Bubble in the Sun: The Florida Boom of the 1920s and How It Brought on the Great Depression
Written by Christopher Knowlton
Narrated by Fred Sanders
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
The 1920s in Florida was a time of incredible excess, immense wealth, and precipitous collapse. The decade there produced the largest human migration in American history, far exceeding the settlement of the West, as millions flocked to the grand hotels and the new cities that rose rapidly from the teeming wetlands. The boom spawned a new subdivision civilization—and the most egregious large-scale assault on the environment in the name of “progress.” Nowhere was the glitz and froth of the Roaring Twenties more excessive than in Florida. Here was Vegas before there was a Vegas: gambling was condoned and so was drinking, since prohibition was not enforced. Tycoons, crooks, and celebrities arrived en masse to promote or exploit this new and dazzling American frontier in the sunshine. Yet, the import and deep impact of these historical events have never been explored thoroughly until now.
In Bubble in the Sun Christopher Knowlton examines the grand artistic and entrepreneurial visions behind Coral Gables, Boca Raton, Miami Beach, and other storied sites, as well as the darker side of the frenzy. For while giant fortunes were being made and lost and the nightlife raged more raucously than anywhere else, the pure beauty of the Everglades suffered wanton ruination and the workers, mostly black, who built and maintained the boom, endured grievous abuses.
Knowlton breathes dynamic life into the forces that made and wrecked Florida during the decade: the real estate moguls Carl Fisher, George Merrick, and Addison Mizner, and the once-in-a-century hurricane whose aftermath triggered the stock market crash. This essential account is a revelatory—and riveting—history of an era that still affects our country today.
Christopher Knowlton
Christopher Knowlton is the author of Bubble in the Sun: The Florida Boom of the 1920s and How It Brought on the Great Depression. He is a former staff writer and London bureau chief for Fortune magazine. He also spent fifteen years in the investment business. His previous book was Cattle Kingdom: The Hidden History of the Cowboy West.
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Reviews for Bubble in the Sun
50 ratings6 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to be an amazing true story that captures the tumultuous history of Florida. The book is well-written and provides detailed profiles and history of the people who shaped the state. It is highly recommended for both Floridians and those interested in Florida history. The book presents a plausible argument about Florida's role in the Great Depression and is an enjoyable and informative read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Such a great capture of history. I’m not from Florida but it was incredibly informational and well put together.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Enjoyable slice of Florida history. Florida history is quite tumultuous
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An amazing true story with larger than life characters which reshaped the way I look at Florida
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A so wonderful! As a Florida native, I’ve heard about many of these people but had no idea how connected everyone was and how they shaped Florida. A must read for every Floridian and Florida high school/college students. I will no doubt listen again!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A riveting book filled with profiles and history of charlatans that created the great Florida boom in the early 20th century. Very plausible argument that it was Florida that was responsible for the Great Depression. Also very well read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent book.. Well written..
Very detailed.. Great stories..
Enjoy