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Dave Barry Proclaims Florida 'Best. State. Ever'

3/13/2017

 
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Dave Barry has made me laugh -- and countless others, too -- for more years than I care to count.

My first Dave Barry encounter was at the Star-Telegram, which ran his syndicated column from the Miami Herald. At the time, I was writing my own humor column, which appeared three times weekly.

Barry became one of my idols.  He wasn't just funny, he was laugh-out-loud funny. Off-the-wall, outrageous, whacky, insightful. Barry reported on life in all its absurd glory, and there was never a shortage of material.

Take, for example, Barry's latest book -- "Best. State. Ever." Subtitled, "A Florida Man Defends His Homeland." When you want to write about weird, over-the-top people and places, you'll never find more to work with than the Sunshine State.

The good news for Barry is you don't have to make this stuff up. Most of "Best. State. Ever." is harvested right from the news. Like the widely-reported case of the woman driving in the Keys and shaving her private parts at the same time. (Not only did it make this book, but was the main character in Carl Hiaasen's "Razor Girl.")

But beyond the kooky characters and how the Yankees have hijacked our roadways, Barry has penned a marvelous travel book, highlighting Florida legends (The Skunk Ape), Florida attractions (Weeki Wachee and Gatorland) and even Florida mysticism (Cassadaga). There's also a tour of Key West as only Barry can do, a stay at the Villages (where Barry attempts to answer the question, is elderly swinging really going on) and adults having fun with machine guns at Miami's Lock and Load.

The book definitively answers one question: For humor writers, Florida is, without a doubt, world champion, "Best. State. Ever." 


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  • Home
    • Weather >
      • Hurricane Readiness
  • Cruise/Travel
    • Cruise Reviews and Stories
  • Gigi in the 561
    • Gigi's Wine Shelf
    • Gigi in the 561 Interviews
    • Cora
    • My Father's Tales >
      • My Father's Tales - Photo Album
    • Travel Bistro
  • Blogs
    • Gerry Pronounced Gary
    • Rock and Roll Rewind
    • Susan Goldfein -- Blog >
      • Susan Goldfein
  • Video
  • Explore
    • October Odyssey >
      • Cartagena, Columbia
      • Panama Canal
      • Antigua, Guatemala
      • Cabo San Lucas
      • Birds and Bees Speakeasy in Los Angeles
      • We Love LA
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      • California Zephyr
      • California Zephyr Part Two
      • Chicago
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    • Pam - Traveling in Style
    • Road Trip! >
      • Road Trip! -- Tucumcari, New Mexico
      • Road Trip! -- The Painted Desert
      • Road Trip! - Sedona, Arizona
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      • Road Trip! Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
      • Road Trip! - Mogollon Rim
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      • Road Trip! - California
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Celebrity Tour
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
      • Road Trip! - Festival in Palm Springs
      • Road Trip! - Willcox, Arizona and Apple Annie's Orchard
      • Road Trip! Willcox Wineries
      • Road Trip! Chiricahua National Monument
      • Road Trip! Tombstone, Arizona
      • Tombstone, Part Two
      • Road Trip! - Epilogue
    • Traveling With Joe >
      • Beartooth Highway
      • North Cascades National Park
      • A Visit to the Philippines
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Glacier National Park
      • Yellowstone National Park
      • Hiking in Bear Country
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
      • The Kerrville Folk Festival
      • Building Hope in the Rio Grande Valley
      • Yellowstone Camping Tales
    • Unknown Yellowstone >
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Heart Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Summit Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Shoshone Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Grizzly Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Riddle Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Pelican Cone
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Mt. Washburn
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Specimen Ridge
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Avalanche Peak
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Divide Creek
  • Contact
    • Media Kit
    • Pamela Barker - Author
    • The Story of StarText
  • Search