Dreamers Schemers And Scalawags

Florida has been the home of many unusual characters throughout the years. Meet Ned Buntline, Laura Riding, Wilson Mizner, Sam Jones, and many others. Storytellers, lawbreakers, movers and shakers, sportsmen, moviemakers, visionaries, and mobsters all left their mark on Florida. Next in series > > See all of the books in this series

Lawrence V. Drake weaves tales of real life encounters with individuals and circumstances that can make or break a new business. With fifty plus years of experience as an entrepreneur in a variety of industries, Drake shares lessons learned from dealings with dreamers, schemers, and scalawags of all kinds. This book relates stories of success, failure, and unique individuals, that give valuable insights that will help entrepreneurs, inventors, and start-up businesses avoid costly mistakes.

Information on one of Florida's few remaining undiscovered vacation destinations, including more than sixty area attractions, the natural and cultural history of the area, accommodations, lake access points, wildlife, and local dining and entertainment.

Winner of the Independent Publisher Book Awards Silver Medal for Best Regional Nonfiction in the Southwest The story of how Florida became entwined with Americans’ 20th-century hopes, dreams, and expectations is also a tale of mass delusion, real estate collapses, and catastrophic hurricanes. The Fantasy of Florida hones in on the experiences of William Jennings Bryan and Edwin Menninger, the two men who shaped the image of Florida that we know today and who sold that image as America’s paradise. The cast of characters also includes the Marx Brothers, Thomas Edison, Al Capone, and Mark Twain. A tale of a colorful and tragicomic era during which the allure and illusion of the American Dream was on full display—a Jazz Age period when Americans started chasing what F. Scott Fitzgerald called “the orgiastic future”—the book reveals how the recent economic collapse in Florida is eerily similar to events that happened there between 1925 and 1928. What sets the mid-1920s’ Florida land boom apart from more recent booms-and-busts, however, is that this was the first modern boom, the first time that emerging new technologies, mass communications and modern advertising techniques were used to sell the nation on the notion that prosperity and happiness are simply there for the taking. Florida’s image as a place where the rules of everyday life don’t apply and winners go to play was formed during this dawn of the age of consumerism when Americans wanted to have fun and make lots of money, and millions of them thought Florida was the perfect place to do that.

Learn 200 quick, painless history lessons in one thoroughly researched book. An indispensable guide for Florida students, newcomers, and old-timers alike. Florida has a long and complex and very interesting history, but few of us have time to read it in depth. So here are 200 quick looks at Florida's 10,000 years of history, from the arrival of the first natives to the present. The distilled version is packed with unusual and little-known facts and stories.

People have long been fascinated by the American alligator. Ever since humans arrived on the continent more than 15,000 years ago, the American alligator has been both feared and revered, celebrated and scorned, and often hunted for food and hide. Once tourism began to take hold in the South as a real industry, especially in Florida, the alligator took on iconic and even mythical status. “One of the most picturesque features of Florida has always been that uncouth and fierce-looking reptile called the alligator,” wrote Nevin O. Winter in 1918. “Everybody who comes down here to the peninsula has an ambition to see one in the wild.” Seminole Indians wrestled alligators for show. Alligator souvenirs and mascots often took what people feared—a sharp-toothed predator—and made it into something cute and cuddly. Alligator-themed songs were recorded and released, including “See You Later Alligator” by Bill Haley and His Comets. Hollywood into created alligator-themed movies such as Alligator People. Alligators were also reportedly kept in the White House under two presidencies. And perhaps the most unusual alligator story was one that helped to nab Ma Barker and her son Fred when they were hiding out along Florida’s Lake Weir. America’s Alligator examines the colorful and sometimes conflicted relationship our species has had with Alligator mississippiensis. Doug Alderson explores the country’s rich alligator mythology and how it inspired various forms of art, stories, photography, tourism and even humor.

This third, and final, volume in the Pineapple Anthology of Florida Writers includes Samuel Coleridge and Oliver Goldsmith, who never saw Florida, but used it in their poems. Several writers, such as Henry James and William Dean Howells, helped expose Florida to the nation. H. L. Mencken reported on the aftermath of the Jacksonville fire, John Rothchild wrote of the state's past, and Jack Kerouac wrote of his dislike of the state. There are works by two bestselling mystery writers, William Connelly and Randy Wayne White. Backroads Florida is captured by Harry Crews and Totch Brown. And there is an essay by a man known primarily for his music, Jimmy Buffett. The carefully curated selections are based on a number of factors, including the period in which they were written, the genre, and their contribution to literature and history. The selections of Florida literature begin in the early 1500s, and include works by Spanish, French, and British settlers. Every effort has been made to include the entire poem, short story, or selection in order to give the full impact of the work. This is a must-read compendium for Floridians and Florida-lovers alike. See all of the books in this series

Lonely Planet's Miami & the Keys is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Take in art deco masterpieces, spot alligators in the Everglades, and marvel at the blue waters of the Florida Keys; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Miami & the Keys and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet's Miami & the Keys Travel Guide: Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak NEW pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel Planning tools for family travelers - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids What's New feature taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas our writers have uncovered NEW Accommodation feature gathers all the information you need to plan your accommodation Color maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics Over 32 maps Covers Miami, the Everglades, the Florida Keys & Key West The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Miami & the Keys, our most comprehensive guide to Miami & the Keys, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less traveled. Looking for just the highlights? Check out Pocket Miami, a handy-sized guide focused on the can't-miss sights for a quick trip. Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet Florida for a comprehensive look at all the region has to offer. Authors Written and researched by Lonely Planet, and Anthony Ham, Adam Karlin and Regis St Louis. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travelers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' – New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveler's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' – Fairfax Media (Australia)