As the Romans Do: An American Family's Italian Odyssey (Paperback)

~ Alan Epstein (Author) "Not everybody who comes to Rome, either to visit or to stay, as we have, likes it..." (more)
Key Phrases: dopo scuola, thousand lire, United States, San Francisco, New York (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

Product Description

Rome is a great place to visit -- but imagine the delights of living there. Long in love with the Eternal City, Alan Epstein has been reveling in life as a resident since 1995. In As the Romans Do, he reveals the city and its people in all their facets and contradictions: their gregarious caffé culture, inborn artistic flair, passionate appreciation of good food, instinctive mistrust of technology, showy sex appeal, ingrained charm, and much more. He unveils a place alive with pleasure and paradox, both pagan and Christian, Western and Middle Eastern. Rome is where one can relax, reflect, revel, and rebel -- all between the morning's cappucino and the evening's grappa.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; Later Printing edition (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: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #515,061 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 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

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.

6 of 7 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)

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!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some Insights, But You Have to Look for Them, December 14, 2002

By A Customer

I'm beginning to think that most travel essay books lately are written by wealthy men and women who have decided to sell their expensive homes and quit their well-paying jobs to move with their families to (insert location or around the world/country trip here). This book feels like one of those books. While Epstein gives some insights here and there about places and his observations of the people and daily life, sometimes it drags and it's more about what the Americans in Rome are doing vs. what the Romans do themselves.