Christopher Knowlton’s recent work, “Bubble in the Sun,” <a href="http://<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1982128380/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1982128380&linkCode=as2&tag=theflosqu-20&linkId=b58c4f315dcacbab9ba96d2d1ee43d5d">Bubble in the Sun: The Florida Boom of the 1920s and How It Brought on the Great Depressionis the most complete and definitive look at the Florida land boom and bust of the 1920’s that is available publicly. The book covers the mass get-rich-quick land schemes, the incredible wealth, graft and eventual collapse of 1920’s Florida.

Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Boca Raton, Palm Beach and other centers of the 1920’s wealth and eventual bust are important parts of the narrative. The backdrop of prohibition not being properly enforced in large parts of the state led to a culture of excess and a Great Gatsby like feel, especially to the southeastern part of the state.

Also importantly Knowlton gets into the massive contribution Florida’s land boom and bust made then overall business cycle of the 1920’s, helping to create the elements that ushered in the Great Depression in 1929.

The book serves as an important read in Florida History teaching us lessons about our state that remain very pertinent today.