BILLION-DOLLAR SANDBAR: A Biography of Miami Beach

An ocean front vista of that playland from sunkissed oranges to suntanned flesh, Miss Universes to Jewish mothers, which recognizes the pliafilmy aspects but doesn't knock them. Miss Redford gives a rundown of Miami Beach's beginnings from its original developers to its first tycoon (Flagler) and its greatest promoter (Carl Fisher) who established the lifestyle -- sport, society, swimming and entertaining. There's the boom of the early 20's with the kiss of death of the hurricane of 1926; the occasional racial problems; and the way it looks now -- the world's largest complex of hotels, motels, apartments and convention facilities -- not to mention the Fontainebleu with the bidet implementing its continental patronym.... or the conspicuity of all that meets the eye behind moodshades... No more interesting than John Ney's book on Palm Beach (1967) but the only one, it would seem.