In mid-March, USF College of Arts and Science’s Florida Studies professor emeritus and historian Gary Mormino was awarded gold in the Florida Book Awards in the Florida non-fiction category.
The Florida Book Awards, which is coordinated by the Florida State University Libraries, announced winners for the nation’s most comprehensive state book awards program, established in 2006 to celebrate the best of Florida literature.
The 17th annual competition featured 150 eligible publications submitted across 11 categories for books published in 2022.
Mormino’s book “Dreams in the New Century: Instant Cities, Shattered Hopes, and Florida’s Turning Point,” illuminates early 21st century Florida and its connections to some of the most significant events in contemporary American history.
The book also highlights the social, cultural, and political polarization during a decade of monumental and historic change.
“Florida is America’s touchstone,” Mormino said. “Commentators and writers turn to Florida to observe trends in immigration and migration, the failures and successes of the Democratic and Republican parties, trends in old age, and book bans in schools.”
“Florida’s eternal sunshine and lack of a state income tax have drawn large numbers of transplants from the Midwest and Northeast who are no longer bound by the conventions of Nebraska, North Dakota or New York,” Mormino explained. “Tellingly, more and more Floridians are choosing No Voter Affiliation or Independent as their political party choice. In Florida, retirees and transplants can embrace new politics and lifestyles. But the most important political trend in 21st century Florida is the rise and dominance of the Republican party.”
Mormino, who specializes in writing about Florida, hopes that those who read the book will take more interest in the natural resources available to them in the state.
“Lampooned and harpooned, Florida remains one of the most fascinating places on earth,” Mormino said. “I would like to see more residents visit Florida’s extraordinary state park system and some of the greatest natural springs in the world. To receive a library card or drivers’ license, every new citizen should canoe one of rivers or float along the natural springs.”
He also notes that the future of that natural beauty is under threat.
“One powerful underlying theme in the book reflects the loss of confidence in Florida by Floridians. Unquestionably, Florida faces some speedbumps and hurdles ahead. As a state with 825 miles of coastline, we face the greatest challenge in global warming and sea level rise.”
Mormino is thankful, though, for the opportunity to share this rich and tumultuous history with readers and is grateful to have been recognized by the Florida Book Awards.
“Writing and research are hard and lonely,” he said. “I take great pride in my writing and hope, above all, that readers will enjoy a good story.”
“I believe historians are the best narrative writers in the academy, largely because we tell good stories with a purpose. I’d also like to believe that readers will appreciate what a fascinating state Florida remains.”