Beware of Small States: Lebanon, Battleground of the Middle East by David Hirst LL37,600 Nation Books

In a nutshell: Lebanon may be small, but it’s sure as hell got an attitude out of all proportion to its size. Warhorse of Middle Eastern journalism David Hirst turns his government-offending eye and aca- demic expertise to the problem.

Beach factor: Hirst covers the civil war, brings us bang up to date to 2009, and ponders the future role of the Obama administration. Simply fascinating.

Bum factor: A little heavy on the sun-stunned brain, perhaps, and there’s something slightly disconcerting about contemplating massacres while wearing a bikini.