Best technical type book is the owner's manual or a specific camera body book like Thom Hogan produces. But that just gets you the technical knowledge as to how to make the camera work. It doesn't tell you what you want type of image you want to produce.

Best artistic aspirational type book is not a book at all but just looking closely at good photographs, where ever found, and asking yourself why you think they are attractive and how you think they were done.

In thinking about this, if there is time, sit down with the beginner, go over the camera instruction book and become familiar with the basic functions of the camera. One can do a hands on with someone and teach them a lot about photography at the pace they can understand. Far more useful than a book unless of course this is a gift.

I think if someone wants to learn the basics...M mode, AF off, use a light meter externally. Set the camera up and focus on the subject.
Take photos, recording all the exposure, and shooting conditions. Then review in the computer the errors made...

A kind instructor can assist in the learning process immensely.

Well, it depends if you want an instructional type book or a good read. I would suggest Ansel Adams Autobiography would be a good read and may influence you.
If you want a good instructional book for basic level then how about understanding exposure by Brian Peterson. If you are a bit more advanced then any of the books by Michael Freeman

Tom Ang's books have become one of the default class room books at tons of schools and have been used for years. I'm not sure how many are out there, but I have 2 or 3 different ones. It is a bit "Text book-iey" but if I get stumped on shooting something it is always in one of his books. Fairly straight forward as well. So many books are just "I'm great, read about me shooting stuff you will never see" and skip talking about settings, particular set-ups or what goes into it.

"How to Photograph Absolutely Everything: Successful Pictures From Your Digital Camera" Is one of them I have but there are many others. The nice thing is I have one that is an older version probably from the early 2000s and it is still completely relevant.

I would recommend "The Family of Man" and to have a beginner study this in regards to how we shoot people. Real people, real life, to me this is photography in its highest form. And, while shooting a lot of the incredible shots we see on PAD may require more technical skill than a snapshot, the photography of human subjects is IMO by far the most difficult as it exposes our own personalities in each photo.

"The Family of Man" is one of the great collections and by studying this one can then go out and attempt to reproduce the photos of the human race.

Photography is moving at such a pace it if difficult to find an up to date book for someone new to photography

Please recommend JUST ONE ( in print) book you might buy for someone new to photography

My choice

Ansel Adams: An Autobiography by Ansel Adams and Mary Street Alinder

ISBN-10: 0821222414
ISBN-13: 978-0821222416