Last Updated on August 8, 2023
If you are looking for some good books to add to your summer reading list, we have got quite a selection for you! All the books on this list are themed around the Sunshine State and published by the University Press of Florida.
Founded in 1945, the University Press of Florida (UPF) is the official publisher of the State University System and one of the largest university presses in the South. UPF is known for publishing distinguished and diverse works from a variety of different voices.
Check out our suggestions below for Florida-inspired fiction and non-fiction published by UPF.
The State You’re In: Florida Men, Florida Women, and Other Wildlife – Craig Pittman
The State You’re In: Florida Men, Florida Women, and Other Wildlife by Craig Pittman is a collection of wacky Florida stories. The author, Craig Pittman, is an investigative journalist with over 30 years of experience.
He has chronicled wild Florida stories ranging from weird to sad to surprising in columns for the Tampa Bay Times and other outlets. Read about some of the unique stories that take place in the Sunshine State, like the mermaid industry, nudist resorts, and exotic animals in this fun book.
Backroads of Paradise: A Journey to Rediscover Old Florida – Cathy Salustri
Backroads of Paradise: A Journey to Rediscover Old Florida by Cathy Salustri is all about Florida’s hidden gems. Salustri takes readers to a bunch of different Florida haunts, like Devil’s Millhopper and a rattlesnake cannery. In this book, the author nudges readers and tourists away from traditional Florida vacation spots in an attempt to discover the real Florida.
If you are looking for inspiration beyond Authentic Florida to visit natural wonders, historic sites, and more, make sure you add this book to your summer reading list!
Son of Real Florida: Stories from My Life – Jeff Klinkenberg
Son of Real Florida: Stories From My Life by Jeff Klinkenberg is a book that will show you Florida is more than its wild, “Florida Man” headlines. Klinkenberg is an award-winning journalist that has been exploring what makes Florida unique for almost 50 years.
In this book, he recounts Old Florida culture and history, as well as little-known places. Learn more about the Sunshine State in this heartfelt tribute.
Fringe Florida: Travels Among Mud Boggers, Furries, Ufologists, Nudists, and Other Lovers of Unconventional Lifestyles – Lynn Waddell
Fringe Florida: Travels Among Mud Boggers, Furries, Ufologists, Nudists, and Other Lovers of Unconventional Lifestyles by Lynn Waddell is a journey through different lifestyles and communities based in Florida. Waddell takes readers to exotic and spectacular places – from Leather & Lace Motorcycle Club to Cassadaga to the now defunct Holy Land Experience in Orlando.
Readers will be enthralled by the variety of different beliefs and gatherings that can be found all over the state.
The Columbia Restaurant Spanish Cookbook – Adela Hernandez Gonzmart and Ferdie Pacheco
The Columbia Restaurant Spanish Cookbook by Adela Hernandez Gonzmart and Ferdie Pacheco is a collection of legendary dishes from the famous Columbia Restaurant. The Columbia Restaurant has quite the history, being the nation’s largest Spanish restaurant and Florida’s oldest restaurant.
The original Ybor City location was founded in Tampa in 1905. For over 100 years, The Columbia Restaurant has stayed within the same family. The cookbook includes 178 delicious and well-known restaurant recipes, including their famous “1905” Salad and fan-favorite dressing. This book will have you trying some new Spanish-inspired recipes in the kitchen this summer!
Related: 5 Historical Facts About Columbia Restaurant
Jacksonville and the Roots of Southern Rock – Michael Ray FitzGerald
Jacksonville and the Roots of Southern Rock by Michael Ray FitzGerald is all about Jacksonville’s history of Southern rock music, from The Allman Brothers Band to Lynyrd Skynyrd to 38 Special and more. FitzGerald recounts the origins of these bands and how they influenced Southern rock.
Learn about how Jacksonville became an unlikely spot for the new musical movement, how the city shaped the music, and how the music shaped the city in this in-depth read about Southern music and lifestyle in the late sixties and early seventies.
Related: Van Zant House, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Home, is For Sale
Sunshine in the Dark: Florida in the Movies – Susan J. Fernández and Robert P. Ingalls
Sunshine in the Dark: Florida in the Movies by Susan J. Fernández and Robert P. Ingalls tells a story of cinema and Florida. This book is the first complete study about how the movie industry has immortalized Florida’s unique scenery, history, and characters on film.
Fernández and Ingalls identify over 300 films about Florida, many of which were shot on location in the state. They cover the varying messages of endings in the films, from Moon Over Miami to Scarface. Decades of changes and themes are covered in this essential resource for Florida movie buffs.
Check out this article: Lights! Camera! Action! It’s Florida Film Festival Time! and 8 Unique and Historic Theatres in Florida.
From Saloons to Steak Houses: A History of Tampa – Andrew T. Huse
From Saloons to Steak Houses: A History of Tampa by Andrew T. Huse is an in-depth read about the history of Tampa, Florida. Beginning in 1887 with the founding of the city, Huse covers the culture and changes Tampa has experienced in the past 100-some years.
A collection of local newspaper stories and first-hand accounts show readers the city as it existed during World War I, civil rights, and labor movements, and of course, the tourism boom. Its rich history is present in the many historic establishments of Tampa, including restaurants, lunch counters, breweries, saloons, and more.
The Florida Manatee: Biology and Conservation, Second Edition – Roger L. Reep and Robert K. Bonde
The Florida Manatee: Biology and Conservation, Second Edition by Roger L. Reep and Robert K. Bonde is a book about one of Florida’s most notable mammals. Reep is a neuroscientist and Bonde is a research biologist. The two have been researching manatees for over three decades.
This book covers an introduction to manatee biology with new scientific research. Learn about the creatures’ diet, communication, migrations, and many other fascinating aspects of their lives. The second edition also covers recent conservation efforts and the latest predictions for manatee populations in the future.
Remembering Paradise Park: Tourism and Segregation at Silver Springs – Lu Vickers and Cynthia Wilson-Graham
Remembering Paradise Park: Tourism and Segregation at Silver Springs by Lu Vickers and Cynthia Wilson-Graham is about Paradise Park, the “colored only” counterpart to Silver Springs. Before Disney World, Paradise Park and Silver Springs were one of the biggest recreational facilities in the country.
Vickers and Wilson-Graham cover the racial divide that existed in the Silver River from 1949 to 1969, the Jim Crow era, and racial violence in the area. Learn about the history of this tourist destination and how it has affected Florida communities of the past and present.
The Last Resort: Jewish South Beach, 1977-1986 – Gary Monroe
The Last Resort: Jewish South Beach, 1977-1986 by Gary Monroe is about South Beach’s history and Jewish community. Before the Miami that we have come to know – before modern tourism, high rises, the fashion scene, and popular nightlife spots, South Beach, Miami was a retirement destination for the American Jewish community.
Learn about the Jewish retirees that left the Northeast US after World War II to relocate to Miami Beach and how the community grew and shaped South Beach culture and history.
If you enjoyed this article about Florida books to add to your summer reading list and are looking for a few other recommendations, check out these suggestions: