Hot Damn!: Alligators in the Casino, Nude Women in the Grass, How Seashells Changed the Course of History, and Other Dispatches from Paradise

Name: Hot Damn!: Alligators in the Casino, Nude Women in the Grass, How Seashells Changed the Course of History, and Other Dispatches from Paradise
Price: 11.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (16 reviews)
Author: Hall, James W.

by Hall, James W.

Nonfiction Memoir

4.5 (16)

258 pages~4.3 hr readPublished by St. Martin's Press

$11.9932% off peak

Last checked: Apr 19, 2026

Hidden GemHighly rated but flying under the radar. Fewer readers have found this one yet.

Price history: $0.50 – $17.70

While not the biggest discount we've seen for this book, it's still a great deal and we recommend grabbing it before price returns to its normal range.

Price range: $0.50 – $17.70

Buy on Amazon - $11.99

0 readers are tracking this book's price

Fans of these authors will like this...

Dave Barry
Garrison Keillor
Bill Bryson

Fans of these books will like this...

I'm Just Here for the Food by Alton Brown
Crap Indian by Sherman Alexie

Perfect for you if...

You enjoy witty, personal essays that balance humour with genuine insight, in the vein of Dave Barry or Garrison Keillor.
You're curious about the creative process and what drives writers, told by someone who's mastered both crime fiction and poetry.
You have a complicated love affair with a place (a city, region, or landscape) and want to read someone articulate why they can't leave.

Maybe not for you if...

You're looking for narrative-driven storytelling or a conventional plot. This is a collection of standalone essays, not a connected story.
You prefer purely serious, academic writing. Hall's tone is conversational and often playful, which won't suit a stern mood.
You want to read about crime or mystery. This is memoir and cultural commentary, not his detective fiction.

About this book

James W. Hall is a critically acclaimed author of eleven crime novels, including Body Language and Blackwater Sound, as well as four books of poetry. His short stories have appeared in publications such as the Georgia Review and Kenyon Review. This essay collection spans topics ranging from Hall's long-standing attachment to Florida—which began after college when he decided to stay—to his passion for books. The essays explore subjects including summer heat, the work of Hemingway and James Dickey, television, teaching, politics, and fatherhood. Written in the vibrant and elegant prose characteristic of his fiction and poetry, the collection demonstrates Hall's command of the essay form.

Get the best deal every time

We track price drops, sale patterns, and predict when this book will go on offer next.

Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$0.50 – $17.70

Currently on sale at $11.99 — 32% off peak. Price has dropped 20 times over the last 20 months. Goes on sale roughly every 31 days. Typically stays discounted for 44 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #1,794K in the Kindle store — a niche title.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.5★ from 16 reviews

Review activity has been quiet recently. Rating has remained stable at 4.4 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $11.99. It typically returns to around $17.70.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.