Italian Culture Today

 Italian Culture Today, Thalby Originals, 2020

Part of a series, this book is an introduction to present-day Italian culture.

New novelists are bringing about a boom in contemporary fiction. The Italian film tradition is justifiably world-famous. It started with Benito Mussolini wanting to make propaganda films. The Italian hip-hop scene has flourished in recent years, partly due to TV collaborations. There is something actually different about Italian sunshine; maybe it has to do with the high altitudes, or less dust, and other pollutants, in the air.

The Italian fashion industry is starting to emerge from a financial crisis. The making, and drinking, of wine is a very important part of everyday life. Vatican City is the place where politics, culture and religion meet. Old, abandoned buildings are being given new lives as communes, clubs and creative spaces. Did I mention Italian motor racing, of which Ferrari and Formula 1 are pivotal parts?

Like the other books in this series, this book contains several helpful extras, including great festivals to attend, some phrases in Italian and helpful etiquette tips. Also, this book does not try to be a comprehensive guide, but a brief introduction to Italian culture. It works very well at that, and is well worth reading.

Italian Society Today

 Italian Society Today, Thalby Originals, 2020

Part of a series, this book is a basic introduction to present-day Italian society.

Family is still everything in Italy, but more and more families are multicultural. There is much more of a regional identity among residents of Italy than a national identity. It is more important to say, for instance, "I am from Venice" or "I am Sicilian" than to say "I am Italian." Italy's citizenship laws are based on blood, not birth.

Italy has one of the lowest rates of condom use in Europe. Part of the reason is because of the influence of the Catholic Church, and part is because Italian sex education "needs improvement."

Education in Italy is more and more inclusive, affordable and usually public. You can't talk about Italy without talking about food, and the Italian appreciation for beauty, whether in cars or fashion. The Catholic Church still dominates Italy, but it is becoming more progressive. Things have started to improve for women, but Italy still has the highest gender inequality in Europe.

As with the other books in this series, this includes a list of places to visit while in Italy. It also includes some Italian phrases (learning a few words of the local language is always a good idea), and some Italian etiquette (dinner starts at 7:30 PM; if you are an early eater, you are out of luck). This does not try to be a comprehensive guide to Italy. It is a brief introduction to Italy, something to read while on the plane. In that respect, it works really well. It is very much worth reading.