Italy: The Reader's Guide
Whether you’re planning a culinary tour of Emilia-Romagna, a weekend of wandering in the cobblestone streets of Rome stopping occasionally for an espresso or Aperol spritz, an art tour of the Venice Biennale or an indulgent White Lotus-inspired trip to Sicily, make sure you stock up on some books that will help you take in the essence of Italy. Wish you were one of the lucky few headed there? Transport yourself to the northern alpine region with a sublime novel from Paolo Cognetti; get a taste of cultural history told through the lens of Italy’s most iconic fruit; or imagine yourself aboard a high speed Frecciarossa train as the stunning geography drifts in front of your eyes. This collection of books about Italy are the perfect accompaniment for any traveler heading for il Bel Paese - or dreaming about it.
10 books

"Written with a sort of elegant simplicity that hits deeper than you realize ... The stories stick with you for a long time, so I’d advise readers to savor each one." – Vogue
Chloe Schama & alifeinbooks
Roman Stories
Jhumpa LahiriHaving relocated to Rome more than a decade ago, Lahiri is a kind of literary attaché between America and Italy, and as an adopted child of the Bel Paese, she is well positioned to behold the unique position of immigrant populations, as well as the ever-present foreign tourists, in a country which is devoted to its native traditions. These exquisitely written stories are a wonderful way to gain a deeper understanding of the often elusive notion of what it means to be Italian.


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“Cognetti captures the elation and melancholy that comes with reaching a spectacular summit.” – The Guardian 
alifeinbooks & Reuters
The Eight Mountains
Paolo CognettiThis 2016 novel follows the lives of two boys from northern Italy – one a city boy from Milan, the other born and raised in the small village of Grana in the Aosta Valley – who bond over their shared love of the mountains. Even as their lives radically diverge over time, this foundational bond stands the test of time. This is a perfect book to read for anyone heading towards the stunning vistas of Italy's alpine regions. We also recommend the film adaption which released earlier this year.


Paperback, 2019
$17.99$8.99 + Free shipping50% off your first book
“This collection demonstrates the power of fiction to enlighten audiences on cultures and histories that are not their own.” – Condé Nast Traveler
Erin Florio & Kirkus Reviews
The Penguin Book of Italian Short Stories
Jhumpa LahiriThis is another book with Lahiri’s fingerprints on it, albeit only as an editor in this case. You’ll find works from well known authors like Italo Calvino and Elsa Morante, but also from lesser known writers. In fact, this is the first time that more than half of these stories have been translated into English. This is a phenomenal option for any traveler curious about Italian literature or anyone seeking insight into the cultural foundations and history of the nation.


Paperback, 2020
$20.00$10.00 + Free shipping50% off your first book
“[A] treat equivalent to a ride on the Orient Express... Italian Ways is no Ferrari on rails but instead something much better.” – The Wall Street Journal
Italian Ways: On and Off the Rails from Milan to Palermo
Tim ParksThere’s no better way to move around Italy than by train. For between $25 and $50, you can get from Rome to Florence in under two hours on the Frecciarossa (Italian for “red arrow”), while sipping on espresso (or something stronger) and taking in the stunning views of the Italian countryside. This book from seasoned expat, Tim Parks, is both a practical guide to the Italian rail system as well as a meditative reflection on the significance of the train to contemporary Italian culture.
Paperback, 2014
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This is a great read for anyone looking for a deeper dive than what most general cultural histories offer. 
Greene & Heaton Literary and Media Agency & James Welham FCCT FRSA
The Land Where Lemons Grow: The Story of Italy and Its Citrus Fruit
Helena AttleeThis is a cultural history of Italy told through the study of one Italy’s most cherished symbols: the lemon. Atlee tracks citrus’ long journey from the Himalayan foothills to Italian shores, illuminating the beloved fruit’s complex and impactful history. The Guardian’s PD Smith praised Atlee’s “wonderfully evocative” and “sensual prose” and called it, “a beautifully written book.”


Hardcover, 2015
$25.00$12.50 + Free shipping50% off your first book
This classic of modern fiction is a must before/during your trip! 
Benedict Rogers 羅傑斯 & Douglas Stuart
The Leopard
Giuseppe Di LampedusaSet in the 1860s amidst the chaotic change of the Risorgimento, the period in which Italian unification was achieved, the book depicts the cultural decline of Sicilian society during this time. The book was awarded Italy’s highest literary honor, the Strega Prize, and was named by the Guardian in 2012 as one of the ten greatest historical novels. Any traveler interested in what it means to be "Italian" should start with the Risorgimento, and this book is a perfect entry point to the subject.


Paperback, 2007
$18.00$9.00 + Free shipping50% off your first book
"The stories in 'The Angel of Rome' are largehearted and wonderfully inventive. They can be savored at the dentist’s office, or anywhere, without an eye on the clock." – New York Times
The Angel of Rome: And Other Stories
Jess WalterThe titular story in this collection, follows a timid twenty-one-year-old from Nebraska who becomes enmeshed in the life of a beautiful Italian actress while studying Latin at a church-sponsored community college in Rome. It’s a laugh out loud funny and heartwarming story that will surely please classic Italian cinema fans and any romantics looking to add a splash of amore onto their reading list.
Hardcover, 2022
$27.99$13.99 + Free shipping50% off your first book
This celebrated book from John Foot is the perfect introduction to the wild world of calcio for all soccer-mad travelers.
John Foot
Winning at All Costs: A Scandalous History of Italian Soccer
John FootFor a country with such a momentous cultural history it would seem a nearly impossible task to decide what the nation’s greatest accomplishment would be. But ask any Italian calcio fan and the answer might be the four World Cup wins. When it comes to the beautiful game, there are few countries with as storied of a history and as wildly passionate of a fanbase as Italy, and this book will help you really grasp that phenomenon.

Paperback, 2007
$26.99$13.49 + Free shipping50% off your first book
"[An] enjoyable foray into the frequently confounding inner workings of the Bel Paese.” – The New York Times 
Five Books &
The Italians
John HooperThe Italians is a keenly written sociological study on contemporary Italians from a long-time Italy and Vatican correspondent for The Economist. The book is an insightful and rich look into the unique character of the Italian people and the forces that have shaped a culture filled with contradictions and baffling politics, as well as immense beauty and warmth.


Tom Rowley
Paperback, 2016
$19.00$9.50 + Free shipping50% off your first book
“A journey for the senses through the kitchens, restaurants, and farms of chefs across Italy who are reshaping the Italian culinary landscape as we have known it.” – Valentina Di Donato in Forbes
Erica Firpo
The New Cucina Italiana: What to Eat, What to Cook, and Who to Know in Italian Cuisine Today
Laura Lazzaroni When visiting somewhere as renowned in its culinary tradition as Italy, it can be easy to miss the innovative contributions of contemporary chefs. This book is a remedy to that problem and is the perfect addition to any hip foodie’s bookshelf.

Hardcover, 2021
$40.00$20.00 + Free shipping50% off your first book