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A Florida State of Mind: An Unnatural History of Our Weirdest State
A witty history of the state that's always in the news, for everything from alligator attacks to zany crimes.There's an old clip of Bugs Bunny sawing the entire state of Florida off the continent—and every single time a news story springs up about some shenanigans in Florida, someone on the internet posts it in response. Why are we so ready to wave goodbye to the Sunshine State? In A Florida State of An Unnatural History of Our Weirdest State, James D. Wright makes the case that there are plenty of reasons to be scandalized by the land and its sometimes-kooky, sometimes-terrifying denizens, but there's also plenty of room for hilarity.Florida didn't just become weird; it's built that way. Uncharted swampland doesn't easily give way to sprawling suburbia. It took violent colonization, land scams to trick non-Floridians into buying undeveloped property, and the development of railroads to benefit one man's hotel empire.Even the most natural parts of Florida are unnatural. Florida citrus? Not from here, but from China. Gators? Oh, they're from Florida all right, but that doesn't make having 1 per every 20 humans normal. Animals...in the form of roadkill? Only Florida allows you to keep anything you kill on the road (and anything you find). Yet everyone loves tourists come in droves, and people relocate to Florida constantly (only 36% of residents were born there). Crammed with unforgettable stories and facts, Florida will show readers exactly why.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2019
52 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
October 16, 2019
Wow, talk about weird. The author's book was published on April 30, 2019, and he sadly died the day before. I would rate 3.5 stars. I enjoyed reading the book, but parts were generalizations. The book is broken down into four sections - history, economics, people and politics, and the natural environment. Having lived in Florida for over half of my life, I agree that Florida can be quite weird but fun, exciting, and lots to do in this warm but humid climate. A lot of people do not realize that St. Augustine was settled in 1513, then 1565, by the Spaniards, which was before the English in Jamestown. Long before Disney opened in 1971, tourists have been flocking to the state since 1878 to ride the glass-bottomed boats boats at Silver Springs. Wright writes that over 55 million people visit Disney annually and it is the biggest single site employer in the U.S. Henry Flagler pushed to have the railroads constructed to Key West bringing more visitors to escape the frigid winters. The Daytona 500 brought racing enthusiasts. Roads were constructed for the mid-westerners and northerners to travel south. According to the author, 1.3 million alligators are estimated to live in Florida. Unfortunately, the over development and urban sprawl continue to encroach upon the Everglades. I learned that the fruit orange existed 300 years before the color orange. It was eye-opening to learn that a company makes orange juice based on algorithms, and locals mainly eat oranges from out-of-state. 20% of the population is over 65. The Villages is a swinging retirement center. Florida has 1,350 miles of coastlines, which has welcomed Spring Breakers, NASA/Kennedy Space Center, and bikers. Where else but Florida could you experience the land swindlers, the Watergate burglars, hanging chads, pythons, fried alligator, hurricanes, roadkill, conch fritters, stone crabs, key lime pies, invasive species, and people's wacky behavior as found in @_Florida man on twitter. I have never heard of tang pie and could not find it in any of my Florida cookbooks. As reflected in the state's former logo, "The Rules are Different Here."
September 8, 2019
As Florida is my home state, I was looking forward to what I thought would be a fun and fact filled take on some of the often times strangeness of the state, but also the uniqueness due to the natural beauty and much sought after weather. This book did not do it for me and I have to wonder why the author stays living in Florida. There was a definite political bent to the book, which turns me off immediately, regardless of what side of the aisle the author is catering to in a book that should not be about politics. There were also a lot of generalities about the various regions and people in the state. There was some good factual information. However, it was overshadowed by the application the author's observations to whole populations of people. If you don't know much about Florida, don't use this as your guide. Go ahead and buy a regular tourist guide as there will be enough factual history without the generalities, politics, and condescending attitude to native Floridians as "crackers".
March 30, 2019
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
They were literally like, "Hey! I see you like books about Florida! Do you want to read our book about Florida?" And I, though slightly dismayed that this is what my online identity has become, was immediately like, "HECK YES."
Anyway, if you like books about Florida, you will probably like this book!
Tonally it's a little all over the place, ranging from overly academic (the entirely unnecessary introduction) to o.O (on a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral: "like the Grand Canyon and oral sex, it must be experienced to be appreciated"), but mostly settling on "gentle dad humor," which is a comfortable place to be. Wright doesn't seem to have an actual thesis about Florida, although he does take a loose stab at why he thinks it's so strange in the final chapter. At times this reads like a random assembly of Florida Facts, but in general, the book is an affable and pleasant tour of the history, landscape, and weird, weird citizens of the Sunshine State.
Unofficial Florida Nonfiction Book Ranking:
1. Oh, Florida!: How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country by Craig Pittman
2. A Florida State of Mind by James D. Wright
3. Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland by Dave Barry
4. Love and Death in the Sunshine State by Cutter Wood
They were literally like, "Hey! I see you like books about Florida! Do you want to read our book about Florida?" And I, though slightly dismayed that this is what my online identity has become, was immediately like, "HECK YES."
Anyway, if you like books about Florida, you will probably like this book!
Tonally it's a little all over the place, ranging from overly academic (the entirely unnecessary introduction) to o.O (on a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral: "like the Grand Canyon and oral sex, it must be experienced to be appreciated"), but mostly settling on "gentle dad humor," which is a comfortable place to be. Wright doesn't seem to have an actual thesis about Florida, although he does take a loose stab at why he thinks it's so strange in the final chapter. At times this reads like a random assembly of Florida Facts, but in general, the book is an affable and pleasant tour of the history, landscape, and weird, weird citizens of the Sunshine State.
Unofficial Florida Nonfiction Book Ranking:
1. Oh, Florida!: How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country by Craig Pittman
2. A Florida State of Mind by James D. Wright
3. Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland by Dave Barry
4. Love and Death in the Sunshine State by Cutter Wood
April 16, 2019
This author needs to find another new state to reside in!
The book has a serious Liberal bent which is truly out of place here. I read this book to enjoy the crazy and silly and oddness of my beloved Florida. I was not looking for political commentary, lampooning or plain slanted remarks. The author has succumbed to revisionist history in his description of the Native Resistance to European colonization. He also takes a strong stand in his belief that the wealth of the developers has built on the backs of the struggling poor, intentionally. He also shows a serious lack of respect for the native Floridians that he calls 'Crackers', has serious issues with the slave-owning history of Florida and lets it carry over to the residents of today's Florida. I wish that this book had been written differently so that I could have enjoyed it. Instead, it is all political and not factual. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
The book has a serious Liberal bent which is truly out of place here. I read this book to enjoy the crazy and silly and oddness of my beloved Florida. I was not looking for political commentary, lampooning or plain slanted remarks. The author has succumbed to revisionist history in his description of the Native Resistance to European colonization. He also takes a strong stand in his belief that the wealth of the developers has built on the backs of the struggling poor, intentionally. He also shows a serious lack of respect for the native Floridians that he calls 'Crackers', has serious issues with the slave-owning history of Florida and lets it carry over to the residents of today's Florida. I wish that this book had been written differently so that I could have enjoyed it. Instead, it is all political and not factual. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
May 23, 2019
3 1/2 stars.
Allison Ziegler at St. Martin's Press was kind enough to send this to me as an ARC because I've enjoyed some books about Florida. And I did like it, so thank you, Allison!
Wright's book is sort of an odd thing, though. Its subtitle, "An Unnatural History of our Weirdest State," is not really accurate. It does include a lot of history, but it is really more of a catalog of weirdnesses. The book is divided into four sections: "Some Bits and Pieces of History" (including an interesting chapter on Henry Flagler and a deadly dull one on auto racing); "Florida Economics" (theme parks, oranges, retirees [focusing on shenanigans, sexual and otherwise, in "The Villages," of course], beaches, and so on); "People and Politics" (cultural divisions in Florida, Florida connected political idiocies, very brief sketches of famous and infamous Floridians); and "The Natural Environment" (weather, dangerous critters, roadkill, restaurants). His conclusions about why Floridians provide so much eyebrow raising entertainment for the rest of the nation are as plausible as anything else I've read.
I was born in Florida and spent my first forty years there, and, much as I love North Carolina, Florida will always be "home" to me. Still, reading about Governor Rick Scott, populations of giant pythons, shootings, etc., knocked a little of the shine off my nostalgic memories. On the other hand, Wright doesn't spend any time on the beauties of enormous ancient live oak trees or the tranquility of paddling down a river on a quiet morning, watching herons fish. Posts on Facebook from friends who still live in Florida assure me that there are still impossibly glorious red and gold and purple sunsets. His title, "A Florida State of Mind," if not his subtitle, is pretty accurate -- if you are looking for weirdness, Florida certainly has plenty to offer.
Allison Ziegler at St. Martin's Press was kind enough to send this to me as an ARC because I've enjoyed some books about Florida. And I did like it, so thank you, Allison!
Wright's book is sort of an odd thing, though. Its subtitle, "An Unnatural History of our Weirdest State," is not really accurate. It does include a lot of history, but it is really more of a catalog of weirdnesses. The book is divided into four sections: "Some Bits and Pieces of History" (including an interesting chapter on Henry Flagler and a deadly dull one on auto racing); "Florida Economics" (theme parks, oranges, retirees [focusing on shenanigans, sexual and otherwise, in "The Villages," of course], beaches, and so on); "People and Politics" (cultural divisions in Florida, Florida connected political idiocies, very brief sketches of famous and infamous Floridians); and "The Natural Environment" (weather, dangerous critters, roadkill, restaurants). His conclusions about why Floridians provide so much eyebrow raising entertainment for the rest of the nation are as plausible as anything else I've read.
I was born in Florida and spent my first forty years there, and, much as I love North Carolina, Florida will always be "home" to me. Still, reading about Governor Rick Scott, populations of giant pythons, shootings, etc., knocked a little of the shine off my nostalgic memories. On the other hand, Wright doesn't spend any time on the beauties of enormous ancient live oak trees or the tranquility of paddling down a river on a quiet morning, watching herons fish. Posts on Facebook from friends who still live in Florida assure me that there are still impossibly glorious red and gold and purple sunsets. His title, "A Florida State of Mind," if not his subtitle, is pretty accurate -- if you are looking for weirdness, Florida certainly has plenty to offer.
April 11, 2019
I love books about Florida and this one doesn’t disappoint. Weird, wacky and often a subject of ridicule from the rest of the nation/world, this state has something for everybody and this book does a decent job covering it. Enjoyed it and would highly recommend it to others. I read an ARC so the below quote may change slightly.
“Research shows that when the heat and humidity go up, people are more likely to die, are more likely to be hospitalized, report more fitful sleep, become less productive at work, skip work more frequently, tend to argue more with others, become more violent, commit more crimes, are more aggressive, tend to have more and steamier sex, and are generally nuttier (i.e., mental illnesses are exacerbated). And that is only a partial listing. A quick review of the relevant scientific literature suggests that there is scarcely an element of human behavior that doesn’t change when the heat index goes up. So there you have it: lots of in-migrants and tourists who lack the constraining influence of their informal social groups, a common belief that Florida’s rules of behavior are different, and month after month of “straight-95” days—that’s the temperature, humidity, dew point, and chance of an afternoon shower. Et voila: Florida! I conclude with a quotation from the incomparable Tim Dorsey’s novel Pineapple Grenade: “A prosthetic leg with a Willie Nelson bumper sticker washed ashore on the beach, which meant it was Florida. And then it got weird.”” – p. 205-206
“Research shows that when the heat and humidity go up, people are more likely to die, are more likely to be hospitalized, report more fitful sleep, become less productive at work, skip work more frequently, tend to argue more with others, become more violent, commit more crimes, are more aggressive, tend to have more and steamier sex, and are generally nuttier (i.e., mental illnesses are exacerbated). And that is only a partial listing. A quick review of the relevant scientific literature suggests that there is scarcely an element of human behavior that doesn’t change when the heat index goes up. So there you have it: lots of in-migrants and tourists who lack the constraining influence of their informal social groups, a common belief that Florida’s rules of behavior are different, and month after month of “straight-95” days—that’s the temperature, humidity, dew point, and chance of an afternoon shower. Et voila: Florida! I conclude with a quotation from the incomparable Tim Dorsey’s novel Pineapple Grenade: “A prosthetic leg with a Willie Nelson bumper sticker washed ashore on the beach, which meant it was Florida. And then it got weird.”” – p. 205-206
April 7, 2019
Had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this newest entry into the wonderful world of weirdness known as the great state of Florida. The unique factors that have contributed to the rise of the ever popular Sunshine State are explored from its fauna, voting blocs, dumb criminals, frisky seniors, killer animals, shady real estate scams and so much more. Every chapter had me laughing but also learning about something new about Florida. Great place to visit but to live there may take courage and just a bit of weirdness. Strongly recommended for old and new Floridians alike but also an informative guide to make your next trip down south even more rewarding. Great book!
May 11, 2020
The first two chapters (on Florida history) are of some interest, but it's all downhill from there. The rest of the book suffers from the author's constant repetition of radical attacks on anyone who even appears to be a Republican, coupled with a wiseguy writing style which frequently descends into tastelessness. If you're interested in Florida history and culture, I would urge finding a more serious and objective source of information.
August 26, 2021
Colección de anécdotas y particularidades que convierten a Florida en el estado más extraño de los Estados Unidos y los motivos que el autor, sociólogo y profesor emérito de la Universidad de Florida, considera: inmigración nacional e internacional, legislación y clima.
April 16, 2021
Poorly written book filled with non-cohesive chapters of facts, stereotypes and generalizations. Although every state and place has its pros and cons reading James Wright’s book, I couldn’t fathom why he lived in Florida for two decades. Majority of the book is him on a personal vendetta against the state’s weather, politics, traffic, history, love of college football, oranges, alligators and everything else a sane person would expect from Florida. When James isn’t complaining about the heat and humidity and can actually put two coherent sentences together he enjoys generalizing and stereotyping people and ethnic groups. At best this comes off as poorly executed satire and at worst a straight up attempt to ridicule and humiliate people that he considers at a lower social or economic status then himself. Would give a zero out of five if possible.
April 8, 2019
Author James D. Wright explains the good and the bad in his new book A Florida State of Mind. As Wright points out, Florida likes to bill itself as the happiest state in the country. In truth, depending on the survey you look at it ranks between twelfth and twenty-fourth. Wright lays out an entertaining history of the weirdest state from its earliest days right up until the 21st century. The book is nicely laid out in chapters dealing with its history, growth, politics, tourism, and the environment. An entertaining read on a subject that is never boring.
Click on link to read my full review.
https://johngrecoauthor.com/2019/04/0...
Note: I received an ARC from St. Martin Publishing.
Click on link to read my full review.
https://johngrecoauthor.com/2019/04/0...
Note: I received an ARC from St. Martin Publishing.
February 16, 2020
Considering the author was a Distinguished Research Professor (albeit at the University of Central Florida), this book is a collection of untruths, flippant observations, unsubstantiated claims, and just plain crap. He decided (for some reason, I suppose to make some money from publishing this book) that Florida was the "weirdest state in the nation" and then tried to "prove" his conclusion. I suppose it could be mildly amusing to some-- but just don't assume ANYTHING he writes is factual!
May 9, 2019
Two things I want to mention before I give my opinion on the book...
1. I am not a "real" reviewer - just a person who was delighted to find and read the book. No advanced copies on my library shelf.
2. I just googled Mr. Wright and found that he passed away a few days ago. I am surprised at how sad it makes me!
On to the book - this is a must read for ANYONE who lives in Florida or spends time there. (I'm talking to you, snowbirds!) I've spent a considerable amount of time visiting various parts of the state for many years - both "old" and "new" Florida - so I found the book interesting and occasionally laughed out loud in agreement with Wright's comments.
It's filled with lots of good behind the scenes views and historical information. I thought it to be honest and adept in its portrayal of the Sunshine State, yet everything was also written with fondness and respect. Some parts were more interesting than others, of course, but all gave me a better insight to the state of that crazy peninsula.
RIP Mr Wright. And thank you.
1. I am not a "real" reviewer - just a person who was delighted to find and read the book. No advanced copies on my library shelf.
2. I just googled Mr. Wright and found that he passed away a few days ago. I am surprised at how sad it makes me!
On to the book - this is a must read for ANYONE who lives in Florida or spends time there. (I'm talking to you, snowbirds!) I've spent a considerable amount of time visiting various parts of the state for many years - both "old" and "new" Florida - so I found the book interesting and occasionally laughed out loud in agreement with Wright's comments.
It's filled with lots of good behind the scenes views and historical information. I thought it to be honest and adept in its portrayal of the Sunshine State, yet everything was also written with fondness and respect. Some parts were more interesting than others, of course, but all gave me a better insight to the state of that crazy peninsula.
RIP Mr Wright. And thank you.
January 14, 2023
This was surprisingly enjoyable. I am a Florida native with family still living in Florida who can be considered crackers so a lot of the history presented here was interesting and sparked memories of visiting those cracker relatives as a child.
For example:
I had a great aunt who fixed squirrel brains for breakfast with grits (they were actual brains of squirrels - tiny as one might suspect).
At another great aunts house, her numerous grandkids would go out frog gigging at night and bring them back for her to fix the frog legs in a bunch of fry oil with hush puppies.
Florida is really and truly a strange place.
For example:
I had a great aunt who fixed squirrel brains for breakfast with grits (they were actual brains of squirrels - tiny as one might suspect).
At another great aunts house, her numerous grandkids would go out frog gigging at night and bring them back for her to fix the frog legs in a bunch of fry oil with hush puppies.
Florida is really and truly a strange place.
Read
September 25, 2019Didn’t grab my interest. Read 6 chapters and it felt like a chore. Moving on.
February 2, 2020
Wild and wacky Florida, how many of these books have been written? A few. Living here and being submerged in it, well it seems the norm. The author covers a wide range topics, people, and things that make Florida.....Florida. The conclusion seems to be packing so many people onto a narrow peninsula will bring out the desired results, weirdness.
March 16, 2024
JUST SKIP CHAPTER 11! (&12)
I was going to rate it higher, but he really should have left this Political chapters out of the book (because it’s very difficult for even good authors to write unbiased-ly on this topic), or at least kept his empty-headed opinions on politics to himself.
I looked past the political undertone well enough until he made a fool of himself in this chapter and the next.
Because of this, every previous chapter I had read lost all credibility, and every subsequent chapter was ruined by the ‘bad taste left in my mouth.’
Also, as a Biology graduate, it infuriated me to read an entire chapter dedicated to how immense the devastation by invasive flora and fauna is in Florida and how bleak of a future there really is for native species, but then the hypocrite author goes on to say he has a flock of an invasive species of birds that inhabit his backyard and he doesn’t care if they “belong” in Florida or not, because they are a “source of amusement” for him.
I love the cover design.
I was going to rate it higher, but he really should have left this Political chapters out of the book (because it’s very difficult for even good authors to write unbiased-ly on this topic), or at least kept his empty-headed opinions on politics to himself.
I looked past the political undertone well enough until he made a fool of himself in this chapter and the next.
Because of this, every previous chapter I had read lost all credibility, and every subsequent chapter was ruined by the ‘bad taste left in my mouth.’
Also, as a Biology graduate, it infuriated me to read an entire chapter dedicated to how immense the devastation by invasive flora and fauna is in Florida and how bleak of a future there really is for native species, but then the hypocrite author goes on to say he has a flock of an invasive species of birds that inhabit his backyard and he doesn’t care if they “belong” in Florida or not, because they are a “source of amusement” for him.
I love the cover design.
March 26, 2019
** I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **
This book was so much fun to read. As someone who has lived in the "Sunshine State" at several points in her life, this book had me laughing along and nodding my head to the shenanigans that have taken place over the course of the state's history. I loved all the random facts and tidbits throughout the book.
P.S. I really could have done without the "Roadkill" chapter. Anyone with a queasy stomach should definitely skip that one.
This book was so much fun to read. As someone who has lived in the "Sunshine State" at several points in her life, this book had me laughing along and nodding my head to the shenanigans that have taken place over the course of the state's history. I loved all the random facts and tidbits throughout the book.
P.S. I really could have done without the "Roadkill" chapter. Anyone with a queasy stomach should definitely skip that one.
March 26, 2019
I am a native Floridian and I know Florida has a lot of weird stories out of it,but so does every state. There is a lot of wonderful things about Florida or people would not visit or move here. I think there is a lot of weird and wonderful stories the author could have included in this book that were not just the more well known stories.
November 15, 2019
As a new Floridian, I thought this book would be helpful, and I thought Wright’s three-part division of the state into Cracker, central, and Cuban Florida mildly enlightening, but on the whole I thought his descriptions to be shallow and aimed at the cheap shot, devoid of depth.
March 11, 2019
Interesting read but some of the facts seemed a little stretched.
April 29, 2019
What an entertaining and informative read! I've never visited Florida and probably never will - I hate heat and humidity. What can I say, I need four seasons and the chance of a foot of snow to make things exciting. But I do like reading about the state, fiction, non-fiction.....sometimes it's hard to tell them apart. Seems like all of the nuts rolled downhill and landed there. From it's discovery by Ponce de Leon to the invasion of Disney, all of the history in between is more than can be contained in one volume. James D. Wright makes a winning effort in stuffing a lot of information into this entertaining read.
I read it cover to cover in a weekend - sleeping wasn't an issue. There were some parts in the chapter on road kill that were more than a bit off putting but hey, it's a book about Florida, after all. The crazy is strong down there in the Sunshine State - which the author reminds us isn't really their's to claim. Other states have more sunshine. Sort of like Washington State being the rainiest, it's a PR thing.
When I was finished reading I added it to my list of future gifts to friends and family and I wanted to learn more about this larger than life state. I'm making my reading list right now. If you are a native of Florida, a tourist in the making or you visit every year, a new transplant or may never set foot there, I recommend this book to all of you.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I read it cover to cover in a weekend - sleeping wasn't an issue. There were some parts in the chapter on road kill that were more than a bit off putting but hey, it's a book about Florida, after all. The crazy is strong down there in the Sunshine State - which the author reminds us isn't really their's to claim. Other states have more sunshine. Sort of like Washington State being the rainiest, it's a PR thing.
When I was finished reading I added it to my list of future gifts to friends and family and I wanted to learn more about this larger than life state. I'm making my reading list right now. If you are a native of Florida, a tourist in the making or you visit every year, a new transplant or may never set foot there, I recommend this book to all of you.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 23, 2019
This book was great! James D. Wright uses history, cultural anecdotes and sociology to explain the myths and the reality of the state of Florida. The only reason why I docked the book down a star is because on Chapter 3 regarding Henry Flagler, Wright or the editors made a mistake. When describing Flagler’s adoration with Palm Beach, the author wrote that Flagler decided to build his palatial mansion, Whitehall, in Palm Springs, FL. That never happened. Palm Springs is a town located southwest of West Palm Beach and Flagler never built anything down there. I wish the editor would’ve taken an extra minute to proofread that sentence because now people may get confused about that piece of misleading information. Other than that, the book was informative and Wright relayed interesting statistics and facts about Florida’s unique flora and fauna, such as the Florida Black Bear and the Florida Alligator and the threat of invasive species such as the Burmese Python in this state. I also liked how towards the end of the book, Wright lists the history and recipes for some of Florida’s cuisine staples, such as the Cuban Sandwich, the Mojito, Key Lime Pie, Stone Crab and Conch Fritters among many others. Florida will always remain a one-of-a-kind state. I am a proud, born and bred Floridian and this book reinforced the notion of how preservation and conservation are important tenets that this state must continue to pursue to be able to thrive for future generations to come.
June 16, 2019
A great resource in an entertaining and lyrical form. It is highly recommended.
I loved this book! It is an easy to read, entertaining look at the State of Florida. It begins with how Florida began a community founded by Ponce De Leon. It included the fights with the Native Americans and all that was taken from them. They were continually pushed into the swampy, uninhabitable portions of the state. It continues with sections that include Theme parks, Weather, Native species and, even, The Hanging Chad. There are too many to list and all are interesting. Even if the reader has no interest in say, NASCAR, there are a lot of other things to learn and enjoy.
I think James Wright did a fine job of capturing all of Florida in an interesting way. It is never dry and read like a fiction novel. It contains a vast amount of historical knowledge with fascinating tidbits thrown in. This book should be in all schools, especially those in Florida!
I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.
I loved this book! It is an easy to read, entertaining look at the State of Florida. It begins with how Florida began a community founded by Ponce De Leon. It included the fights with the Native Americans and all that was taken from them. They were continually pushed into the swampy, uninhabitable portions of the state. It continues with sections that include Theme parks, Weather, Native species and, even, The Hanging Chad. There are too many to list and all are interesting. Even if the reader has no interest in say, NASCAR, there are a lot of other things to learn and enjoy.
I think James Wright did a fine job of capturing all of Florida in an interesting way. It is never dry and read like a fiction novel. It contains a vast amount of historical knowledge with fascinating tidbits thrown in. This book should be in all schools, especially those in Florida!
I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.
June 4, 2019
I recommend this book to Florida transplants who would like to impress their new neighbors with their knowledge of their adopted state--and to people who play trivia games.
A Florida State of Mind is a combination of sociology, history, travel guide and random facts. Craig Pittman's Oh, Florida! is a better, funnier book, but A Florida State of Mind isn't trying to do quite the same thing. James D. Wright was a retired sociology professor and his natural affinity for statistics and desire to be helpful both come through in this book. Here's one example: Pittman tells us funny stories about Florida nudists' oddball adventures while Wright wants to tell us where to find the state's nude beaches. Wright also offers recipes for such Florida culinary treats as critter stew, swamp cabbage and Tang pie, while warning us that road kill needs to be fresh to be safe to eat.
I was sorry to read that Wright died recently.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A Florida State of Mind is a combination of sociology, history, travel guide and random facts. Craig Pittman's Oh, Florida! is a better, funnier book, but A Florida State of Mind isn't trying to do quite the same thing. James D. Wright was a retired sociology professor and his natural affinity for statistics and desire to be helpful both come through in this book. Here's one example: Pittman tells us funny stories about Florida nudists' oddball adventures while Wright wants to tell us where to find the state's nude beaches. Wright also offers recipes for such Florida culinary treats as critter stew, swamp cabbage and Tang pie, while warning us that road kill needs to be fresh to be safe to eat.
I was sorry to read that Wright died recently.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2020
This is not a book I would normally read, but I saw it at the library and it looked kind of fun. This fun takes a fun and humorous approach to Florida history and culture looking at key elements that account for the state’s culture. It traces developments in tourism, agriculture, wildlife, and recreation. While the author tells the story, it’s almost as if he’s giving you the background on all kinds of Florida trivia. Think of your grandfather telling you all kinds of stories about his life throughout time and you have a sense of what this book is. My favorite part is the last chapter in which the author provides his explanation on why he thinks Florida is so weird—and it’s not a terrible explanation. The only reason this does not get a 5-Star review is the author’s politically liberal leanings. He’s a college professor so it goes with the territory, but do they have to be so condescending to conservatives? In the end, it’s a great book. It reads fast and is a lot of fun!
May 22, 2019
***I received an uncorrected proof from St Martins Press to read and review. Thank you Goodreads and St Martins Press.***
First, the cover is beautiful!. I sure hope bookstores will display this with the cover showing because it is quite eye catching.
This book has four main sections covering the history of how Florida became a state and vacation hotspot, The economy, people/politics, and nature.
For me this was more of an educational book rather than a fun, pleasure novel. That being said I did learn quite a bit even about subjects that hold no interest for my like car racing in Daytona.
There are lots of other books mentioned in this one so a bibliography at the back would be helpful.
If your looking to learn about Florida in a more academic way, then this would be a good book to read .
First, the cover is beautiful!. I sure hope bookstores will display this with the cover showing because it is quite eye catching.
This book has four main sections covering the history of how Florida became a state and vacation hotspot, The economy, people/politics, and nature.
For me this was more of an educational book rather than a fun, pleasure novel. That being said I did learn quite a bit even about subjects that hold no interest for my like car racing in Daytona.
There are lots of other books mentioned in this one so a bibliography at the back would be helpful.
If your looking to learn about Florida in a more academic way, then this would be a good book to read .
July 19, 2022
This is actually one of the more fascinating and amazingly written non-fiction books I've ever read (I rarely read non-fiction so take this with a grain of salt). I was a little bit scared at first because I thought it would be boring and textbook-like, but that was not the case! He presented the information in such a straightforward (he didn't drag things on for too long, once he said his point he moved on to the next one which I TREASURE) and INTERESTING way, I almost couldn't put it down on some chapters because of my curiosity. I will say I skipped some parts because some sections were just not my cup of tea and didn't catch my attention as much as others. Wright did write it like he was having a conversation with you, which definitely gave it the oomph that I feel other non-fiction books lack. It's a very informative and engrossing book!!
August 1, 2019
A sociologist who currently lives in Florida examines myths and truths about a state that has few consistencies. I found the chapter on Flagler most interesting - why he extended his railroad into Florida and the influences of that decision.
Even though I lived in Florida for over 20 years:
1. I was amazed by the early history f St. Augustine!
2. I understood who the "crackers" were, but did not realize their long history in the area.
3. I was most happy to find I escaped Florida before the invasion of the Burmese pythons - eek!
4. I fondly examined each of the famous foods of Florida.
I appreciated the final chapter in which this sociologist speculates on Florida's weirdness. It gave me insights I'd have never discovered on my own.
Even though I lived in Florida for over 20 years:
1. I was amazed by the early history f St. Augustine!
2. I understood who the "crackers" were, but did not realize their long history in the area.
3. I was most happy to find I escaped Florida before the invasion of the Burmese pythons - eek!
4. I fondly examined each of the famous foods of Florida.
I appreciated the final chapter in which this sociologist speculates on Florida's weirdness. It gave me insights I'd have never discovered on my own.
December 4, 2019
This book just came out, so it has plenty of cracks at the current administration and current events, which I found highly entertaining. The author has lived in Florida for over 20 years, so he has plenty of belly-laugh-inducing stories just from his daily life being in Florida. He gives the history of Florida and why it became such a crazy place. He talks about why there are crocodiles everywhere and giant pythons and the huge amount of retirees that settle in the the Sunshine State - and even why it’s called (quite ironically, no less) The Sunshine State.
Rating: 7. Good for a rainy day, not very intense. I skipped a chapter or two, due to it being mainly historical facts that were presented like a textbook haha.
Rating: 7. Good for a rainy day, not very intense. I skipped a chapter or two, due to it being mainly historical facts that were presented like a textbook haha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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