Oranges by John McPhee: The Little Book That Makes Citrus Fascinating
It sounds impossible: a whole book about oranges that you cannot put down. But John McPhee pulled it off, and much of the story is pure Florida.
First published in 1967, Oranges began as a magazine piece and grew into a slim, wonderful book about the history, science, and culture of the fruit that built much of Florida. McPhee wanders from ancient groves to the concentrate plants of central Florida, explaining how a frozen-juice boom transformed the state and why a single orange holds more story than you would ever guess. His clear, curious style turns a breakfast staple into a page-turner.
At barely 150 pages, it is a perfect short read for anyone who has ever driven past a Florida grove and wondered. Smart, charming, and quintessentially Florida.
