present ideas
to make the giving of a book all the more personal - why not make a bookmark using colour card and ribbon to go with the book's cover or content and hand write a note on it about why you chose the book especially for them
d-i-y presents ...
for someone very special - write a 'this is your life' book about them and present it in print, on cd/memory stick or perhaps on line - featuring their life to date including photos of themselves, family, friends and maybe treasured memory 'scraps' like special invitations, festival passes, programme covers and newspaper cuttings.
finally, maybe give a gift of your time - sharing your knowledge and experiences (however limited) with a friend in need of advice or actually offer to physically help them get a dreamed interest or project together.