The Last Resort: A Chronicle of Paradise, Profit, and Peril at the Beach

A captivating exploration of beach resort culture—from its roots in fashionable society to its undervalued role in today’s world economy—as the industry approaches a climate reckoning. About this item Description A captivating exploration of beach resort culture— from its roots in fashionable society to its undervalued role in today’s world economy— as the industry approaches a climate reckoning. With its promise of escape from the strains of everyday life, the beach has a hold on the popular imagination as the ultimate paradise.

In The Last Resort, Sarah Stodola dives into the psyche of the beachgoer and gets to the heart of what drives humans to seek out the sand. At the same time, she grapples with the darker realities of resort culture: strangleholds on local economies, reckless construction, erosion of beaches, weighty carbon footprints, and the inevitable overdevelopment and decline that comes with a soaring demand for popular shorelines.