I hate getting books for Christmas in general because I’m such a mood reader, and I’ve plastered a fake smile on my face many a time and repeated internally ‘Its the thought that counts.’ as I unwrap a book I will not read.
But the worst one by far, given to me by my own Mother , who I know loves me, when I was fourteen years old! was >!Men are from Mars Women are from Venus.!< I am sitting there horrified thinking what is she trying to tell me? As my sisters are flat on the floor laughing to the point of puking. We eventually came to the conclusion she just saw an attractive cover on a bestseller table and grabbed it. Love to know your terrible gift stories.
The year my wife and I were married, a relative gave us two books written in the 1910s on marriage: one for the husband and one for the wife.
Both books were just as sexist and offensive as you can imagine, but the most jarring piece of advice was “avoid uncomfortable topics like the negro problem.”
Oh my god, I’m cackling. What the hell
I won’t lie, I would have loved to get those books just for the historical interest.
That same piece of “advice,” word for word, was on an episode of Community. Have to wonder if one of the writers was gifted that same book set.