Florida Books

Beckerman and Valentine have collected a series of anthropological essays that call into question the generally-accepted view of human sexuality, which they call The Standard Model. Essentially, the accounts presented here show that there are many cultures -- with no contact between them -- that believe a baby is composed of accumulated semen. Consequently, their babies can have several different fathers (partible paternity), if several men had sex with the mother. These accounts offer first-hand anthropological accounts of cultures in which sperm competition is ubiquitous and sexual monogamy is discouraged or even prohibited. They are essential reading for anyone who seeks evidence for questioning the standard "humans are monogamous" Darwinian line. Quite overpriced for such a slim volume; get your library to order a copy.

For those interested in the nature/nurture debate,this book provides a new way of viewing the controversy. A well developed and interesting argument about gender and other 'natural' differences that are socially produced. A must read for anyone interested in
the sociological perspective of genetically programmed differences. Is it a hardware or a software issue? Or is that the wrong way to frame the question?

A wonderful book. Interesting pictures and well-researched information. Here you can trace the beginning and development of one of the quintessential Florida attractions and how it became symbolic of the whole state. It is also fun to learn how dear Cypress Gardens has been and is to the residents of Winter Haven.

A childhood idyll set in an orange grove in central Florida - 15 poems/15 pieces of short prose - the author donning her own 3 - 8 year old persona and its wide-eyed tone. A warm book, in the sense that The Yearling (northern Florida) and its character, Jody, were nice to experience - to still recall. ...not sentimentally, but in a joyous celebration of what is eternally True. Irresistible!
Tim Scannell

Unlike a lot of this sort of book this one does appear to have been written by the author. While I have nothing against ghostwriting I am not fond of it. Danny gives an interesting outlook on his time with the University of Florida's football team.

I have read Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, An Illustrated History by Mr. McIver and thought that was a great book. But his newest one is even better! It is a fascinating story not only about the struggle between Walter Smith and Guy Bradley, but also about the plume trade and its major players, the Audubon Society's foundations, important people in South Florida's history who had their hands in the plume trade, and just interesting stories about "the way things were" in the late 1800s early 1900s.

He interviewed several significant historical people and their descendents, mostly in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when he originally attempted to write this book. 25 years later, he has created a masterpiece. He has obtained an amazing amount of research information, and the reader will be very happy he spent time to read it.

A mystery killer is using the labyrinthine coast of Florida as his grisly playground, operating out of its marinas and small resort towns. He moves from port to port, tempting beautiful women aboard his classic yacht, where they are grotesquely murdered...then their mutilated bodies are dumped into the waves. The corpses are swalled by the ever-flowing Gulf Stream, providing an almost impossible situation for the investigating officers - no crime scene, no clues, no forensics.
With the expert help of the Violent Crimes division of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Marine Patrol is assigned to the case. When the perpetrator is identified as an ex-cop who knows all the tricks, the chase becomes personal. Two volunteers - one male, one female - go undercover and start to comb the Everglades and Keys, aided by a local Seminole officer.
But the killer senses they are hot on his heels taunts pursuers until he makes one fatal error...

This is a book of great depth and insightful analysis. I highly recommend this book to anyone. I wish it recieved more attention from universities. An absolute pageturner and all other suitable cliches. As true as anything written.

This well written book makes accessible a fascinating period of history -- the fate of slaves in the Caribbean after emanicipation and the further hurdles that were put in place to prevent full participatory democracy. Anyone who has doubts as to the real causes of prolonged instability in the region (Western meddling) will probably find this book enlightening and compelling.

This is an astounding and articulate book about a particular time in US and Latin history when there was an attempt to democratize Latin america with some success. Schwartzberg is an excellent writer and he explains the situation very well. I truly recommend it.