Gift from the Sea can, in several ways, be understood as an example of nonfiction inspirational literature. Inspirational literature differs from standard nonfiction in that it does not attempt to merely describe or analyze certain phenomena. Rather, it also aims to inspire the reader to effect positive change in their lives. This can be seen in the goal of Gift from the Sea. While analyzing and criticizing the superficiality of modern life, it seeks to provoke in the reader a desire to pursue something different. As such, it appeals to the reader’s emotions as well as trying to convince them on a rational level through arguments. Thus, in a related way, inspirational literature differs from “self-help” or “self-improvement” literature. Self-help works typically outline rational precepts that, when followed, purport to help generate improvements in aspects of the reader’s life. In contrast, inspirational literature like Gift from the Sea does not straightforwardly offer any “rules” for achieving change in one’s life. Instead, it appeals to one's affect, or emotional response, to elicit a more general desire for change while leaving the precise methods for and goals of this change open-ended.

Due to this emphasis on the emotions, inspirational literature also often uses language in a different way from standard nonfiction or self-help.