Overview

Jump into the wacky, wild world of Florida. For more than 30 years, investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author Craig Pittman has chronicled the wildest stories Florida has to offer. Featuring a selection of columns that have appeared in the Tampa Bay Times and other outlets throughout Pittman's career, this book highlights just how strange and wonderful Florida can be. With a folksy style, an eye for the absurd, and a passion for the history and environment of his home state, Pittman describes some of Florida's oddest wildlife as well as its quirkiest people. The State You're In includes a love story involving the most tattooed woman in the world, a deep dive into the state's professional mermaid industry, and an investigation of a battle between residents of a nudist resort and the U.S. Postal Service. Pittman introduces readers to a who's who of Florida crime fiction, a what's what of exotic animals, and an array of beloved places he's seen change rapidly in his lifetime. Many of these stories are funny, some are serious, and several offer rare insights into the heart of the Sunshine State. For Pittman, Florida is both inspiring and dangerous—an ""evolutionary test"" for those who live in it. Together these pieces paint a complex picture of a fascinating state longing for an identity beyond palm trees and punchlines.

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9780813068862

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Reviews

These stories . . . focus on people, a cross section of Floridians closely observed and written about with humor and empathy. . . . The State You're In is a smart, entertaining and sometimes surprising look at a place that can make our blood boil one minute and enchant us the next. --Tampa Bay Times A variety of diverse, interesting Sunshine State tales. . . . [Pittman] will make you laugh with some stories and leave you wondering about how such a thing could happen in others. --Tampa Bay Magazine An entertaining, fast-paced collection. --Tallahassee Democrat [A] romp of an anthology. . . . A quirky, considered meditation of Florida's absurdities, from its wildlife to its people. --Flamingo

"""These stories . . . focus on people, a cross section of Floridians closely observed and written about with humor and empathy. . . . The State You're In is a smart, entertaining and sometimes surprising look at a place that can make our blood boil one minute and enchant us the next.""--Tampa Bay Times ""A variety of diverse, interesting Sunshine State tales. . . . [Pittman] will make you laugh with some stories and leave you wondering about how such a thing could happen in others.""--Tampa Bay Magazine ""An entertaining, fast-paced collection.""--Tallahassee Democrat ""[A] romp of an anthology. . . . A quirky, considered meditation of Florida's absurdities, from its wildlife to its people.""--Flamingo"

Author Information

Craig Pittman is a native Floridian and an award-winning journalist. He wrote for the Tampa Bay Times for 30 years and now writes for the Florida Phoenix. He is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller Oh, Florida!: How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country; Cat Tale: The Wild, Weird Battle to Save the Florida Panther; and The Scent of Scandal: Greed, Betrayal, and the World's Most Beautiful Orchid. He is cohost of the Welcome to Florida podcast. Pittman was named a Florida Literary Legend by the Florida Heritage Book Festival in 2020.

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