As the Romans Do: An American Family's Italian Odyssey [Paperback]

Alan Epstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2001

A celebration of the character and style of one of the world's most spectacular cities! This vibrant insider's view of the most mature city on earth is the perfect companion for anyone who loves anything Italian. In 1995, after a twenty-year love affair with Italy, Alan Epstein fulfilled his dream to live in Rome. In As the Romans Do, he celebrates the spirit of this stylish, dramatic, ancient city that formed the hub of a far-flung empire and introduced the Mediterranean culture to the rest of the world. He also reveals today's Roman men and women in all their appealing contradictions: their gregarious caffe culture; inborn artistic flair; passionate appreciation of good food; instinctive mistrust of technology; showy sex appeal; ingrained charm and expressiveness; surprisingly unusual attitudes toward marriage and religion; and much, much more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Epstein captures the essence of la dolce vita...[and] also holds a mirror to America." -- --Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Epstein captures the essence of la dolce vita...[and] also holds a mirror to America." -- --Minneapolis Star Tribune

About the Author

Alan Epstein holds a Ph.D. in European history from New York University. A successful author and speaker on Italian life and culture, he also offers corporate and private escorted tours, special events, and retreats in Rome and other parts of Italy. He has reported on Italian life for America Online and is a regular Europe correspondent for American radio. He has appeared on Oprah and numerous other television shows. He lives with his wife and two sons in the heart of Rome.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (June 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006093395X
• ISBN-13: 978-0060933951
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,092,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as bad some claim, but a little romanticized, March 23, 2007

By 

Antonio Lopez "(re)mediator" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: As the Romans Do: An American Family's Italian Odyssey (Paperback)

I just moved to Rome with zero knowledge of the city. I found the book a useful intro, but not very erudite. One of the most glaring errors is the claim that the Renaissance started in Rome. It did not, it was Florence. He also calls punks skinheads, which shows a lack of understanding of subcultures. In fact, you will get little sense of the politics or subcultures of Rome, but an obsession with woman's fashion. I think like many Americans disenchanted with their hypercapitalist homeland, anything that is not American will seem quaint and nice. As a result I find many of the observations very romanticized and generalized, and coming from a rather bourgeois perspective. For example, the claim that men don't wear tennis shoes is wrong. Still, I think this book was a better orientation than no orientation. I don't think it's fair that reviewers attacked his writing style. Yes it's simple, but for many that will be just fine.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Insider's View, August 28, 2001

By 

Natalie C. Lundsteen "nclundsteen" (Oxford) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: As the Romans Do: An American Family's Italian Odyssey (Paperback)

I read this book having just moved to Rome myself. Epstein's observations about "La Citta Eterna" are accurate and entertaining. If you've ever visited Rome, every chapter will make you smile and nod: maybe you recognize the fierce loyalty of Romans for their soccer teams, or the way Roman women are always so perfectly put together, or perhaps you simply have an appreciation for an incredible city with a fantastic history. Epstein has nicely blended historical perspective with his own adventures. A pleasant read for those who enjoy all things Italian!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great overview for curious travelers!, February 2, 2003

By 

Anna Garvey (New Orleans, Louisiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: As the Romans Do: An American Family's Italian Odyssey (Paperback)

I actually got 2 great reads out of this book...before and after my semester in Rome. It's has chapters on lots of important aspects to life in Rome as seen through the eyes of an American. And although he paints a lively and beautiful picture of Rome and her people he doesn't fail to include the reality of things...the inefficiency, some of the challenges of everyday life in Rome, etc. I especially enjoyed it because it is snippets of all sorts of topics so that the reader never becomes too bored with one area of Roman life. He isn't pretentious and he really seems to want to inform his readers about Rome, interspersing his writing with Italian words that really are much more beautiful than their English counterparts. It's a great read for before AND after a trip. The first read found me curious to experience life in Rome myself and the second read found me chuckling to myself about the truth of his observations. Great for anyone who wants to reminisce about their time in bella Roma!