Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland

By Dave Barry

A New York Times bestseller—a brilliantly funny exploration of the Sunshine State from the man who knows it best: Pulitzer Prize winner Dave Barry. We never know what will happen next in Florida. We know only that, any minute now, something will. Every few months, Dave Barry gets a call from some media person wanting to know, “What the hell is wrong with Florida?” Somehow, the state's acquired an image as a subtropical festival of stupid, and as a loyal Floridian, Dave begs to differ. Join him as he goes in hunt of the legendary Skunk Ape; hobnobs with the mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs; and visits Cassadaga, the psychic capital of the world, to have his dog's aura read (apparently, she's "very spiritual"). Hitch a ride for the non-stop thrills of alligator-wrestling ("the gators display the same fighting spirit as a Barcalounger"), the hair-raising spectacle of a clothing-optional bar in Key West, and the manly manliness of the Machine Gun Experience in Miami. It's the most hilarious book yet from “the funniest damn writer in the whole country” (Carl Hiaasen, and he should know). By the end, you'll have to admit that whatever else you might think about Florida—you can never say it's boring.

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Published Sep 5, 2017

240 pages

Average rating: 7.6

10 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Cindy
6/10 stars
Having previously lived in Florida for 14 years, I can attest to the weird roadside attractions and the palmetto bugs the size of small birds that will repeatedly dive bomb you if trapped in your living room.

anne
6/10 stars
lol funny until mid section then just smiley funny...still an enjoyable read overall
Heidi
6/10 stars
Fun fluff. I always get a kick out of Mr. Barry's writing. As a former Florida resident I got a special kick out of this.