La Bella Figura: A Field Guide to the Italian Mind

Ok... quick read and somewhat funny, but not funny as Severgnini once was. Yes, he does hit on some good aspects for “Italians”, but his point of view is definitely northern, so he only really understands a portion of Italy. He has little familiarity with center and south and the book shows this limitation.

Beppe Severgnini takes us on a tour of the Italian mind, and what a mind it is. Intelligent. Intuitive. Good intentions. Intimate. Genius. Gusto. Guts. Generosity.

Clever. Funny. Paradoxically true, which is always the truest sort of true.