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  • Published: 2 August 2022
  • ISBN: 9780593315637
  • Imprint: Knopf US
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 224
  • RRP: $35.00

Italian Lessons

Fifty Things We Know About Life Now



One-of-a-kind timeless lessons for handling challenges and living with joy, the Italian way—“with unparalleled insight and brilliant wit, Severgnini’s book not only transports us to Italy but deep into the Italian mind and spirit" (Stanley Tucci, host of Searching for Italy).

One-of-a-kind timeless lessons for handling challenges and living with joy, the Italian way—“with unparalleled insight and brilliant wit, Severgnini’s book not only transports us to Italy but deep into the Italian mind and spirit" (Stanley Tucci, host of Searching for Italy).

Is there an Italian way to deal with life? Can we all learn something from the Italians? 

Italy often arouses in Americans a unique mix of attraction and bafflement, moderate disapproval and incredible allure. From the Italians' love of poetry to an innate desire to socialize to the regional differences between the north and the south, Beppe Severgnini, who has dedicated his career to the meticulous observation of his compatriots, embarks on an enthralling quest to identify a core Italian identity and explore how that identity has evolved since the global pandemic.
 
Told with the warmth and humor of a longtime friend, Severgnini touches upon patience, endurance, and wisdom, and offers a one-of-a-kind set of timeless lessons for overcoming trials, the Italian way.

  • Published: 2 August 2022
  • ISBN: 9780593315637
  • Imprint: Knopf US
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 224
  • RRP: $35.00

About the author

Beppe Severgnini

Beppe Severgnini is a columnist for Italy’s Corriere della Sera and also writes for The Economist. A bestselling author in Italy, his books include Inglesi, a portrait of modern Britain. Severgnini lives with his wife in Crema, Italy.

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Praise for Italian Lessons

Praise for Beppe Severgnini and La Bella Figura:
 
"The paradoxes of Italian life engage [Severgnini]. . . . Intertwined with native wit is a strong sense of self-esteem enjoyed by even the humblest Italian." —The New York Times
 
"Severgnini has a quirky mind of his own. . . . Entertaining and humorous observations on what it means to be Italian in Italy." —Chicago Tribune
 
"An ironic and insightful examination of the Italian mind. . . . Packed with wonderful anecdotes and native wit, Severgnini's entertaining book illuminates." —The Globe and Mail (Toronto)

"Severgnini’s most systematic probe of the Italian psyche yet. . . .  Laugh-out-loud funny." —International Herald Tribune