It is impossible to overstate the contribution Nathaniel Reed has made to transforming the culture of Florida. When he arrived more than six decades ago, Florida was continuing a long-held belief that Florida, its land, water, wildlife, other natural resources with few exceptions, were commodities to be used and disposed of at the will of the current generation of state residents. Nathaniel and a small band of his disciples in less than a decade evolved Florida to a new definition - a treasure for which each generation has a responsibility to protect for future Floridians. In culture and politics no victory is assured. Into his personal eighth decade Nathaniel battles frequent relapses into commoditization, his vigor and vision personifying the essential grandeur of natural Florida. This is a book of essays of Nathaniel Reed's memories of behind the scenes events that helped shape this nations environmental laws during a period of environmental renaissance.