Page-turning is a great way to fan off on a hot summer afternoon. (Pool boys with palm fronds aren’t a bad solution, either.) But with the official start of the season just around the bend, it’s time to hit the beach with the right summer reading material.
Traditional “beach reads” are a bookworm’s nightmare, with plotlines about as deep as a kiddie pool; and these days, there are strict rules against bringing trash onto the beach. So this Memorial Day, with the temperatures rising, why not elevate your reading repertoire, too?
Elfster’s got a fun list of non-fiction titles that are both edifying and “shore” to please. Warning: These books are hard to put down! If you’re concerned about prolonged sun exposure due to reading, take a look at our “Sunburn Risk” assessment for each title.
The Lost Beach Boy: The True Story of David Marks
The story of a founding member of the Beach Boys who mysteriously faded into obscurity after lending his talents to early hits such as: “Surfin’ USA” and “Hawaii”.
Sunburn Risk: High (288 pages)
I’ll Catch the Sun: The Memoirs and Musings of a Nudist
The hilarious adventures of a globe-trotting nudist, with cultural insights on the lifestyle’s impact around the world.
Sunburn Risk: Very High (356 pages)
Saltwater Buddha: A Surfer’s Quest to Find Zen on the Sea
A high school runaway’s journey into adulthood, chasing waves and the Hawaiian tradition of surfing for serenity.
Sunburn Risk: Medium (200 pages)
Secrets of the Sno-Cone Lady: Angela’s Story
The true saga of a Greek immigrant who overcame abuse and adversity, finding the American Dream in a cup of shaved ice.
Sunburn Risk: Low (200 pages)
The juicy story of a forgotten film star hobnobbing in 1940’s Hollywood, as she spills the beans on cinema’s screen legends.
Sunburn Risk: Very High (416 pages)
Famed long-distance swimmer Lynne Cox recounts the sweet and suspenseful story of a baby gray whale following her after a morning dip in the Pacific.
Sunburn Risk: Low (176 pages)
A Friendly Life: The Autobiography of S. Prestley Blake, Co-Founder of Friendly Ice Cream Corp.
Friendly’s co-founder, S. Prestley Blake’s account of the brand’s unbelievable rise to success, and his personal fight to keep its guiding values afloat.
Sunburn Risk: Low (130 pages)
Everybody into the Pool: True Tales
A darkly humorous relation of a homecoming queen’s tragic spiral into the world of drugs.
Sunburn Risk: Medium (240 pages)
The 1920’s attempt of four women to swim the English Channel first, plus the endeavor’s effect on swimwear, society and the world of sports.
Sunburn Risk: Very High (336 pages)
The side-splitting and often cringe-worthy memories of a teenager’s unconventional summer camp in 1970’s Maine.
Sunburn Risk: High (256 pages)