The Italian Soul, Judith Valente
The Italian Soul, Judith Valente
List: $19.95 | Sale: $13.97
Club: $9.97

The Italian Soul
How to Savor the Full Joys of Life

Author: Judith Valente

Narrator: Daniela Acitelli

Unabridged: 4 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Vibrance Press

Published: 05/05/2025


Synopsis

The Italian Soul is a pilgrimage of the heart, a journey toward change that will allow its readers to approach life with a more contemplative stance and recreate a sense of la dolce vita—the sweet life—wherever they might be.
 
The Italian Soul offers practical guidance into how we can transport a taste of the Italian “good life” into our own homes. Additionally, it explores the contemplative practices and attitudes that seem to come naturally to a people who have made an art of living and working joyfully. A cross between a travel dispatch and a spirituality guide for seekers who eschew traditional religious practices but are yearning for ways to bring more balance, sanity, and a greater sense of the transcendent into their daily lives.
 
Written by veteran journalist Judith Valente, who has lived and traveled extensively in Italy, The Italian Soul shares personal stories and insights into the Italian way of life, focusing on the attitudes, traditions, and practices that make the people of Italy role models for experiencing delight amid the demands and distractions of ordinary living. Readers will feel as though they are walking along, peering into windows, glimpsing activities as they unfold.
 
The Italian Soul is a book for lovers of Italy, those considering visiting Italy for the first time, and anyone who is interested in learning more about the art of living joyfully.
 
The Italian Soul will share how Italians:Have a deep appreciation for quality and aesthetics Value slowness and savor the little moments in lifeShow a strong sense of community and make room for leisure and personal careHonor their dead and have a deep respect for traditionFind beauty in the everyday and are able to laugh at themselvesThe Italian Soul is a book that will change the way you look at life. It is a book that will inspire you to live more joyfully and to savor the simple things.

About Judith Valente

Judith Valente is a former staff writer for the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in journalism. She is a former correspondent for PBS's Religion & Ethics Newsweekly and senior correspondent for investigative reporting and long features at the NPR affiliate in central Illinois. She was also a special correspondent covering faith and values and arts and culture for Chicago Public Radio. Valente contributes articles to US Catholic magazine and the National Catholic Reporter. She lives in Normal, Illinois.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Marcia reading past dark on May 17, 2025

I requested THE ITALIAN SOUL by Judith Valente, thinking that it might be a travel memoir, but I quickly found that it is a spiritual guide, one that encourages a quieter, slower, and more reflective way of life. For us living in the South, this is our way of life, but we, too, can begin to run a he......more

Goodreads review by Jasminegalsreadinglog on May 05, 2025

The Italian Soul is a heartfelt ode to Italy, its rich culture, age-old customs, and timeless traditions that continue to shape everyday life. The author, an Italian American, uses her own experiences and stories to highlight the contrast between American and Italian lifestyles. I especially enjoyed......more