Florida's Megatrends: Critical Issues in Florida | 
 enlarge | Authors: David R. Colburn, Lance Dehaven-smith
Publisher: University Press of Florida
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 564454
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 176
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 6.6 x 0.5
ISBN: 081302532X
Dewey Decimal Number: 306.097590904
UPC: 667272253208
EAN: 9780813025322
ASIN: 081302532X
Publication Date: June 30, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Excellent overview of contemporary Florida, but a bit repetitive September 25, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Dr. Colburn earns his reputation as one of Florida's premier scholars in this succincnt but highly informative work on some of the so-called "megatrends" that have fundamentally altered the course of the Sunshine State's development in the last 100 years. Essentially, this book discusses how Florida - at the end of the Civil War the most economically and culturally blighted state of the Deep South - transitioned from a heritage of cotton-based, agrarian despondency into one of today's quintessential "Sunbelt" growth centers, along with states like Texas, Arizona, and California. After two framing introductory chapters - one covering Florida's history up to 1940, and another from 1940 onward - the authors delve into several specific facets of our state's evolving culture, from a population that is increasingly diverse and increasingly old, to the looming fiscal crisis based on the state's antiquated taxation system, to some of the peculiar political problems that have plagued the state recently. A common theme is how the interplay of Northern and Southern elements dominates a variety of elements of life in the state, and how Florida now finds itself in an intermediary state, still somewhat connected to its Deep South past but ready to evolve (out of sheer necessity) toward a radically different future. In the closing chapter, issues ranging from environmental challenges, the lingering history of racial segregation, and staggering challenges facing public education are presented as key obstacles that must be overcome in order to cement Florida's place as a "role model" for other high-growth states.
At only 145 pages, Dr. Colburn's work is an easy read for demographics enthusiasts or more casual students of state history. Perhaps the only downside to the book is the overemphasis on some repetitive themes (i.e., Florida is rapidly evolving, Florida has a Southern past but a Sunbelt future, etc.) at the expense of specific details in places, but this is a minor setback, at best.
Excellent Overview of Florida's Past, Present and Probable Future February 20, 2006
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am a resident of Suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and have just returned from my third visit to Florida, the most recent one lasting for a month and which included a four day, 800 mile whirlwind tour of selected Florida locations, guided by a Friend who is a former Pennsylvanian and who has resided in Miami and Fort Lauderdale and vicinity, Florida for then past eleven years or so.
The venues included Miami and environs, including South Beach, Fort Lauderdale and environs, particularly Lauderdale-by-the-Sea,Palm Beach, West Palm Beach,Juno, Vero Beach, Kennedy Space Center, Orlando environs, Fort Myers and environs, Sanibel, Captiva and Tampa. Of course, this whirlwind tour, due to limited time, did not include all of the major Regions of the State and its Major Cities. A previous visit had included a three day visit to the Florida Keys, including Key West.My basic objectives were to visit and socialize with Friends and along with recreation, familiarize myself with the History and Present of Florida. After having completed the visit, I felt the need of an overview of what I had seen, in order to make comprehensive sense of what was essentially a partial mosaic in space and time.
This book has filled the Bill for me. The Authors are Scholars who write in a very readable and authoritative Style and I can heartilly reccomend it to anyone who wishes to understnad the Past, Present and Probable Future of Florida.
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