The gist: A ninja answers e-mails from fans and shares his arcane knowledge with the world. The Web site has gained a cult following, and the book, an official product of the International Order of Ninjas, is 326 pages packed with everything you would ever need to know about being a ninja.

It starts off with how to build your very own ninja clan. You'll learn which is the proper weapon to use when fighting a vampire pumpkin, and how to execute ultra-deadly kicks like the "Driving Miss Daisy."

There's also a helpful myth-versus-fact section, and a list of the Top 10 least accurate ninja movies. The "Ninja Handbook"made me laugh out loud more than once. Even if you're not a big ninja fan, this book will get a chuckle or two out of you.

I Can Has Cheezburger? A LOLcat Colleckshun by Professor Happycat and Icanhasacheezburger.com ($10)

The Web site Icanhascheezburger.com started almost two years ago as a home for pictures of cats with funny, misspelled captions, called lolcats. The founders of the site, Eric Nakagawa and Kari Unebasami, have chosen 200 of their favorite lolcats from over one million in their archive for the book.

No matter how hard you try, you can't help but laugh at some of these pictures and their captions. A great gift for cat lovers, unless they also happen to be copy editors.

A Lifetime of Secrets by Frank Warren ($27.95)

"A Lifetime of Secrets" is the fourth Post Secrets book from Frank Warren. Warren started the Web site PostSecret.com three years ago inviting people from all over the world to send him homemade postcards sharing their deepest secrets which have never been revealed. Thanks to the weekly updates (which erase the previous week's entries), the blog has gained a cult following.

"A Lifetime of Secrets" is different its predecessors, since it carries the reader from childhood to maturity. "Stretched over a full lifespan, the secrets expose the meaningful ways we change over time, and the surprising ways we don't," Warren said in the book's introduction.

Once you start looking at the postcards, it's hard to stop. Many of them are intimate and relatable. There are secrets that will make you laugh out loud, and others that will actually bring tears to your eyes. The secrets in this book have never been on the PostSecrets blog, so fans will get a fresh dose of secrets.

The Best of Instructables, Vol. 1: DIY Projects From the World's Biggest Show & Tell by the editors of MAKE Magazine and Instructables ($34.99)

There are two kinds of geeks: The first likes to sit on the couch and play video games all day, and the other likes to take things apart, build things, and then play games on the video game consoles they built themselves. "The Best of Instructables, Vol. 1," comes from the editors of MAKE magazine, who took it upon themselves to pick the best of Instructables.com's home-brewed projects from around the world.

The Instructables Web site is a haven for DIY enthusiasts: It hosts over 18,000 projects to read about and try yourself. The book has over 120 projects with step-by-step instructions, photos, diagrams, and tips. There are 12 chapters, including computers, electronics, robotics, and science. Learn how to create things MacGyver-style like iPod speakers from just a Hallmark music card and a cereal box.

If you're strapped for cash this holiday season, you could try making some of these projects to give as heartfelt gifts.

Fashioning Technology : A DIY Intro to Smart Crafting by Syuzi Pakhchyan ($29.99)

"Fashioning Technology", from the creators of Craft magazine and O'Reilly Media author Syuzi Pakhchya--a seasoned artist, roboticist, and teacher--explains how to make introductory DIY projects. The book focuses on blending traditional sewing and assembly techniques with new materials and electronics.

"Fashioning Technology" covers three topics: wearables, objects for the home, and interactive toys. Pakhchyan explains how to put together circuits using conductive thread, solder joints for snaps, and switches for buttons. The sewing machine is the main tool used, so no dangerous soldering irons are needed.

This is a useful book for developing crafters who want to hone their hardware hacking skills. The projects are easy to follow with step-by-step instructions and big photos.Learn how to make fashion-forward accessories like LED bracelets and chandeliers, or a Space Invaders tote bag.