Some people regard Florida as nothing but the Punchline State because so many weird things happen here. Craig Pittman argues that it is also the greatest state with the greatest impact on other states. In this presentation, based on his hilarious and thought-provoking New York Times bestselling book Oh, Florida!, Mr. Pittman explains how what he calls “The Most Interesting State” got to be the way it is.

Craig Pittman is a native Floridian. Born in Pensacola, he graduated from Troy State University in Alabama, where his muckraking work for the student paper prompted an agitated dean to label him “the most destructive force on campus.” After 31 years at the Tampa Bay Times, he now writes a weekly column on environmental issues for the Florida Phoenix and co-hosts the podcast “Welcome to Florida.” He has written six non-fiction books about Florida and lives in St. Petersburg. Craig Pittman will have his books for sale at the event.

Funding for this Florida Talks program is provided in part by Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and in partnership with The Historical Society of Avon Park. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.