PUTTING TOGETHER OUR Christmas issues is one of the highlights of our year. The planning begins in the autumn, before the clocks go back and the mornings get chillier, when we ask our regular reviewers to start considering their highlights of the year.

But it is only in the final couple of weeks, when the reviews start to arrive, that we see what they have chosen. Some are obvious, books that have made a significant impact (critically and in sales terms) in the year, others less so. We fully approve that our critics frequently surprise us.

And I think that might not be a bad rule of thumb to follow while visiting a bookshop in the next couple of weeks. You know that Uncle Walter likes crime (reading it, not committing it), but, before plumping for whoever is on the three-for-two table, why not check out one of Marcel Berlins's rising stars on page 6? And take Cousin Clive: he loves books about music, but perhaps he'll prefer one of the nuggets unearthed by Bob Stanley to another “Mojo's top 1,000 songs that changed the world and were released on a Thursday”.

Buying Christmas presents can be — how to put this politely? — a pain in the neck. Buying books, on the other hand, is never less than an absolute joy.

And choosing a book that turns out to be just right for someone is deeply satisfying — I had a significant triumph when I gave my son Tim De Lisle's wonderful Young Wisden recently, although it hardly needed Inspector Rebus to work out that this might prove a hit. But still, the reward of getting it right is worth spending those few extra minutes in research before making your choice — which is where we came in.

The truly sensible may wish to wait for part two of Christmas Books next week, but I wouldn't blame you for feeling dizzy with inspiration and rushing off to the shops or your computer this morning.

Explore Books

• Book Extracts

• Book Reviews

• Books Group

• Audio Books

Times Recommends

• Superfreakonomics by Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner
• The Times picks the 50 best paperbacks of 2009
• Vincent van Gogh’s letters show the soul of the artist