So, I'm buying a Calvin and Hobbes book for a big fan of the strip... what's the best/funniest book out of the collection and why?

They're all great. The beginings always a good place to start though, so I'd reccomend the first one, Calvin and Hobbes

no but, what's the best one... I'm sure he might own some of them, especially the first ones.... which one is seriously the best. If you where going on a vaction and had to take one with you, which one would it be?

I read all of the books--all of them--when I was younger. I can't read any of them now without remembering what happens because I read and reread them so much before. Although I didn't understand half of it (the language he uses is pretty damn complex to an eight year old) it was essentially my lifeblood, and will always have a soft spot in my heart (mournful sigh:o).

Everyone on Earth should own every Calvin and Hobbes book in their own language. There. I said it. I wonder if...my god...anyone might not like the comic strip? The thought is enough to make me feel like soiling myself...

AAAAAAAAHHHHH! Answer my question please!

Get him the longest one you can find. The longer, the better. If you have more Calvin and Hobbes then you're basically happier than if you would have had less Calvin and Hobbes. It's very simple.

There's one my roommate has somewhere, where it has strips from many different periods and themes of Calvin & Hobbes. It was super cool because the author had a lot of commentary in it - a behind the scenes feel. Unfortunately I don't remember the name and he's not around to ask.

That would be the Tenth Anniversary Book( i think it was tenth)
its fantastic, I'd forgotten about that one...
If the person you're buying it for is a kid I guess I'd reccomend the Lazy Sunday book, its all color sunday strips(the other normal books are better than this in a way, but its impossible to pick out one as the best, so if you want one that will stand out this would be a good choice), and if a teenager or adult the anniversary book.

Get the 10th anniversary book. It's quite good.

http://www.theheartofgold.org/jumpstation/books.html

If you plan on ever buying more than one, be aware that there are original books and collections. The collections take some strips from the original book.

So, if you're only planning on one or two, get the biggest collection you can afford.

If you're planning on getting more than one or two, start with the self titled "Calvin and Hobbes"