Question: What's a good book to read at the beach?

So it seems like every week one of my friends on Facebook is saying they are going to the beach. School is out and a ton of people choose the beach as their summer vacation destination. My wife and I are planning a trip to the beach later this year. If I had not already read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, it would have been perfect for our trip.

Why? Simple reason really. It is a BIG BOOK!

The book pictured is 1192 pages. So you could start it and pretty much guarantee yourself that you will not ever finish it while you are on your trip. It took me a very long time to read it. I think my wife read like 5 books in the time it took me to read that one.

Plus it's a really good book too. I read it last year because I heard it mentioned a lot during the presidential primaries. Even though it was written over 50 years ago, it is very relevant today.

To summarize the plot - The political leaders of our country keep passing laws to control/restrict our businesses. To the point that the executives of those businesses shrug their shoulders (hence the title) and leave. As that happens, the world starts to fall apart.

It is a very political book. But I think the story is good even if you don't care for the politics very much. And even though I felt Ayn Rand may have over-exaggerated the problems with a government that goes out of control, I think it gives interesting insights on what can happen when we give up the freedom's that our forefathers fought so hard to secure for us. And it definitely can give a different perspective on how politicians can spin even the worst ideas and situations into something positive.

I should mention that it is not a Christian novel. Ayn Rand was an atheist and she takes several jabs at religion in this book. If you can't or don't want to read anything with that type of content, then don't get this book. I will say that I think she makes some good points, but clearly I disagree with most of her perspective there.

Anyway, if you are planning a trip to the beach and would like a book that you can get lost in while relaxing in the sun, I think this is a good one. Just be sure to pack some sunscreen. :)