Why a life story book is the perfect gift
Quick to give, deeply personal, and a gift twice over: for the one who tells the story and the one who gives it. Here is why families choose Memoair.
Some gifts bring joy for a year. Others for a lifetime. A life story book belongs to the second kind – and, rarely, it is convenient, deeply personal and lasting all at once. Here is why.
1. Quick – done in minutes
No shops, no wrapping, no waiting for a courier. Ordering takes a few minutes, and the gift e-mail can be scheduled for Christmas morning or the birthday itself. That makes it a perfect last-minute gift too – it is digital, so it is never late.
2. Deeply personal – it could belong to no one else
Anyone can be given a jumper. But only they could have written this book: their childhood, their great love, their hard years and proud moments, in their own words. A kind, patient companion asks the questions – by voice, on the phone, at their own pace, no typing – and at the end a beautifully written, chapter-by-chapter book is created, with their old photographs.
3. A gift twice over: for the one who receives it and the one who gives it
The person you give it to receives what most older people long for: attention, and the feeling that their life matters – that someone is curious about them. And you receive something money cannot buy anywhere else: your parents’ or grandparents’ stories, the ones you perhaps never asked about, and which one day you can pass on to your own children.
4. A gift for the whole family
The finished book can be shared by private link with siblings, grandchildren and relatives far away, and printed as a PDF. If your family speaks several languages, everyone can read or listen to it in their own language – even if Grandma told it in another.
5. A voice that stays
The book can also be heard as an audiobook – with the storyteller’s consent, even in their own voice. You can listen any time: on a quiet Sunday afternoon, on a long drive, on an anniversary evening. And many, many years from now it will still be there, unchanged – their voice, their laugh, the way they said certain words. It is a gift you give not only today, but to the future as well.
6. No technical skills needed
The storyteller only has to talk. No sign-up, no complicated menus: a code or a link, and the companion starts asking. They can pause and continue whenever they like, and if a memory moves them, nothing is rushed.
Who is it for?
- Grandparents who “already have everything”.
- Parents for a milestone birthday, an anniversary or Christmas.
- Couples – two people can tell their story together.
- Yourself – tell your own story for your children.
Ready to give it? Order it as a gift here. For conversation ideas, see our 30 questions to ask your grandparents.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to create the book?
The storyteller sets the pace: some finish in a week, others tell their story in small portions over months. Once the conversation is closed, the book is ready within a few hours and sent by e-mail.
What exactly does the recipient get?
A gift e-mail or a printable gift card with a code. With the code they start the conversation on a phone, tablet or computer – no download, no sign-up.
Can the book be heard in the storyteller’s own voice?
Yes, if the storyteller explicitly agrees at the start of the conversation. The audiobook can be played any time and downloaded as MP3.
Which languages does it work in?
Stories can be told in more than 20 languages, and the finished book can be read and heard in any of them – every family member in their own language.
Their story, in their words – even in their own voice.
Memoair’s companion patiently asks about their life, and the result is a beautifully written book.