Posted on 11/30/2012 8:05:10 PM PST by Vinylly
I have a 16 year old grandson that spends too much time on the computer and playing X games. He doesn't read books. So, I am thinking of giving him a couple of books for his christmas present. Two books I am thinking of is; 'The Richest Man In Babylon' by George Clasan and 'Anthem' by Ayn Rand. I would like suggestions from other writers that counter act the teaching he is getting in his school, and still be interesting for a 16 year old.
And why doesn’t the grandparent speak with the parent involved anyhow. If it’s to be a gun there are umpty-ump laws that one could run afoul of depending on where it is. Some places are even uptight about paint ball guns. If the kid’s gung ho to shoot that’s not necessarily a BAD thing, but maybe an air gun would be more suitable depending on circumstance.
OK. I spoke with He Who Has An Xbox. He said that he totally agreed with what I wrote. He also said the odds of your grandson reading, if he doesn’t want to...are great, even if you got him a book.
One tip He Who Has An Xbox said...if you REALLY WANT to get him a book, find out what kind of games he’s playing. If they’re science fiction, the odds are better that he “may” read a science fiction book. Ditto with “fantasy” games. (whatever that is...).
He Who Has An Xbox has spoken. :)
Believe it or not, perhaps magazine subscriptions would be a very good idea to give. I started sending my first cousin many magazine subscriptions that I happened to get for free, and he now tells me that his 2 boys, both teenagers, now fight to see who gets to read which one first when they arrive each month.
I like the idea of books for your grandson, but the ones you’ve picked out are pretty heavy going for someone who at present doesn’t read much. I read a lot of Heinlein as a kid, and when I finally encountered Ayn Rand, her ideas were not so much revolutionary to me as “old home week” since Heinlein had already covered the same territory, only with more interesting action.
So I will echo the suggestion of Heinlein’s “Starship Troopers” (the very good book, not the execrable movie), or his novel, “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.” Also any of Heinlein’s “juvenile” books such as “Tunnel in the Sky” (but avoid anything published after about 1961, when he struck out in a new direction).
Terry Pratchett, a modern fantasy novelist, is pretty conservative in his outlook, and your grandson might enjoy the fantasy angle. I suggest “Night Watch” or “Guards! Guards!”
Also I was surprised at how libertarian/conservative the recent novel “The Hunger Games” is. Your grandson might actually read that since some of his friends may have read it.
Ditto married21’s suggestion on the Civilization game. Sounds like a good prospect. Remember, if he won’t crack open the book or take a peek at the game, he won’t get anything out of it at all! Best of luck!
If he doesn’t read books, don’t buy him books... they’ll sit on the shelf.
I’m with the “get him a gun” crowd. Ruger 10/22, perfect!
I'd second "Starship Troopers". "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is also a good read with a libertarian basis.
MONEY or a gift card. I have a 17 year old and she picks out her own gifts and I wrap them.
A tank of gas for his car.
First stop worrying about the computer games.
Computer games develop math skills as the player must develop skills in sequential reasoning.
Reading the instructions is reading.
Kids will read a book if the book is interesting, problem for 16 year olds is most stuff is just not interesting.
Find a common interest between you and your grandson and buy that book, do not try and foist your interests on him - common interest is the key.
Teach him love him.......that is what is important
The best advice! Well said
To: Vinylly
Oh, and another thing.
My husband bough a junker for our daughter.........
The pot calling the kettle black?
To: Vinylly
Oh, and another thing.
My husband bough a junker for our daughter.........
The pot calling the kettle black?
My ex always insisted the kids know how to change a flat tire, jump start their car and change the oil before they were allowed to even touch a set of car keys. The daughter - who was really cute and had a gazillion boyfriends - told her dad that if she wasn’t smart enough to figure out how to get one of the guys to change a flat tire for her, she wasn’t smart enough to be driving. Just one of the many challenges he faced with her. But I just left them alone and let them work it out.
What kind of computer games does he play? The subject matter of the games may help in deciding what kind of books to get him.
As a gamer and a reader I tend to cover the same subjects in my gaming and reading. If he plays a lot of sports games, then a good book covering the sport or sports, science fiction, then a good Science Fiction book, Fantasy, then a good Fantasy book, historical, then a good history book on the same subject, the same applies to any subject.
Once we (ie: Freepers) known the subject matter, then we can give you better suggestions.
Also, if he is interested in something on the computer, chances are he’ll be interested in it off the computer. So again, if we know the subject matter, we might give you some ideas to get him out into real life.
Get him socks, he’ll remember this Christmas forever........
Huh?
I do not know what you mean.
“Chicken soup for the teen age soul”. Different books for the various age categories. latest publication 8/12 Amazon
No matter how much I think I’m “hip” to what I think they want, I’m pretty much clueless, just as most adults were when I was that age ; ),
As an avid reader, I appreciated some of the books I received as Christmas presents and then again, some not so much. And I can’t tell you how many really fugly sweaters I got from my grandmother that soon ended up in the Salvation Army bin.
IMO, a Christmas gift should be given in the spirit of giving something to someone that they really want and will appreciate, not giving a gift that the giver perceives that the recipient should appreciate based on what the giver likes.
I am however thinking of giving my 19 year old college student great niece who holds two part time jobs to pay her tuition and keep her car crappy used car running, a AAA membership and perhaps a gift card for gasoline. I think that would be appreciated and would be very practical.
what is Stand?
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