There's an art to picking the ideal gift as you shop for your loved ones this season, Axios' Tina Reed writes.

• Why it matters: Giving gifts can be easily dismissed as consumeristic. That's wrong, says New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, whose latest book, "Life in Five Senses," was published earlier this year.

"Gift-giving is a universal cultural practice. It's of enormous importance in how people engage with each other," she tells Axios.

• She even released her Gift-Giving Quiz today for understanding what she calls others' "gift appreciation profiles."

Per Rubin, there are four kinds of gift recipients:

• A "connoisseur" knows the best of the best and tends to prefer quality over quantity. They'd probably be thrilled with a high quality version of something they regularly use but wouldn't splurge on for themselves.
• Meanwhile, an "easy-to-please" person appreciates the personal touch, and would likely love something handmade or an item that would remind them of a shared memory.
• An "enthusiast" is a person who loves variety and might like scoring the hottest new gadget or a chance to check out the trendiest new restaurant in town.
• A "tried and true" person, however, likely revels in getting the same gift every year. A person might feel like they're being inconsiderate by buying their dad peppermint bark year after year. Not so, if he's got a "tried and true" profile, Rubin says.
• "He wants that peppermint bark, and you will disappoint him if all of a sudden you switch," she said.

The bottom line: "One of the best ways to make ourselves happy is to make other people happy," Rubin said. "Giving gifts is a way to make people feel like you really understand their nature and you're paying attention to their interests."

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📬 Is there a gift you've received over the years that was especially meaningful? Tell us about it in one or two sentences — with a pic if you have one! — and include your name and hometown. We'll feature those perfect presents throughout the holiday season.

Tonight's slice of nature comes from reader Katherine D., who lives in Wilson, Wyo.

• "[Here's] my favorite trail on Munger Mountain in the south corner of Jackson Hole — a perfect place for recharge and recreation."