Living La Dolce Vita: Bring the Passion, Laughter, and Serenity of Italy Into Your Daily Life

by Raeleen D'Agostino Mautner

An essential self-help book for women and men for living a stress-free, happier, and more passionate way of life through the Italian art of la dolce vita.

Long before the Scandinavian ideas of hygge or lagom became mainstream, there was la dolce vita--or, the sweet life--the Italian philosophy of living a life full of pleasure and indulgence. Italians seem to know how to relish the simple, understated joys of life in a magical...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1570719276
• ISBN13: 9781570719271
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Sourcebooks
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

A Surprisingly Rich Book

I purchased this book thinking it would be in the style of the popular French culture books (Entre Nous, A Year of Beauty, French Women Don't Get Fat), but this book goes to another level. It doesn't discuss fashion, decor or portion control. It's about family, friendship, the dignity of work, self-respect. Although I was raised in an Italian-American family, I didn't understand the richness of my familial inheritance until I read this book. But it's not only for those of Italian ethnicity; the values Ms. Mautner describes are the true core of "la dolce vita" and make the illusory fantasies of "Roman Holiday" seem shallow. And the sweet life is what we all strive for...committed families, solid friendships, "wealth beyond money" (to quote Ms. Mautner), an optimistic outlook. I know I will reread this book several times over the years. I highly recommend it.

Inspirational Must Read!

Style, substance, and life affirmations make this book a must have. It is a book that you will read over and over again. Use it to center yourself, inspire great things, and to take control of your life as the Italians have done for generations. I have always admired this culture and Ms. Mautner has captured it in every aspect of daily living.

Wise!

I stumbled across this gem in a bookstore. I love it. It's a nice spin on traditional self-help material, but more than that, the book is WISE. I'm impressed. Even though I've read and written a ton of stuff, this book stands out for its clairity and sheer joy. -- Joe Vitale www.MrFire.com

The Sweetest Life

Your impression of this book may be to think that it is merely an Italian flavor in the current bouquet garni of Francophile literature---Arbor's 'Joie de Vivre', Barone's 'Chic and Slim' and Olivier's 'Entre Nous--- touting a lifestyle that seeks the laissez-faire routine of the Old World rather than the stressful chaos of the New. It is all that and more---think of grafting "How to Think Like Leonardo Di Vinci" with the sentiment found in "A Year in Provence" or "Under the Tuscan Sun" and then imagine savoring a delicious fresh pasta and sauce delicately enhanced with white truffle complimented by a superb wine. You feel better already---you've taken a deep breath and actually relaxed and smelled the cappucino. Rather than a wistful memoir of the quintessential Provencial village or a how-to book on keeping slim by eating the French way, Dr. Mautner looks at the whole being, not just one aspect. She begins her (and your) quest for the perfect, seemingly elusive lifestyle by exploring herself in relation to community rather than in the rugged individualism of Americanism. For Mautner, the core or hearth is her Italian American family where warmth and love promotes outward growth, yet blazes like a lodestar to maintain a secure sense of attachment and belonging. Like a superbly spiced puttanesca sauce, Mautner liberally seasons what she undoubtably knows (a very Italian trait) with anecdotes demonstrating the values learned from family: her grandmother's unflailing loyalty, her grandfather's amiability, etc.. She explains the Italian concept of the "bella figura", a phrase I remember my mother using to simply mean 'putting your best foot forward'--looking your best, treating yourself well, putting aside the "no pain, no gain" mentality for one of "this feels good and makes me feel better, so why not indulge on a daily basis? With interesting sidebars, Mautner encapsulizes just what it is about Italians that make them seem so earthy, easy-going and yet, oh-so-worldly. Diet and exercise are touched upon---a scant amount of recipes are included, but this is not the primary emphasis of the text. Mautner analyses the self and the way it integrates with family, with friends and with lovers. Above all, the book and its step-by-step advice emulates both a stimulating walk along Florence's busy streets and a leisurely bike ride in the Unbrian hills: it prods yet quiets. Once you read the book through, you will want to keep a copy on your nighttable or desk to refer to often--to refresh your memory and recapture the feeling you want to maintain. La Dolce Vita is all mapped out--you need only shrug off your inhibitions and follow Mautner's guidelines. If you are lucky enough to already be an Italian American, as I am, you will savor the memories and bask with pride at your heritage. Recommended to all those who want the Sweetest life.

A universal spiritual grounding

In Doctor Mautner's beautifully written book she has simply yet interestingly described a road map for all of us seeking more happiness and more juice in our intensive, complex and high tech lives! And while she focusses on the Italian culture she does so in a way that makes it clear that a reader of any culture can take the cultural spices and seasonings of the Italian culture, add it to their own and crank up their life to a zesty dish to be savoured! The nine principles in this book will give you a spiritual grounding for life if practiced. I've had no plans to visit Italy before now -- it's become a must do!