Wonderful set of reminiscences, from Philly boy"hood" experiences to coping with life in the anxious age of the Vietnam War, to the brilliant essay "Big Boys Do Cry" about how opera can manifest the soul of a man.

Highly recommended. Baby boomers will relate all over the place!

The most inspiring book I have read this year

This is a wonderful book to curl up with. I have given it as a gift to several friends who have enjoyed it as much as I did. I even encouraged my 16-year old daughter to read some of the tales, especially the one about the teen who just learned how to drive. It's wonderful to see how simple stories of life could be so inspirational.

BUY THIS BOOK, if you want to help yourself and your clients manage this aspect's pressures away from the imbalances wrought through indecision,and in the direction of pragmatic life choices. Serendipitously, from the shelves of a local used bookstore in its Weiser Publications incarnation; Epstein's book appeared in my life to simply and thoroughly explain the energetic principles of the two faces of the inconjunct: semi-sextile & quincunx. The importance of the inconjunct is mistakenly under represented in the wider astrological literature. As the quincunx appears no less than seven times in my chart; I have a deep emotional and experiential grasp of the extreme angst that this "ideal vs real" polarity can bring to personal expression in comtemporary Western society. The seed of sanity that Epstein's clear exposition presented, harvested as great peace. Once missplaced, I looked all over for a copy, and am now gratefully repurchasing this irreplaceable treasure in its Trines resurrection!

This book is so helpful and wonderful. I bought two and gave one to my daughter who has just gotten married and she loved it too. A must-read for people to need to get straight with their financial planning!

This book completely lives up to it's 24 hours expectation. After reading it, I feel as though I know exactly what to do with my financial plans. This book has intelligent information with quite a touch of humor to go along with it. I think everyone planning for their future whether they are old or young should definitely read this book. Take it from me, it is incredibly helpful!

As the Romans Do is a delightful, charming book that I believe is the best of its genre. Epstein takes you around Rome and Italy as if you were his best friend and he wanted to give you the most memorable experience possible. He reveals the differences between the Italians and the Americans in a very humorous manner, and lets us in on his life and that of his wife and two young sons who attend Italian public school. Alan Epstein is a great storyteller, a gifted writer and has given me a new, refreshing perspective on the Italians. Now I can't wait to go back to Rome and have Alan Epstein escort me around the Eternal City in person. (I have heard that he gives the greatest tours of Rome).

There are many aspects of "As the Romans Do" that resonated with me. A few that leap to mind: Epstein's expert weaving of Italian words and phrases into the English text, which add pizzazz to his encounters; the juxtaposition of Roman history -- in all its epochs -- with current Roman life; the contrasts between contemporary Roman and American society, as noted in general observations and in descriptions of Epstein's and his Roman neighbors' personal experiences; the overall smooth rhythm and pacing of the book.

"As the Romans Do" should have broad appeal, enchanting people who love all things Italian, who have visited Rome -- or who would like to, and who enjoy reading about expatriates living in foreign cultures. Epstein does an artistic, classy job with a subject that lends itself to art and class, but that can fall easily into cliches and descriptions of Rome we've all read before.

Epstein has a fresh perspective. His individual approach to the Eternal City defines his book, and as readers, we get to dream about Rome as we mull over our own definitions.

As the Romans Do is a treasure. Having just returned from a week in Rome, I was delighted to find this book. Alan Epstein has an easy-going way of telling people about life in Rome that allows you to feel as if you were talking with a friend about his vacation experiences, and gives you the chance to indulge in nostalgia as you remember your own. His love for, and pride in, the city is evident. I was waiting to see some of Diane's slides! For new readers who have already been to Rome, the book serves to validate the feelings that you might have in common with Alan. I, too, noticed how eager the Romans are to assist someone who is in difficulty, and how kind they are when they do it. For people who are looking forward to their first Roman experience, the book will aid you in understanding the wonderful people of that city, as well as in finding the perfect place to have lunch with a family of four.

Alan conveys the beauty of the people of Rome, in addition to that of their awe-inspiring surroundings, and amuses the reader with recollections of entertaining times in the city with his wife and children. It is written with a sense of humor that continues to make me laugh, even after reading snippets to friends numerous times. It will help you to understand many of the cultural differences between Italians and Americans. The book makes some sense of many of the questions that I have had after my own experiences. It offers you the opportunity to avail yourself of Alan's expertise. It will be interesting to see if I agree with Alan's pick of the best pizza, a great route for a Sunday morning jog, or the best trattorie in town. I have been to Rome many times. Not to date myself, but the first time I went, I brought along Europe on $5 a Day, by Arthur Frommer. When I go back next month, I'm bringing As the Romans Do, by Alan Epstein. And, as always, I'll leave a little piece of my heart.

I'm beginning to think that most travel essay books lately are written by wealthy men and women who have decided to sell their expensive homes and quit their well-paying jobs to move with their families to (insert location or around the world/country trip here). This book feels like one of those books. While Epstein gives some insights here and there about places and his observations of the people and daily life, sometimes it drags and it's more about what the Americans in Rome are doing vs. what the Romans do themselves.

For those who have experienced the seduction of Rome and then dreamed and acted upon building a lasting relationship, Alan Epstein speaks for us. His words paint a beautiful, yet honest, picture of the Eternal City, its charming and challenging inhabitants, and its diverse and lively neighborhoods. He has obviously fallen in love with a place and its people, and he describes the joy of food (like waiting in line for the best bread at a specific bakery), wine, conversation and sharing one's life with those who know what really matters in life. Italians love children, and Mr. Epstein recognizes this in a reverent way, while building his own family bonds in his new home. On my recent trip, I followed his Sunday morning jogging route and now understand why it is almost like finding religion. His deep respect for the rich history of Rome is felt throughout the book. For today's traveler, and especially for those who love Rome beyond reason, this is the book for you! Sorridete! La vita e bella!

I actually got 2 great reads out of this book...before and after my semester in Rome. It's has chapters on lots of important aspects to life in Rome as seen through the eyes of an American. And although he paints a lively and beautiful picture of Rome and her people he doesn't fail to include the reality of things...the inefficiency, some of the challenges of everyday life in Rome, etc. I especially enjoyed it because it is snippets of all sorts of topics so that the reader never becomes too bored with one area of Roman life. He isn't pretentious and he really seems to want to inform his readers about Rome, interspersing his writing with Italian words that really are much more beautiful than their English counterparts. It's a great read for before AND after a trip. The first read found me curious to experience life in Rome myself and the second read found me chuckling to myself about the truth of his observations. Great for anyone who wants to reminisce about their time in bella Roma!