If you’re curious about the history of Florida and its profound impact on the American economy, there’s one book I can’t recommend enough: Bubble in the Sun by Christopher Knowlton. This masterfully written narrative takes you on a journey through one of the most fascinating—and turbulent—periods in Florida’s history: the 1920s real estate boom.
Florida as we know it today—lush resorts, vibrant cities, and a magnet for retirees and tourists—owes much of its identity to the ambitious visionaries and speculative frenzy of the Roaring Twenties. Knowlton’s book offers an in-depth look at this era, weaving together the larger-than-life personalities of Carl Fisher, Addison Mizner, and George Merrick with the broader forces of marketing, transportation, and urban development that fueled the boom.
But what makes Bubble in the Sun such a must-read is how it connects Florida’s story to the larger American economy. The rise and fall of the 1920s Florida real estate market mirrors the cycles of speculation and overconfidence we’ve seen in other periods of history—from the stock market crash of 1929 to the housing crisis of 2008.
Here’s what you’ll learn from this riveting book:
1. Visionaries and Dreamers: Meet the larger-than-life figures who turned Florida into a land of opportunity and excess.
2. The Role of Infrastructure: Discover how roads and railroads transformed Florida from a backwater to a hotbed of speculative investment.
3. Speculation Gone Wild: Learn how the real estate market became a bubble that couldn’t sustain its rapid growth.
4. Environmental Consequences: Explore the lasting damage of rapid, unchecked development on Florida’s unique ecosystems.
5. Economic Lessons: Understand how the Florida real estate bust foreshadowed the Great Depression and holds lessons for today’s investors.
6. Resilience and Legacy: See how the boom and bust left an indelible mark, shaping the modern Florida we know today.
Reading Bubble in the Sun will change how you view Florida, real estate, and the American economy. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a real estate professional, or simply someone who loves a great story, this book will captivate you.
As someone deeply invested in both the history and future of real estate, I found Bubble in the Sun a powerful reminder of the risks and rewards that come with bold vision and ambition. It’s also a cautionary tale of the importance of planning, regulation, and foresight—lessons we can all take to heart.
If you’re ready to immerse yourself in a story of dreams, disaster, and the enduring allure of the Sunshine State, I highly encourage you to pick up a copy. Florida’s history isn’t just its own—it’s America’s story too.
Have you read Bubble in the Sun? Let me know your thoughts, and let’s discuss the connections between history, real estate, and the lessons we can draw for our work today.