there is no better gift than a book.
why?
You are reading: Inscriptions to write in books
A book is like a magical way of traveling for your mind. it challenges you to imagine characters and stories and interpret them however you can. it can help you learn, serve as a conversation starter, and inspire you to dream.
It can also strengthen bonds (hello, book clubs), be passed down as family heirlooms, and be emotionally healing to experience stories that resonate with your soul.
Giving someone a book, whether you wrote it yourself or read it and liked it, can be a thoughtful gesture for any occasion. but how do you make it a little more thoughtful? Instead of just picking up a copy at your local bookstore and mailing it to them or emailing them a kindle version, there’s something more meaningful about giving a book with a sentimental message inside.
How do you know what to write in a book for a gift? keep reading…
in this article:
- why write a message in a gift book?
- where to write your book
- how to write a personal message in a book
- what to write in a yearbook
- what to write in a book for a loved one
- what to write in a book for someone who has suffered a loss
- how to write a heartfelt message in a cookbook
why write a message in a gift book?
first, why write a message in a gift book? In short, it adds a personal touch and lets the person you’re giving it to know you were thinking of them.
Over the years, a couple of my former publishers have given me copies of books they’ve written with thoughtful notes inside that bring back memories of our time working together. I also received message books from people I interviewed, and each one was written based on the conversations we had. there’s a novel on sustainability in my library by an artist who got me interested in the subject, and a jewelry detective story given to me by a designer who was quoted in one of his chapters.
Including a heartfelt message inside a book can turn a generic gift into a meaningful keepsake.
where to submit your book
where you decide to write in the book is a personal preference. perhaps at the top of the inside cover, the title page or the first page are ideal places. the key is to find enough space for your note and add it to the front pages so your recipient can see it in advance.
how to write a personal message in a book
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First, choose a book. this is the hard part, as it can be difficult to know which book someone will like. If you’re feeling stuck, think about her personality, the conversations you’ve had, and the occasion of your gift.
if it’s, for example, a book for your partner, maybe you’ll find a romantic novel or a guide like the 5 love languages. reflect on movies you’ve seen together to get an idea of your favorite genres.
OK, now it’s time to write your note. Do it on a piece of paper first to make sure you have everything you want to say and to get an idea of how much space your note will take up. write legibly and clearly with a black or blue pen; this will ensure that your message endures through the years. keep in mind that markers and pens can bleed through the page, so try a fade-resistant pen.
Also, include the date so that if it is passed down to your children and grandchildren one day, they can look back and see how far you’ve come. sign your name and let the ink dry before closing the book to avoid staining.
what to write in a yearbook
I had two best friends in high school, which made graduating an emotional time. it was a chapter of new beginnings and parting with the people I spent the most time with over the past four years.
How do you know what to write in a gift book for a friend if it’s a yearbook? long or short, write a note that is personal. maybe you remember the fun times you had together in gym class or your connection to music after you met in the orchestra. write the note next to their photo, superlative, sports team photo, or wherever it best aligns with your memories together.
Share an inside joke, talk about how you couldn’t have survived driver’s education without them, or add an inspirational quote to motivate them for the future, like…
- “dream as if you will live forever. live as if you were to die today.” —james dean
- “wherever you go, go with all your heart”. —confucius
- “live the moments you can’t put into words”. —anonymous
- “if it scares you, it might be good to try.” —seth godin
- “celebrate endings, for they precede new beginnings.” —jonathan lockwood fled
- “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. —lao tzu
- “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”. —eleanor roosevelt
- “nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over”. —guy finley
- “the magic of new beginnings is truly the most powerful of all”. —josiyah martin
- “the beginning is the most important part of the job”. —plato
To complement a book gift, it can be fun to add a piece of book jewelry like a book necklace or book bracelet that can be opened to reveal another message inside.
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what to write in a book for a loved one
thinking about what to write in a book as a gift for a girlfriend? Or maybe it’s for your child, brother, parent, or best friend, and you don’t know what to say.
maybe write down why you are giving them this book and what it means to you. Another idea: add a quote directly into the book that you feel will resonate with them. make it as playful or as personal and deep as you like; There is no “right” way to write a book’s message.
As long as it comes from your heart or is chosen with thought, you really can’t go wrong.
- “today a reader, tomorrow a leader”. —Margaret Fuller
- “I love you to the moon and back.” —guess how much i love you by sam mcbratney
- “no two people read the same book”. —Edmund wilson
- “all the reading he had done had given him a view of life they had never seen”. —roald dahl, matilda
- “we loved with a love that was more than love”. —edgar allan poe
- “a child who reads will be an adult who thinks”.
- “keep reading. it is one of the most wonderful adventures one can have.” —lloyd alexander
- “reading gives us a place to go when we have to stay where we are.” —mason cooley
- “reading is to the mind as exercise is to the body”. —brian tracy
- “a book is a dream that you hold in your hands”. —neil gaiman
what to write in a book for someone who has experienced a loss
Reading is one of the best forms of distraction that exist. If the person you’re giving a book to has just experienced a loss or is going through a difficult time in their life, an inspiring story can be priceless. it can lift their spirits and put them in a better mindset.
It can be difficult to know what to say to someone who is grieving; perhaps in your note, let him know that you care and that you are there to help him. maybe pick a book that reminds them of the person they miss, or go another route and find a story with a completely different theme to take their imaginations to another world.
can’t find the right words to include in your note? test…
- “we read to know that we are not alone”. —c.s. lewis
- “that’s what books have: they allow you to travel without moving your feet”. —jhumpa lahiri
- “perhaps that is why we read and why in moments of darkness we return to books: to find words for what we already know”. —Alberto Manguel
- “I read books like someone who breathes air, to fill up and live.” —annie dillard
- “no wonder truth is stranger than fiction. fiction has to make sense.” —mark twain
- “books are the plane, the train, and the road. they are the destination, and the journey. they are home.” —anna quindlen
- “in the end, we will all become stories.” —margaret atwood
- “open books lead to open minds”.
- “a little reading is all the therapy a person needs sometimes”.
- “great books help you understand and help you feel understood”. —green john
_reliquary-book
how to write a book message for someone who loves to cook
For as long as I can remember, my cousin, Gary, cooks for almost all of our family gatherings. he does it for work, too, for the sheer joy of it, from grocery shopping to grilling on the barbecue to decorating food with garnishes on neatly arranged plates and cutlery.
for him, giving gifts is always easier. I can always count on cookbooks to make appropriate gifts. But even if the person you’re looking to buy for is a kitchen novice, know this: Cooking has a way of bringing people together. And who doesn’t like a good meal?
If you’re looking for a heartfelt message to write inside a cookbook, maybe reference a meal you had together, a conversation you shared about food, or add one of the quotes below…
- “a recipe has no soul. you, as a cook, must give soul to the recipe”. —thomas keller
- “The only real obstacle is the fear of failure. in the kitchen, you have to have a what the heck attitude.” —girl julia
- “if you want happy endings, read cookbooks”. —young dean
- “Cooking is a philosophy; It’s not a recipe.” —pierre white frame
- “nobody is born a great cook, they learn by doing”. —girl julia
- “let food be your medicine and medicine be your food”. —hippocrates
- “laughter is brightest where food is best”. —Irish proverb
- “The cookbooks I value most in my collection are the ones where you hear the author’s voice and point of view on each recipe.” —anthony bourdain
- “what makes cookbooks interesting is finding out about the people and culture that invented food”. —vincent schiavelli
- “there is no love more sincere than the love of food”. —george bernard shaw
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