It's well understood that e-book readers pay for themselves with the lower price for books. Anyone who really wants an e-book reader would have bought one by now. By buying one for someone who doesn't have one, you're forcing a gift on them that they have already decided they don't want.

Even if you're not persuaded by all my arguments, and insist on giving an eBook reader, you should know that one of the . If you order a Barnes & Noble Nook reader today, for example, it will .

There has been so much change and excitement in the e-book market since the last holiday season, you might be tempted to think this is the year for giving e-books. Resist the temptation. An e-book reader is one of the worst gadget gift ideas of the season.