Best. State. Ever.

A Florida Man Defends His Homeland

By: Dave Barry

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

A brilliantly funny exploration of the Sunshine State from the man who knows it best: Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times best-selling author Dave Barry.

We never know what will happen next in Florida. We know only that, any minute now, something will. Every few months, Dave Barry gets a call from some media person wanting to know, "What the hell is wrong with Florida?" Somehow, the state's acquired an image as a subtropical festival of stupid, and as a loyal Floridian, Dave begs to differ. Sure, there was the 2000 election. And people seem to take their pants off for no good reason. And it has flying insects the size of LeBron James. But it is a great state, and Dave is going to tell you why.

Join him as he celebrates Florida from Key West at the bottom to whatever it is that's at the top, from the Sunshine State's earliest history to the fun-fair of weirdness and gunfire ("Our motto: 'Come back! We weren't firing at you!'") that it is today. It's the most hilarious book yet from "the funniest damn writer in the whole country" (Carl Hiaasen, and he should know). By the end, you'll have to admit that whatever else you might think about Florida - you can never say it's boring.

©2016 Dave Barry (P)2016 Recorded Books

Funny but not side splitting

Still had moments where I laughed out loud. But he focuses too much on and bad language which I did not enjoy.

you have to love Florida

Dave Barry once again pens a fantastic Thomas. Yeah Florida's got its weirdness but no more than a state if anything we're just documented better.

Very disappointing for Dave Barry lovers

Disappointing humor and annoying narrator. Good subject matter but not up to Dave Barry's talent.

Florida is very Weird

I love to hear Dave Barry stories. The man has timing and a great sense of humor.

A Long-Time Fan

I was touched by the respectful way Florida tourist attractions were made fun of, which they totally deserve. Saw you last week at Fresno's Town Hall, Dave. Please come back.

Home

Hilarious! Loved it so much had to move back & now starting to call it home. I truly am Blessed because! 0:)

BEST. HUMORIST. EVER.

Barry is the modern day Twain!
Like Mark Twain, Dave used the contemporary language and voice to provide humor while pointing out hypocrisy and stupid behavior in the world!

A timely book about a Swing State - Election 2000?

What made the experience of listening to Best. State. Ever. the most enjoyable?

I loved how he started off, "What makes people think, ' What's up with Florida?' I think it all started with the Election of 2000. All the other states seemed to know who they'd voted for. But Florida,....." ,..ever since then other states love to publish strange news stories about us." But I love my state."

What other book might you compare Best. State. Ever. to and why?

I laugh at all of Dave Barry's books.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I would have preferred if Dave Barry had read his own book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I visited Florida in the 90's /rented a car to explore, like Barry suggested.. Parts were very nostalgic. (The Keys are beautiful - like the Caribbean, Hemmingway's house with moss-covered trees like the Deep South, etc.)

Any additional comments?

I started to fall asleep last night listening to the "Lock and Load" machine gun firing range, for the public. I couldn't believe they'd let my friend's 11 year old try one when they visited there. So I want to listen more to see if it's true.

Recommended to me by a Florida native!

I loved this book! Dave Barry has such a knack for describing the mundane and downright weird experiences he's had in Florida as a native. What a fun ride. The narration was fantastic, I felt as though the comedy was acted as it was intended to be performed.

Good, but not Dave Barry’s best

Good, but not Dave Barry’s best work. The narrator is a bit too much as well.