to mention fun) to expand our loved one's minds - rather than their cupboards - by sending them a list of our favorite readings.
In that spirit, here are five things for your inbox stuffer that I think are worth reading as this year draws to a close:
1. From the London Times online, here's a great review of pop culture during the so-called "noughties."
2. If you follow British politics, this is a wonderful spoof of Prime Minister Gordon Brown in The Guardian modeled on Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
3. In the realm of heartfelt, I highly recommend Anne Patchett's moving holiday memory about her father in The Washington Post.
4. Also in the realm of "Aw, shucks" is Walter Kirn's romantic essay in the New York Times magazine about meeting his true love on line.
5. Finally, given that this was - at least in theory - meant to be the year that we all went Green - check out this beautiful selection of reader's photos of the environment from The Guardian. And if that doesn't do it for you, then just check out these photos from the annual winter solstice celebration at Stonehenge. Kinda makes you wish you were a Druid...
Merry Christmas!