# What would you think of this Christmas present? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 30, 2018, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909 "2018-12-30T05:28:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/1 "2018-12-30T05:28:10Z")
My present from my dad this year was a beat up old book about Jon Wooden. I have never expressed any interest in Jon Wooden, I am not even a basketball fan. The book literally has food stains all over it and sticky grimy stuff on the cover. Each other member of my family received a $25 gift card. I got garbage. I don’t really care if I got no gift at all, but wtf does this gift MEAN? I don’t think he’s mad at me? Maybe losing grip on reality a bit… ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/2 "2018-12-30T05:41:44Z")
Maybe he’s trying to tell you your _real_ dad is John Wooden. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/3 "2018-12-30T05:52:20Z")
Beginnings of dementia? How old is he? Did someone else do shopping, or just him? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/4 "2018-12-30T06:13:35Z")
Ask him? Maybe he wanted to give you his favorite book, or maybe he’s mad at you. Only one way to find out… ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/5 "2018-12-30T06:39:23Z")
Make sure you leaf through it. He may have hidden a map of the family treasure chest.🙂 Seriously though, ask him the meaning of such a nice, personal gift. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/6 "2018-12-30T06:51:23Z")
I got a rock… ---
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/7 "2018-12-30T07:02:03Z")
Please don’t let him know you think it’s garbage. The thought of that makes me sad. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/8 "2018-12-30T07:27:20Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > I got a rock… Is it a diamond type rock or more like an illicit substance or maybe a pet??? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/9 "2018-12-30T07:32:26Z")
He might think the book will be an inspiration for you. My dad gave me a Biggles book once and was really excited to see my reaction to the story. Let’s just say we had very different tastes. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/10 "2018-12-30T08:12:44Z")
The book is beat up and well read, which suggests that he’s read it over and over again. It’s something that he values, something that means a lot to him, and he would like to share it with you. In his mind it’s worth a lot more than $25. I’d take it that way, anyhow. It’s the thought that counts. But _ask_ him, speak to him about it. Read the first chapter, even if you’re not interested in it, and discuss it with him. If he doesn’t get it that you may not share his interests, let him down lightly. And, who knows, maybe there’s something worth reading in it, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/11 "2018-12-30T11:40:24Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > The book is beat up and well read… Which reminds me. Is it a rare book? A first edition, perhaps? I collect rare books. Pretty much all of my collection are first editions. Some are a little beat-up and well-read, but they are still firsts, and worth much more than their cover price, and subsequent editions. In some cases, many times more. Could this be a rare book in some way? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/12 "2018-12-30T13:31:05Z")
John Wooden is a hall of fame coach. He wrote several highly regarded books on leadership and team building. They apply to business and life in general. The John Wooden Pyramid of Success Wooden on Leadership Wooden A Lifetime of Observations Are great books for anyone going into business. I’d guess the OP’s dad studied his book and applied it to his life. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/13 "2018-12-30T13:47:02Z")
Clearly he needed a better editor. Shameful lack of groanworthy puns in those titles. > [@aceplace57](#): > > The John Wooden Pyramid of Success The Wooden Staircase to Success > [@aceplace57](#): > > Wooden A Lifetime of Observations Wooden It Be Nice? - A Lifetime of Observations ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/14 "2018-12-30T13:56:48Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Clearly he needed a better editor. Shameful lack of groanworthy puns in those titles. > > The Wooden Staircase to Success > > Wooden It Be Nice? - A Lifetime of Observations Wooden It Be Nice? - The combined biographies of the Beach Boys and The Carpenters ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/15 "2018-12-30T14:32:32Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > John Wooden is a hall of fame coach. > > He wrote several highly regarded books on leadership and team building. They apply to business and life in general. > > The John Wooden Pyramid of Success > Wooden on Leadership > Wooden A Lifetime of Observations > > Are great books for anyone going into business. > > I’d guess the OP’s dad studied his book and applied it to his life. This. The OP does not mention if the book was written by Wooden or about him by a inspirational author, but the OPs father clearly thought it was of value. Read the book, and discuss it with your father. Make it your gift to him. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/16 "2018-12-30T15:05:17Z")
I gave my teenage son the Wooden “Observations…” book a couple years ago, hoping it would spur him into reading a book and take a break from his video game. I told him he could read a few pages at a time, and did not even have to read it in order. Didn’t work. This year his coach gave him the same book. I suspect he will probably read it now. **aceplace57** is right. The books offer insight and advice for people, and perhaps your dad found this information valuable to him, and wanted you to have it as well. Of course, it would have been good for him to tell you this. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/17 "2018-12-30T15:05:48Z")
You all seem to be assuming my dad put thought and care into this gift. I assure you he did not. He realized on the way out the door that he didn’t get me a gift so he grabbed it off the shelf. The reason it’s dog-eared and covered in food stains and stickiness is because that’s how EVERYTHING in my dads house is. It’s the grossest thing I’ve ever seen and I intend to never enter it again. If it’s meant as an example of a book that inspired him, I definitely should not read it. My dad has wasted his life and all of his money chasing after every get-rich-quick scheme under the sun. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/18 "2018-12-30T15:58:01Z")
Well then… with the added color about your dad, you can just keep is as a reminder of how not to do things. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/19 "2018-12-30T16:04:10Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > John Wooden is a hall of fame coach. > > He wrote several highly regarded books on leadership and team building. They apply to business and life in general. > > The John Wooden Pyramid of Success > Wooden on Leadership > Wooden A Lifetime of Observations > > Are great books for anyone going into business. > > I’d guess the OP’s dad studied his book and applied it to his life. He said it was a book about Wooden, not a book by Wooden. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-think-of-this-christmas-present/826909/20 "2018-12-31T00:00:17Z")
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