Gifts for A Beautiful Mind

There is more to beauty than lipstick and lashes. With Christmas just three days away, here are some last-minute gift ideas for the intellect-meets-aesthete on your list.

I have always admired the extravagant, ornately-etched creations of Jay Strongwater–breathtaking enamel objects of art, encrusted with jewels.

A few years ago Strongwater started making bookmarks. Now he’s really speaking to me. I love the imposing 2″ x 6″ Jay Strongwater giraffe bookmark, $120, on sale now at neimanmarcus.com.

Unifying form and function by creating something outstandingly gorgeous–that’s also useful–is, in my opinion, a high art form.

If you’re more a Tiffany & Co. Type, you should check out Italian jewelry designer Elsa Peretti’s sterling silver heart bookmark, left, or for the teacher on your list, her enigmatic apple in ruthenium over copper.

What bibliophile would not adore marking their spot amidst a good read with one of these stylish placeholders? They make dog-earing appear downright desecrating and are a beautiful embellishment for any literary endeavor.

Now for a good book to accompany the gorgeous bookmarks for your beloved intellect. Nobel prize winner Neil deGrasse Tyson shares his list of books every intelligent person should read:

The Bible; The System of the World (Newton); On the Origin of Species (Darwin); Gulliver’s Travels (Swift); The Age of Reason (Paine); The Wealth of Nations (Smith); The Art of War (Sun Tsu); The Prince (Machiavelli).

“If you read all of the works above, you will have profound insight into most of what has driven the history of the western world,” he said.

The marriage of an artistic creation that feeds the soul with classic literature that nourishes the mind will undoubtedly produce a unique and customized gift that will not be forgotten. What an intelligent approach to beauty.