The first year that my parents were married, my grandmother (my mom's mother-in-law) gave her a stack of cookbooks. She was a little insulted at the time, but came around quickly, learning to depend on the Joy of Cooking that was the centerpiece of the gift. From that time on, my mom has been convinced that cookbooks make good holidays gifts and often turns to them (or picture frames for some reason) when she isn't quite sure what to get someone. Personally, I always love getting a new cookbook, so I've never had a problem with this.
If the person on your list doesn't already have it, the Joy of Cooking makes a great gift because it is versatile and can answer just about any cooking question you throw at it. Although I love my 1970's version dearly, I'm really starting to be swayed by the latest edition.
The original Moosewood Cookbook is great for the folks who need frugal, healthy recipes. It's the book I turn to most often for soup inspiration.
If you've got new vegetarians on your holiday list, consider getting them a copy of The New Laurel's Kitchen. It is my resource for cooking with grains and beans and it has never let me down in that department.
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