Oh, Florida!
How America’s Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country

Very entertaining, and, simultaneously, horrifying. I grew up in Florida (moved to NC ten years ago, but Florida is still “home”), so much of the book is to some extent familiar, but Pittman tells fine stories, and there were many people and events here that I was glad to learn about in more detail.......more

A few years ago I attended a signing/reading by one of my favorite Florida writers and columnists Carl Hiaasen. A member of the audience asked him where he got his wacky ideas for his novels of strange goings on in my home state of Florida. "Simple", says Carl, "pick up a newspaper!". Another Florid......more

Second book about Florida and its craziness that I read in the last month (first was Dave Barry’s “Best. State. Ever”). While Barry’s book was funny, it left me feeling like there was more to the story. Pittman’s work tells the rest of the story. We know we’re the land of the Mouse and NASA and Gato......more

Florida has a certain reputation in the United States: an armpit, a cesspool of weirdness, a haven for retirees who can't drive even though their lives depend on it. And, Pittman argues, it is an unusual state, a battleground for a lot of cultural movements in the U.S., from the civil rights movemen......more

Craig Pittman has a brilliant wit. Biting commentary and observations that sometimes sadly are spot on. Unfortunately the reader of this book sounded like a radio announcer and made it hard to listen to for long stretches.......more