Book news: US president’s last picks; Tolkien’s tale of love; and publishing deal for Omar El Akkad’s American War

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Barack Obama's final list from the White House

Barack Obama's well-documented love of books means his imminent departure from the White House will be a shame for bibliophiles in need of a Presidential steer – his annual summer reading list is somehow both completely cool and totally normal. It is not taking sides to suggest that neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump's reading habits will be quite so intriguing. Obama is going out with one last list. This week he gave Wired magazine a rundown of books that have not only shaped him but should be required reading for future leaders. Most are non-fiction, featuring, among others, Abraham Lincoln, and Katherine Boo's brilliant study of Mumbai, Behind the Beautiful Forevers. But there is one novel: John Steinbeck's In Dubious Battle. The 1936 work, described by Steinbeck as a "symbol of man's eternal, bitter warfare with himself", revolves around a strike by California fruit-workers. It has been adapted into an upcoming film, directed by James

Franco and starring Bryan Cranston, Ed Harris, Zach Braff and Robert Duvall. Obama is surely the most on-trend president yet.

Tale of love in middle-earth

If it feels too long since your last journey into J R R Tolkien's magical Middle-earth, then you only have to wait until May for another instalment. Beren and Lúthien, a love story about a mortal man and an immortal elf, was written by Tolkien in 1917 and formed the heart of The Silmarillion, the compendium of Tolkien works that was published by his son, Christopher, in 1977. He has now edited a stand-alone book featuring the story, with drawings by Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings art director Alan Lee.

A civil war on terror

One of the most talked-about debut novels due next year is from United States-based, Egyptian-born journalist Omar El Akkad – and American War has now been signed up to a world­wide publishing deal. The book, which explores what might happen if America "turned its most devastating policies and weapons upon itself", is set in 2074 during the "Second American Civil War", where oil is outlawed and unmanned drones fill the sky. The book is due out in April.