Wrapped three books that started with the crash of ’26 in Florida and lead me to want to learn more about Palm Beach County.

The first, ‘Panic in Paradise’, is a terrific book that unveils truths still generally unknown to the general public since it was published in 1994. The truth of the crash sealed for nearly 60 years because the banks had a neat law crafted to keep Americans in the dark. To this day the belief is that irresponsible free spending people downed the banks in Florida in 1926. It was far worse and I believe we’re repeating the same stupid moves today. This book should be a must for Floridians and those wanting to better understand what we’re going through today with these banking “troubles”.

‘Panic in Paradise’ lead me to those involved with the crash which lead me to ‘Boca Rococo’. ‘Rococo’ covers the life of Addison Mizner, an odd ne’er do well who stumbled into Palm Beach and made a short success of things. The book is an over glowing account of the fellow. Perhaps the involvement of family had to do with this. You can kind of read between the lines. The book is expertly researched and very well written. It also gives a glimpse into the odd mentality of Palm Beach and how some scatter-brained ideas can get out of whack.

Next stop, ‘Palm Beach’ by John Ney. The book written in ’64-’65 starts with a very riveting view of John F. Kennedy. Ney lived next door to the Kennedy compound and pours out his, what I feel are, delusional feelings of JFK. Hampering my understanding may be not being there at the time and that Ney’s emotion is not including the death of RFK, Ted Kennedy’s bad driving and daddy Joe’s bad behavior. The first chapter does somewhat clue me into the adulation of Obama, which I also feel delusional.

The book goes on like a written and bound version of Hedda Hopper. Written as if Palm Beach was the beginning and end of life for humans. It’s all a bit much at 300 pages. My feeling was that Ney had lost his bearings and fallen into some Palm Beach worm hole writing this book. Then I went on to read more. More of that as I finish the next three books.