Review of Best. State. Ever.

Barry, Dave. 2017. Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland. [S.l.]: Putnam.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/972943554 

Best. State. Ever. is a very funny book that taught me a couple important things. 

1. Despite growing up in Florida and feeling like I have a good handle on its unique culture, there are many "attractions" I still need to see. 
2. Oh my god, I've finally become old enough to find Dave Barry really funny. When did that happen?

Throughout my childhood, Dave Barry remained probably the second-best-known and well-loved Florida celebrity I could name (the first being Jimmy Buffett). I guess there are other famous people from Florida, but to Florida people, those two rank pretty highly. But both of them were kind of like the stuff grown-ups were into. 

Well, now I'm one of them (grown-ups, that is). My eyes have stopped rolling quite so dramatically when Margaritaville comes on, and I can crack up while reading Dave Barry. Life goes on. 

The funniest part of the book by far is the Introduction. Hearing him explain exactly what makes Florida great had me laughing so frequently that my husband put in headphones so he could focus on a much more serious book across the room. 

After covering a brief history of Florida from the state's emergence from the ocean through the 1980s, when the Wikipedia article trails off, Barry offers brief travel essays from some of the more Florida-specific activities still available today. The best essays are the ones in which Barry is along for the ride: Key West, LIV (Miami nightclub), and Lock & Load Miami, but also Weeki Wachee, Spongeorama, and even The Villages. The essay on Cassadaga seemed like a missed opportunity, because Barry wasn't able to suspend his disbelief enough to enjoy himself. This is also a problem when he's hunting for the Skunk Ape, except that he obviously develops a deep respect for the person leading the hunt, and the essay becomes a reflection on a nearly extinct way of life unique to Florida. 

I think, but I'm not sure, the humor of this book would translate to people who aren't from Florida. After all, I've only actually been to two of the places he visits. But I can tell you that everything in here rings true and gives a good picture of "Real Florida." And that's coming from someone who voluntarily moved away from the state and has no plans to move back! Every state should support a resident Dave Barry.