Father’s Day. It’s coming up this Sunday and I know we all wait until the last minute to go shopping, so here I present my suggestion for the impossible-to-shop-for dad. Because so many of us have them – the ones who have no hobbies, or they only have one hobby, for which you’ve already bought them every accoutrement under the sun. And we all know the dad who, when you ask what they want, will tell you repeatedly that just a phone call or greeting card will be more than enough. Of course, we all know that if you DON’T get them a gift, you’re a horrible, ungrateful child. Kids can’t win.

So as the daughter of a wonderful man who can be tricky to shop for because his hobbies are expensive (flying, Dad? Really? What, am I going to get you a jet fuel gas card??) and he has everything anyway, I give you the best advice I can give: books!

My father, though not a huge reader, does like to keep a book handy for when he travels for business, or for his annual summer jaunt down the shore. Books don’t expire, they can complement other items, such as golf balls or wine, and there are books on every topic imaginable. So how can one go wrong with a book for Dad?

At the risk of great conceit, I’ve managed to score some really excellent books over the years. My father was an Air Force man and he once mentioned, offhand, a bit of military fiction that he’d heard about. The Wild Blue, by Walter J. Boyne and Steven L. Thompson was the book, and though it took some tracking down, as it is out of print, was quite the score. Not only was it easy on the pocketbook, but Dad was super-impressed with the effort it took me to obtain it (he’s not familiar with AbeBooks, bless him). And bonus! It led to a non-fiction title by the same author, currently in print - Beyond the Wild Blue: A History of the United States Air Force, 1947-2007 - that became an excellent Christmas gift.

Dad also works in the transportation industry and often enjoys books on the history of business - whether that be famous companies, businessmen, or particular products. When I was little, he worked for a company whose office was in the ports of Newark, which made The Box, by Marc Levinson, a real prize. I know, for most of us a book about the history of the shipping container sounds about as exciting as watching grass grow. But after spending so many years staring at the things every day from his office window, he loved it, and that’s what’s important.

Lately I’ve been trying to track down both DeLorean, John Z. DeLorean’s autobiography, and Dream Maker: The Rise and Fall of John Z Delorean (Ivan Fallon and James Srodes). Another of Dad’s interests is automobiles and he lives not too far from the old DeLorean estate in New Jersey. For those of you who might be thinking that the name is familiar, the DeLorean is the car that was featured in the movie Back to the Future. John DeLorean made his name as an engineer with several of the major U.S. automakers and in the 70’s branched out on his own to create his own sports car company. Unfortunately, the DeLorean Motor Company suffered from financial troubles and only ever designed and manufactured the one vehicle before the company filed for bankruptcy. DeLorean was subsequently arrested on drug charges in the mid-80’s. Though cleared of all charges, his finances remained a mess for the rest of his life, which ended in 2005 when he suffered a fatal stroke at the age of 80. Such drama! Fascinating, right? He’ll love them. (And quite frankly, I’m tempted to buy copies of these books for myself if I can find them!)

Now I know, the average person’s father would have no interest in these titles at all. However, the lesson behind these examples is this: think creatively. Don’t just buy whatever is on the “Father’s Day” table at the entrance of the local megabookstore. Look deeper. Browse alternative bookstore sites online and possibly find something out of print, or published by a small independent press. Think about what your dad has done in his life - his jobs, the places he’s lived, the experiences he’s had. Even if he doesn’t enjoy the book, at least he’ll know that you’re paying attention. You remember what branch of the service he was in, or that he went to Woodstock in a VW bus, or that he was a huge fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers as a kid. It lets your dad know the things that make you think of him, and after all, it’s the thought that counts.