CultureShock! Italy: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette

This book is a "must read" before a trip to Italy. It really help one understand the culture and help you feel more at ease.

I found this book to be very useful during my first and second trips to Italy. This book is designed for those that are new to Italian travel. If you have been to Italy a few times before, this book will not add much to your knowledge of the people and the place. However, if you are embarking on your first trip to Italy this book does offer insight into the underlying ideas behind the Italian culture. The section on body language and hand gestures is particularly useful to those that are new to Italy. Also the section on driving will be enlightening for those that have not gotten behind the wheel in Italy before. The authors also discuss some of the interesting notions of when businesses open and close that American's find odd at first. Mealtime is also something that is very different from what we are accustomed to in America. Knowing ahead of time that meals are lengthy extended opportunities to socialize helped this American to not be frustrated during my first 3-hour meal. Bottom line, if you will be making your first pleasure trip to Italy, this book does offer some insight into what is considered typical in the Italian culture. If you are looking for a book that will guide you in serious business travel, this is probably not the best place to start.