Italianitŕ: The Essence of Being Italian and Italian-American, Paperback

Whether we hail from Napoli or New York, Bari or Boston, Poughkeepsie or Palermo, there is a special quality that binds us - Italiani nel Mondo - together.

And that agent is Italianit , the essence of being Italian.

We are all Italian, but trying to define exactly what that means - what makes us all part of one global family - well, that can be a little tougher.

In this book, William Giovinazzo explores the culture and history of Italians and Italian-Americans, from the time when the Greeks first colonized Italy, to the influx of Italian immigrants in the 19^th and 20^th centuries, to John Travolta strutting his stuff in a New York disco.

In an insightful and entertaining journey, which also takes in food, religion, relationships, and - of course - the Mafia, we explore how the two groups are the same and how they differ. Ultimately, we discover how Italianit is a complex and multifaceted entity; it's what makes Italian and Italian-American societies the wonderful, life-affirming, vibrant cultures that they are.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Awakening

Chapter 2: Italy What a Concept

Chapter 3: To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Chapter 4: What Shall We Do With The Dago?

Chapter 5: What is an Italian?

Chapter 6: Italian Steel

Chapter 7: At the Table, No One Grows Old

Chapter 8: The Beautiful Language

Chapter 9: The Donation of Constantine

Chapter 10: The Beautiful People of Palermo's Prison

Epilogue: Italianit

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Foreword by Anthony Fasano, host of The Italian American Podcast, and author of Forty Days in Italy Con La Mia Famiglia.

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Testimonial. "In this love letter to his heritage, William Giovinazzo explores the essence of "being Italian." Describing Italianita as a flowing river, he leads readers along its many branches - history, tradition, religion, culture - and delves deeply into the many facets of the Italo-American experience. Written from the heart, with passion as well as erudition, Italianita should be required reading for every Italian-American as well as for all who strive to live with Italians' joyful sense of abundance and appreciation. Bravo "

Dianne Hales, author of La Bella Lingua and the forthcoming La Passione: How Italy Seduced the World.