Discover Italian and Italian-American culture, accomplishments, inventions and more.
Italian and Italian-American Heritage Books

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Endorsed by chapters of the Order of the Sons of Italy in America, Fieri, UNICO, and Canada's CIBPA.
 
Title:   "The Golden Milestone - Over 2500 Years of Italian Contributions to Civilization (3rd Edition)
Author:      Russell Esposito.
Binding:     paperback
Publisher:  The New York Learning Library
ISBN:         0967143616
List price:   $19.95 (This is the price at Barnes & Noble and Amazon, plus shipping)
Your cost:  $17.95 Total (This book ships FREE anywhere in the US.)
Pages:         549

This highly acclaimed and uniquely comprehensive book offers readers over 2,500 years of Italian and Italian-American accomplishments. The book's 22 chapters covers every subject, from the arts and sciences to sports and entertainment celebrities. The author's ability to blend facts, humor and personal anecdotes makes this book a joy to read. The book covers the wonders of ancient Rome, Renaissance Italy, as well as modern contributions and Nobel Prize winners. The book is illustrated and contains an amazing collection of inventions and accomplishments. For example, Italians invented the piano, violin, opera, ballet, battery, telescope, radio, and telephone in NYC years before Alexander Bell. Discover how Enrico Fermi ushered in the atomic age, and how Italian sculptors carved the Lincoln memorial in Washington D.C. Explore the chapter on literature to uncover the origins of many famous fairy tales (Cinderella, Snow White, Pinocchio, etc.). Also, learn about other distinguished Italians: Chairman & CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, President of the European Union's Commission and Director of the European Space Agency.


This book also includes a unique 'Italy Travel Guide' supplement that combines history and attractions for over twenty cities and locations in Italy. A great gift idea for any occasion !
( 549 pages, 34 illustrations)

A New York Tines
Best seller written by
Pulitzer Prize-winning
journalist
Richard Ben Cramer

Title:  Joe Dimaggio: The Hero's Life (New book, but has a one-inch black ink-line, publisher's overstock mark, on bottom paper-edge of book.)

Author:  Cramer, Richard Ben
Binding:  trade paperback
Publisher:  Touchstone
ISBN:  0684865475
 List price: $16.00
Your cost:   $5.95
Pages:    546

"This bio from a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist promises to deliver some shockers." Reed Business Information, Inc. from Library Journal

Joe DiMaggio was, at every turn, one man we could look at who made us feel good. In the hard-knuckled thirties, he was the immigrant boy who made it big -- and spurred the New York Yankees to a new era of dynasty. He was Broadway Joe, the icon of elegance, the man who wooed and won Marilyn Monroe -- the most beautiful girl America could dream up. Joe DiMaggio was a mirror of our best self. And he was also the loneliest hero we ever had.

In this groundbreaking biography, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Richard Ben Cramer presents a shocking portrait of a complicated, enigmatic life. The story that DiMaggio never wanted told, tells of his grace -- and greed; his dignity, pride -- and hidden shame. It is a story that sweeps through the twentieth century, bringing to light not just America's national game, but the birth (and the price) of modern national celebrity.


 
"...valuable for the
 illustrative material.
"
School Library Journal

 

Title:         Westward With Columbus
Author:      Dyson, John
Binding:     oversized hardcover
Publisher:  Scholastic
ISBN:        0590438468
List price:   $15.95
Your cost:  $  6.95
Pages:          64


"Excellent full-color photographs show a crew of students dressed in 15th-century costume, aboard ship and reenacting Columbus's claiming of the New World for Spain...valuable for the illustrative material." School Library Journal

A great gift! Young adult book for ages 12 to adult. The somewhat larger print makes it easier to read for older persons as well - good for the whole family to read and share comments at the dinner table. Printed on the inside of the book's dust-jacket is a full color 11" x 27" wall poster.

Through the eyes of  a young boy on the Santa Maria, readers relive what it was like to sail on the fateful voyage that changed the world forever. Full color photographs of John Dyson's 1990 voyage in the new Niña, as well as original illustrations, historical paintings, maps and diagrams, give a vivid picture of what it was like to sail with Columbus. Peter Christopher, award-winning photographer of international renown, sailed with John Dyson on board the Niña in the summer of 1990.           



"...suspenseful story
tells of a city frozen
in time by disaster."
Ingram Book Group
Title:       The Buried City of Pompeii (an "I was there" book)
Author:      Tanaka, Shelley
Binding:     oversized hardcover
Publisher:   Hyperion
ISBN:         0786802855
List price:      $16.95
Your cost:      $  6.95
Pages:            48

Children's book for ages 10 and up, yet very informative for adults and the whole family to share and experience together. Many detail color photographs and illustrations of this famous archeological site. A great gift !

Almost 2000 years ago, a modern, prosperous Roman city was lost forever, buried in lava and ash when Mt. Vesuvius erupted without warning. The "I Was There" narrative of this suspenseful story tells of a city frozen in time by disaster--and what it might have been like to live and die there. Although stories about Pompeii were told for hundreds of years after the city was abandoned, the first archaeological excavations did not begin until 1748. Informative sidebars, full color illustrations, and a compelling narrative will pull readers into the action of history.

 The image “http://www.italianculture.com/orange-arrow.gif” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors. Buy this book from
 The New York
Learning Library


"A solid phrasebook"
Debbie Lee
Wesselmann

Title:       Barron's  Italian At - A - Glance
Author:      Barron's
Binding:     paperback (pocket book with clear plastic cover)
Publisher:  Barron's Educational Series
ISBN:         0764112562
List price:     $6.95
Your cost:    $3.95
Pages:           320

Thousands of expressions you need for travel. The dictionary has over 2000 important words. Color coded chapters for fast reference. Maps of Italian cities, roads, rapid transit and rail lines. This small compact book fits right in your pocket, and has a clear plastic cover. A handy reference to keep with you.

 

Other Italian Heritage Resources:
Information, News, Communication, Webcams, Travel Italy Information

(The links below open new browser windows)

Italian and Italian-American Leadership

    Judge Samuel Alito confirmed to U.S. Supreme Court (2006)Judge Antonin Scalia confirmed to U.S. Supreme Court (1986)
    General Peter Pace sworn in as Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (2005)
    Renzo Piano, world renowned Italian architect, was awarded four major NYC projects (2004)
    Dr.Carlo Urbani of The World Health Organization (WHO) was First to Identifty SARS. (2003)
    Dr. Carlo Urbani of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dies of SARS. (2003)
    Riccardo Giacconi - Winner of 2002 Nobel Prize in Physics
    Enrico Fermi - Biography by U.S. Dept of Energy
    Enrico Fermi Award - a U.S. Presidential Award
    Marconi (Marconi Corp)- Guglielmo Marconi history 
    Umberto Guidoni, First European Astronaut to visit International Space Station (ISS) 2001
    European Space Agency's First Group of Astronauts (three of the seven are Italians) 1998
    Antonio Rodotà, Director of European Space Agency since 1997
    Students Win 2000 European EPOS Prize
    Mariangela Lisanti Wins 2000 Siemens Westinghouse Science Prize, and 2001 Intel Prize (She is called the Tiger Woods of student scientists.)   

News & Informational Links

    News About Italy
    United Kingdom's "The Guardian" news service.
    Italy's "Zoomata" news, pop culture and current events.

    Learn the Italian Language
    FREE Italian language lessons from BBC. Excellent with video and audio !!!
    MIT Libraries - Italian Language News and Magazines

    Book Resources
    FREE e-books ("Child of Wonder") from ItalianAmericanPress.com
    American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI).
    Connecticut State University - Book Resources List.
    Floria Publications - Italian Related Books & Sites
    Book List by Italian Ancestry Site

    Other Information
    Italians-R-Us
    Sicilian Culture - The People, The History, The Culture
    Genealogy Today
    Ancient Faces Genealogy site with photos and great related links
    The Italian Genealogy
    Italian Film Festival (annual - San Francisco, CA)
    663 Italian Recipes
    Mama Ragu's Recipe Box and Supernanny Strategies
    Italian Cultural Institute of New York

Communicate with E-groups and Forums

    Italian American Pride (Yahoo.com).
    Italian Americans (Yahoo.com)
    Italian Americans Unite (Yahoo.com)
    Italian Cooking (Yahoo.com)
    Italian nel Mondo in Italian (Yahoo.com)

LIVE Webcams & Virtual Tours

When viewing webcams check time in Italy and NYC for day or night views
and weather in Italy or in NYC for visibility.

    WECAMS:
    Rome - view of Piazza del Pantheon. Image refresh every 30 minutes.
    Rome - view of Piazza del Pantheon. Image refresh every 5 seconds, and you can move camera.
    Florence from Brunelleschi's famous Cupola of Cathedral S. Maria del Fiore
    The City of Genoa - 25 views
    Ski Slopes near City of Livigno
    Venice  
    The Sun above us all.
    VIRTUAL TOURS:
    City of Bologna - Virtual Tour - You control 360 degree view.
    Ancient Rome - Virtual Tour
    Pompeii
       Pompeii - 80 slides, each with information and related Pompeii links.
       40 minute streaming video of Pompeii.
    Sorrento Peninsula, Amalfi Coast & Capri Island
        Auto slide show (Amalfi only)
        Manual control slide show
    Sistine Chapel (single views)
       Complete Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
       View of Sistine Chapel interior.
       The painting of "Last Judgement" by Michelangelo behind the alter.

Travel to Italy

    International Currency Converter (US to Euro dollars, etc). Great travel aide.
    Interactive Map of Italy - major cities, travel information and attractions.
    European Travel Books
    Perillo Tours
    Italy Online

National Organizations- U.S. , Canada and Australia

    The National Italian American Foundation (USA)
    Order of the Sons of Italy in America - One Stop Italian America (USA)
    FIERI for young Italian Americans (USA)
    Ellis Island - American Family Immigration History Center (USA)
    National Congress of Italian Canadians (Canada)
    Pier 21 Society - Canada's 'Ellis Island' (Canada)
    Italy Down Under - National Magazine (Australia)
   

WebRings - Italian-American

    The Italian-American WebRing of New York State
    The Italian-American WebRing

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