Italianissimo: The Quintessential Guide to What Italians Do Best (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Lise Apatoff (Author)
Key Phrases: suo balzo

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The hysterical Italianissimo: The Quintessential Guide to What Italians Do Best by Louise Fili and Lise Apatoff had me in tears of laughter. The book covers the prerequisite fabulous wine, olive oil and vegetables and also touches on other important culinary strengths like making coffee. Some of the funnier pages highlight Italian idiosyncrasies like the inability to stand in line and the adoration of Italian men of their mothers." --The San Francisco Examiner

"As you would expect from a designer of Fili's caliber, the book is not only charming but gorgeous. Essays are elegantly laid out and accompanied by memorable photos, collages and, best of all, an illustrated chart of hand gestures. Weight and comprehensiveness are not the objectives here; the diminutive size of Italianissimo makes it ideal for carrying in purse, suitcase or even backpack, in case you plan on trekking across Italy. This little book may entice you to do so." --STEP inside design

"What do Italians do best? Many things, according to 'Italianissimo,' a most unusual and idiosyncratic guide to Italian culture. The list includes things that one might expect, such as balsamic vinegar, coffee, soccer, gelato and the art of eating, to quirky items such as hand gestures, neorealist cinema, patron saints, the motor scooter and, my personal favorite, Pinocchio. What makes the book especially enjoyable is the surprising quality of the choices. The Fiat 500 (the Italian car made for the masses, was introduced in 1936, followed by the Nuova Fiat 500 in 1957. Discontinued for a while, it reappeared in 2007 in time for its 50th anniversary) Also here is the piazza, or town square, as Italian an icon as you'll get." --The Chicago Tribune

"Italianissimo: The Quintessential Guide to What Italians Do Best is a slight but informative and entertaining compendium of all things Italian. Authors Louise Fili and Lise Apatoff write brief and engaging summaries of mores and manners, cultural traditions and icons. The encyclopedic book covers patron saints and Pinocchio, opera and olive oil; gelato and gondolas...While the book is a diverting read, there's also practical advice for those who will be traveling to Italy." --The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

"From the A of aceto balsamico to the V of vespa, this gorgeous little hardback has a classy 1920s look, each double-page spread introducing a different element of Italian culture with a short explanation alongside bright, appealing and often vintage photos...What makes this book really stand out is that it sparkles with so many overlooked elements of life in Italy...There is also practical information although the focus is definitely on culture and the tone is light and fun...it pays homage to Italy and does so in a stylish and eclectic way, making the country's icons burst with life. In short, this sleek and sassy guide to Italian culture fa molto bella figura." --The Florentine


"Italianissimo – The Quintessential Guide to What Italians Do Best is a small book, just over 100 pages, but it packs an enormous amount of pleasure into its modest borders. We shouldn't be surprised—it's designed by Louise Fili, one of the truly great graphic designers, and written with Lise Apatoff. Within: Vespas, pasta, Italian light, shoes, soccer, and more. A cover-to-cover delight. " --Manhattan User's Guide

"With the help of Italianissimo: The Quintessential Guide to What Italians Do Best, I can do some delightful armchair traveling...This nice square book, with glorious photos and great design, is itself very Italian-and, like a serving of pasta at Dal Bolognese in Rome, just enough to satisy. The book is a list of 50 categories. Each gets a two-page spread: smart text, full-page photo. Like a luxury magazine, only on a single subject-the glory of the Italian spirit...Good enough to eat, yes?" --Jesse Kornbluth, HeadButler.com

“For the veteran or budding Italophile, there's a new book, Italianissimo: The Quintessential Guide to What Italians Do Best, by Louise Fili and Lise Apatoff, that offers a special look at all things Italian, from L'Aceto Balsamico (balsamic vinegar) to La Vespa (the wasp-shaped motor scooter)–all in alphabetical order too. For my money, this (and watching almost any Fellini film) is the next best thing to being there. And there's no fare la coda (waiting on line–or not) at il mercato (the market) or suffering le autorita (authority figures) oril maschio (the Italian male) to get a copy.” –The Daily Heller, by Print Magazine

Product Description

What is it about Italy that inspires passion, fascination, and utter devotion? This quirky guide to the Italian way of life, with its fifty witty mini-essays on iconic Italian subjects, will answer that question as well as entertain and delight both real and armchair travelers. Topics range from expressive hand gestures to patron saints, pasta, parmesan, shoes, opera, the Vespa, the Fiat 500, gelato, gondolas, and more. History, folklore, superstitions, traditions, and customs are tossed in a delicious sauce that also includes a wealth of factual information for the sophisticated traveler:• why lines, as we know them, are nonexistent in Italy• why a string of coral beads is often seen around a baby’s wrist• what the unlucky number of Italy is (it’s not thirteen, unless seating guests at a table, when it IS thirteen–taking into account the outcome of the Last Supper)• why red underwear begins to appear in shops as the New Year approaches In addition to the lyrical and poetic, Italianissimo provides useful and indispensable information for the traveler: deciphering the quirks of the language (while English has only one word for “you,” in Italy there are three), the best place to find balsamic vinegar (in Modena, of course), the best gelato (in Sicily, where they first invented it using the snow from Mount Etna). There are also recommendations for little-known museums and destinations (the Bodoni museum, the Pinocchio park, legendary coffee bars).This is a new kind of guidebook overflowing with enlightening and hilarious miscellaneous information, filled with luscious graphics and unforgettable photographs that will decode and enrich all trips to Italy–both real and imaginary.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Little Bookroom (September 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892145545
• ISBN-13: 978-1892145543
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #102,965 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a little book to dream on --- armchair travel to Italy, September 24, 2008

By	Jesse Kornbluth "Head Butler" (New York) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I can remember traveling to Italy when the dollar was strong and the lira was downtrodden. Trading dollars for lira was quite the jolly experience --- at the currency exchange in Rome, you practically needed a shopping bag to carry a few hundred dollars in Italian money.

Now the Ferragamo is on the other foot. The Euro reigns supreme, and here in New York, the best restaurants and shops post their prices in dollars and Euros, for the convenience of our currency-advantaged foreign guests.

For the foreseeable future, Americans --- well, my friends and I, anyway --- might as well not have passports.

But if you think I'm going to say that my expedition to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx is as satisfying as dinner in the Roman ghetto, dream on. I have only to close my eyes to smell the wood smoke of a Tuscan evening, or hear the madness of traffic in Rome, or see a cathedral ceiling.

And then, when I open my eyes, I can do some smart importing of Italian products and culture --- I can splurge on artisanal foods from Gustiamo.com, watch movies like The Conformist, read about Elizabeth Gilbert's hunt for the perfect pizza in Eat, Pray, Love.

And, with the help of Italianissimo: The Quintessential Guide to What Italians Do Best, I can do some delightful armchair traveling.

It doesn't take much to get me dreaming, so I don't want a thick tome. This nice square book, with glorious photos and great design, is itself very Italian --- and, like a serving of pasta at Dal Bolognese in Rome, just enough to satisfy.

The book is a list of 50 categories. Each gets a two-page spread: smart text, full-page photo. Like a luxury magazine, only on a single subject --- the glory of the Italian spirit. Like....

Balsamic Vinegar --- in the fine print, there's a description of a vinegar-inspired restaurant in Modena with only four tables.

Il Caffé --- always good to be reminded that Italians never order cappuccino after dinner. "It impedes the digestion." Espresso only, please! (And how nice that the authors agree that Sant'Eustachio coffee is indeed the best.

Il Capodanno --- why red underwear is a hot item in December. (It wards off the evil eye.)

I Gesti Italiani --- a guide to hand gestures.

La Gondola --- did you know it takes 500 hours and 7 types of wood to make one? And that they're custom-built to work with the individual gondolier's weight?

La Mezzaluna --- the half-moon kitchen utensil. Safer than a knife and more efficient. I'm ordering a mezzaluna now.

Pizza --- Why was the original called marinara? In honor of hungry fishermen, who craved it when they came ashore.

But let me serve one large helping. Here's the entire entry for a beloved car. I knew nothing:

LA CINQUECENTO (The Fiat 500)
What is the subject of a love song, a character in an animated film, and has doors that make men weep? The Fiat 500, of course. In the 1930s, while England had the Morris 8 and Germany the Volkswagen, Mussolini's Italy was experiencing vehicle envy. To address the problem, Fiat chairman Giovanni Agnelli summoned his engineers to create a car for the masses. After the head designer came up with a model that caught fire on its test run (with Agnelli in tow) he was summarily dismissed, and Dante Giacosa was brought on board. His solution, the 500, was introduced with great fanfare in 1936, and dubbed Topolino (Mickey Mouse) for its disarming cuteness. An overnight sensation, it was able to conquer winding medieval roads as well as hopeless parking situations. The rear-engined Nuova Fiat 500, or Cinquecento, was introduced in 1957, featuring reverse-opening "suicide doors" which were later discontinued-much to the disappointment of many an Italian male who could no longer gawk at the shapley legs of a signora entering and exiting the car. Although production ceased in 1975, making it a coveted collector's item, the Cinquecento made a triumphant reappearance in 2007, on the fiftieth anniversary of its auspicious debut.

Good enough to eat, yes?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute Coffee Table Offering..., February 1, 2009

By	Bella "crave pasta" (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews

I had expected a fairly comprehensive text on all things Italian, so I was
surprised when a 5 x 5 inch hardcover arrived at my door. The book is a collection of text with photos, of things considered "the best" of Italy or places/ideas that are quintessentially Italian. Each vignette occupies facing pages in the book...photos on one side and text on the other. There are addresses and websites referring the reader to a place (i.e. best place to get gelato) or other information. The photos and illustrations are first rate, and the text offers basic information without overwhelming the reader. A cute display book that doesn't take up too much room on a table...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful -- book and excellent!, December 22, 2008

By	Diane Valentine "In every book, there is a li... (Middletown, CT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Lovely book, beautifully illustrated. A must for the traveller who wants magic and seeks beauty.