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.

The library provides free parking; the meeting will be held in Room A.

Support for this Florida Talks program was provided by Florida Humanities with funds from the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by the Jacarlene Foundation. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities and its partners.