"Speak the Culture: Italy" offers a rich and engaging insight into the events, people and movements that have shaped Italy and the Italians. A guidebook can show you where to go, a phrase-book what to say, but only "Speak the Culture: Italy" will lead you to the nation s soul.The Italian character is complex, contradictory, alluring and infinitely variable: heirs to the greatest empire of the ancient world but almost ungovernable; cradle of western civilization as well as the Mafia; maestros of modern design, mired in old-fashioned bureaucracy; epicentre of the Catholic Church and exemplars of la dolce vita.Where do you start? Giotto? Caravaggio? Murky Etruscan tombs or the mighty Roman Pantheon? "Speak the Culture: Italy" sifts through a sprawling 3,000 year saga and makes sense of it, dissecting architecture, music, food, art, literature, cinema, family and much more.Culture is covered in its broadest sense, extending into every aspect of Italian life food and drink, religion, politics, sport, manners, character and so on. While the Italian peninsula has its ancient history, it s been a unified nation for less than 150 years. Lo Stivale, or the famous Boot, is young: the nuances of strong, surviving regional identities are important and revealed. Taken as a whole, "Speak the Culture: Italy" gives you an insight into what it means to be Italian, but it s also a book to dip into, to learn, for instance, about Giuseppe Verdi, Sophia Loren or Umberto Eco. Easily read and beautifully illustrated, this, the fourth in the "Speak the Culture"series, offers an intimate understanding of Italian life and culture for new residents, second home-owners, holidaymakers, business travelers, students and lovers of Italy everywhere.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An enjoyable and informative read at the same time. It won't tell you where to go but it will tell you how the people got there! Context-driven, and perfect for those moments of intrigue. Recommended.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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3 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An insightful read for anyone who wants a better grasp of Italian culture
16 Jun 2010
By Midwest Book Review
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
There's more to Italy than a bunch of gods and Spaghetti. "Speak the Culture: Italy" is a crash course in Italian culture in Thorogood's Speak the Culture series, giving a deeper insight into the substance of the Italian people than simply their language. From their historical icons to their modern pop culture, "Speak the Culture" is an insightful read for anyone who wants a better grasp of Italian culture or who wants to visit the country without the big glowing neon tourist sign over their head.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great New Twist on Guide Books
12 Nov 2010
By Bonnie Neely
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Speak The Culture: Italy is part of a new series of Travel Guides from Thorgood Press, and I am very impressed with it. These guides go beyond the typical guidebook usages which tell where to eat and what to do and how to get around. In these guides you will find fascinating insights in the the events, people, and things that have happened within each country which helped shape the country, its history, its government, its culture, and its people. You will learn all about traditions, significant happenings through the years, important art, literature, music, cinema, architecture, and all about the people and their customs. The discussions of the culture extend into every aspect of life and tell you how to best enjoy these aspects when you visit the country. This really interesting, readable, and beautifully illustrated series gives a great insight for people who travel, live, or do business there . It is really a book to pour over again and again and a good reference for all things Italian. Others in the series include Britain, France, Spain, and Germany and others will be added.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great resource
7 April 2013
By Peter Paganussi
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent synopsis of Italian history and pop culture. A must read for any extended trip to Italy. A great book for students doing a semester abroad because it clearly defines Italian culture and cultural moors.
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