"Florida a Short History" Michael Gannon

Anyone who moves to Florida from another part of the United States owes it to himself to read a book like Michael Gannon's Florida a Short History (2003). With brief yet informative succinctness, Mr. Gannon sketches an overview of the story of the Sunshine State which can serve as a valuable template for further study. The index in itself makes it a worthwhile research tool long after it has been read simply for its getting-acquainted value.

Mr. Gannon does a masterful job giving the reader the correct sense that the events which shaped Florida's culture do not led themselve3s to the east-moves-west approach familiar to other parts of the country.

If the reader is unfamiliar with the state's geography, I would recommend having a map in hand. If a reader is looking for eyebrow-popping tidbits, he will not be disappointed - the section about the World War II era is a case in point. Ecologically and socially minded readers will feel the author's concerns for those issues in the state's development.

All in all, I would recommend Florida a Short History as a more than adequate primer for both visitors and residents.