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The Xenophobe's Guide
to the Italians
by Martin Solly
A guide to understanding the Italians which
reveals their cultural curiosities and defining
characteristics.
The
Xenophobe's Guide to the Italians
is now available on Kindle
CLICK HERE FOR KINDLE
STORE UK
CLICK HERE FOR
KINDLE STORE USA
| La Dolce Vita |
| The Italians
live life to the full, and do not feel in the
least bit guilty leading a life of leisure and
pleasure twenty-four hours a day, seven days a
week, fifty-two weeks a year. This is what life
is all about: Italians do not live to work, they
work to live. |
| Achoo Brute? |
| The most common Italian
illness is hypochondria. Italians are in general
extremely healthy people who spend a great deal
of their time thinking that they should feel
healthier than they do. |
| A little truth
goes a long way |
| Italians grow up knowing
that they have to be economical with the truth.
All other Italians are, so if they didn't play
the game they would be at a serious
disadvantage. They have to fabricate to keep one
step ahead. |
| Always look on
the bright side of life |
| Generally speaking, the
Italians tend to look on the bright side of life
- a positive outlook aptly illustrated by their
touching salutation: 'May the saddest days of
your future be the happiest days of your past'. |
| A book you just can't refuse.
Hilarious insights into the Italian man and the
mother behind him. |
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San Francisco, CA, USA
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| Excellent summary of a crazy
nation. Haven't tried any of the other
xenophobe's guides yet, but this one really hits
the mark - in a most amusing fashion - in
describing the eccentricities of my Italian
girlfriend and her family. Allegria,
campanilismo, la mamma: it's all here. |
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London, UK
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| This book points out most of
the Italians habits (both the bad and good ones)
with respect to family, food, love affairs,
etc., giving a good picture of the Italian
people in an objective, but funny, way. I am
Italian and I must admit that most of the
attitudes described in the book are real, even
if, sometimes, they are a bit exaggerated. |
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Amsterdam, Netherlands
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| The Xenophobe's Guide to the
Italians fills all the gaps left by the
more traditional guidebooks. It does a fine job
too, for such tips as ''vehicles with
out-of-town plates are regarded as fair game by
both local drivers and traffic police'' are
surely every bit as useful as advice on where to
grab a slice of pizza. Thankfully the book never
slips into the literal xenophobia that the title
so explicitly suggests. Instead it is a hugely
enjoyable and affectionate look at the numerous
foibles and eccentricities of the Italian way of
life. A useful tool for all those ex-pats
strenuously trying to masquerade as native
Italians. |
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Italian magazine
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| An enlightened new series, good
natured, witty and useful. The Xenophobe's
Guides to different nations deserves a real
cheer. |
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The European
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Nationalism and Identity
Character
Attitudes and Values
Happy Families
Manners and Behaviour
Leisure and Pleasure
Drinking and Eating
Custom and Tradition
Sense of Humour
Culture
Systems
Culture
Systems
Business and Commerce
Government
Language |
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| Author: Martin
Solly |
| Format: 96 pages,
pb |
| Published: 15/07/08 |
| New edition |
| Price: £4.99 |
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ISBN: 978-1-906042-39-4
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Online eBook. Click on
button below to sample.
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