The Sociology of... Giving

Gift giving is underrated. Here’s why it leaves "deep marks."

The Gist of It: The social case for gift culture, from primates to O. Henry.

I like to think I’m a good gift giver. Or at least I aspire to be one. I enjoy the process: the conjuring of the person in my mind. Imagining who they are and what they like. Paying attention to the small details whenever possible — What’s their size? Their humor? Their affinit…