The ultimate beach book, "Long Beach Island is the World/The World is Long Beach Island" uses the history of Long Beach Island to ground the history of the universe. Focusing on the standard human gratifications beyond the purely personal - the foreign political "game" and culture - titled and listed short expositions of topics further lighten the narrative. Able to pick and choose without getting lost, the reader can be enthralled, or wanting a beach nap, put to sleep.