How Graydon Carter Gifts
“I impulse gift-buy all the time. Too many to remember, but most at flea markets.”
We asked 20 notable people about their gifting philosophies, gifting nightmares, the best gifts under $25, and so much more. We’ll be publishing each of their questionnaires now through December 23 in this new series, “How I Gift.” Today, magazine editor Graydon Carter on Hermès clocks, packs of batteries, and the best gift he’s ever received.
What gift have you received that you’re most surprised about still using regularly?
Bob Chavez, the head of Hermès, gave me a ball-shaped Hermès desk clock about 25 years ago. It needs winding every morning, and it’s the way I start my day.
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You have to give the same present to everyone for the rest of your life. What is it?
Boxes of AA and AAA batteries.
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What was the most heartfelt, smart, so “you” present you’ve ever received?
I’m a car guy, and my pal Cullen Murphy gave me a motoring handbook that Guy Burgess had signed and given to Kim Philby.
Advent calendars: great or dumb? Defend your position.
Love Advent calendars. We’ve had one every year since I was a kid. We get ours from Fortnum & Mason.
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Would you ever just give cash? When? How much?
If you live in an apartment building and want your packages and dry cleaning brought up with any sort of regularity, holiday tips for the staff are a must.
Here’s $10 to get a gift for someone at Walgreens. What are you buying?
Rolaids.
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What’s the best gift under $25?
A magazine subscription.
What’s the last thing you impulse bought for someone else?
I impulse gift-buy all the time. Too many to remember, but most at flea markets. The most recent one was at a market in Saint-Sulpice. I bought a gold tricorn hat for my youngest daughter’s charm bracelet.
Who is the best gift giver you’ve ever encountered — and why?
Sara Marks, my old colleague at Vanity Fair, is remarkable. She, like me, prowls flea markets relentlessly. All over the world. Her gifts are extraordinary. Years ago, she gave me a pen-and-ink set that looks like a bowler hat sitting on top of an umbrella. Spectacular.
How can all bad gift givers get better?
Research the passions of the recipient.
You can pick any five people (dead or alive) to join your game of White Elephant. Who are you choosing?
Christopher Hitchens, Sue Mengers, Jerry Weintraub, my daughter Bronwen, and a random billionaire who might throw a news company or streaming service into the pot.
What’s the (physically) largest gift you’ve ever given?
I bought my wife a British Racing Green MG with wire wheels that was made the year she was born.
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What’s the most jealous you’ve ever been of a present someone else got?
A friend bought his wife a Gulfstream for her birthday. When she told us this, we threw the candle we brought to her birthday party into the bushes.
What is your dream gift? Is there any chance you actually get it?
I don’t have a dream gift. But my youngest daughter made me a Leica out of hard paper and had an accordion roll of pictures inside of the two of us. I cherish it more than the real thing.
More Christmas Gift Ideas.
- 25 Gifts Under $10 (That You Can Buy on Amazon)
- The Best Gifts for 1-Year-Olds
- Heads-up: Lots of Great Advent Calendars Are Currently on Sale
- The Best Gifts for Teenage Girls, According to Teenage Girls
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
