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The Italians (Paperback)

by Luigi Barzini (Author) "ITALIANS are pleased and perplexed..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, Don Vito, Middle Ages (more...)
3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)

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The Italians + La Bella Figura: A Field Guide to the Italian Mind + The Italian Way
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Editorial Reviews

Review
The New Yorker Searching into every corner of Italian life and scrutinizing every cliché concerning it, from the charm of the people (an illusion, he maintains) to the consolations of la dolce vita (another one), Mr. Barzini has written an invaluable and astringent guidebook to his country. -- Review

Review
The New YorkerSearching into every corner of Italian life and scrutinizing every cliché concerning it, from the charm of the people (an illusion, he maintains) to the consolations of la dolce vita (another one), Mr. Barzini has written an invaluable and astringent guidebook to his country.

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Touchstone (July 3, 1996)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0684825007
  • ISBN-13: 978-0684825007
  • Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #118,584 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

20 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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61 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Finally, an intelligent book on Italy!, August 20, 2001
By Vince Cabrera (Milan, Italy) - See all my reviews
The world is full of books on Italy. Unfortunately, a lot of these are written by foreigners whose well-meaning observations are usually pretty mundane and often the product of some Summer holiday spent in Tuscany. Discussing the national character is not common in Italy (except of course when it's done with the ritual pessimism).

Given the small number of books on the subject, Barzini's book has much to recommend it. For starters, it was written by an actual Italian and concentrates on what makes Italians "tick" rather than on the more traveloguey aspects of the matter. Other writers have tried this, notably Tim Parks but Barzini attempts to explain Italy rather then merely observing it.

Although this could be a reasonably dry subject, the book is written in a fun, somewhat raffish style which never really drags. The author spent a lot of his time in the USA and many of his observations are interesting from an typically anglo saxon point of view.

To be fair, I DO have some reservations about this book. The main problem is that, having been written in 1964 the text is somewhat dated. The Italy described by Barzini is one of poverty and illiteracy and these days that world has (thankfully) faded pretty much from the picture. You can see a bit of Barzini's Italy in 1950s/60s Hollywood films such as "The Roman Holidays" and "It Happened in Naples". As another reviewer has pointed out, customs have also changed. Divorce, which Barzini found unthinkable, has been legal in italy for quite a long time.

On the other hand, a lot of his observations remain true and accurate. It takes a good long time for national character to change and a lot of what Barzini described still peeps out from behind modern day Italy. I think that the best way to read this book is not so much with a grain of salt, but rather with a large glass of water in order to dilute the author's conclusions a little.

The *substance* of the book is still accurate, it's just a little faded with time.

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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars entertaining, May 21, 2007
By Maura Greca (Bari, Italy) - See all my reviews
Luigi Barzini has a unique style and presents his theories on the Italian psyche in an entertaining collection of anecdotes. Keep in mind that the view of Italians that the journalist Barzini presents here is his view, and in the beginning of the book he states that it is not a scientific study, simply an entertainment. With that in mind, the book delivers on the author's purpose.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Reviewing Luigi Barzini's "The Italians", August 10, 2005
I heard of this book 40 years ago when a TV version won an Emmy award. I was inspired to read it after my most recent trip to Italy. Growing up as an Italian-American, I wondered why my people acted the way they do, and this book provides valuable insight. Barzini graduated from Columbia U., and it shows in his command of the English language. This book is a classic, but like most classics, it's old, so while much of it is timeless, other parts are out of date, both culturally and politically. However, if one wants to gain a grounding in the Italian culture, this book is a very good place to start.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Italians
I have lent this book to so many people in the past ten years and the last one did not return it, so I purchased this one for myself to keep. Read more
Published 1 month ago by PatriciaJ Ciancutti

4.0 out of 5 stars Superfluous Cynicism.
This elegant, but dated book appears to fit Mr. Barzini's pessimistic generation. Which after living through two world wars & the great depression is understandable. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Steve Guardala

5.0 out of 5 stars molto buono!!!
If you have ever been to Italy, if you are Italian (100% or 8%), if you've ever known anybody Italian or eaten Italian food, this tome will shed light & help make sense of this... Read more
Published on March 18, 2007 by Mr.L

4.0 out of 5 stars No One Really Writes Books Like This Any More
This was required reading before I spent a semester in Italy 20 or so years ago. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. Read more
Published on December 15, 2006 by Yosemite Sam

5.0 out of 5 stars Written with Italian vivacity The beauty of the people
I just read a small excerpt of this book which I read in its entirety many years ago. I found the writing especially lively and interesting. Read more
Published on September 18, 2005 by Shalom Freedman

3.0 out of 5 stars A dated work...needs updating.
As other reviewers have said, the work is a bit dated, and I wish there was something comparable that I know of, and could read. Read more
Published on July 18, 2002 by David Lupo

4.0 out of 5 stars A classics
It`s a classic book - and you can hardly add anything to it. Though it`s a little dated, it`s still worth reading.
Published on April 23, 2002 by Darechka

4.0 out of 5 stars This book explained so much!
This book explained so much! I highly recommend this book to anyone who has spent time in Italy and come away with questions. This book is not for armchair travel. Read more
Published on February 10, 2001 by nancecandance

4.0 out of 5 stars Elegantly written yet dated
First, I would compliment Jim Paris' intelligent review. Mr. Paris leaves me little to add. What Mr. Read more
Published on September 16, 2000 by Derek Leaberry

4.0 out of 5 stars A Remarkable Failure
I began reading this book expecting not much more than a decent, informative summer read. What I found was an always passionate, but not always on-target study of the Italian... Read more
Published on August 5, 2000 by James Paris

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