Take a pilgrimage of the heart, a journey toward change that will allow you to approach life with a more contemplative stance and recreate a sense of la dolce vita––the sweet life––wherever you may be.

Judith Valente 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 everyday living. These include: a deep appreciation for quality and aesthetics; taking the time to savor life's little moments; a strong sense of community; making room for leisure and personal care; and the honoring of their dead and a deep respect for tradition. (Any regular reader of the Convivio Book of Days blog will know how we much we respect these ideas, too.)

Softcover, 176 pages. 2025.

“The Italian Soul speaks to the growing yearning that I see among so many to live more joyfully and mindfully amid the demands and distractions of daily life and the growing tumult of the world. Judith Valente offers sound wisdom and practical guidance from her many stays in Italy and lessons learned from a people (my own!) who have made an art of living fully. Whenever I visit Italy, I wonder: What is their secret? This is a book for spiritual seekers and all who want to bring a piece of the Italian way of life into their own homes.” —James Martin, SJ, author of Learning to Pray, My Life with the Saints and The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything

“The Italian Soul is a heartfelt guide for those yearning to embrace a more mindful and fulfilling way of living." —Rita Salvatore, president of Slow Food Abruzzo and professor at University of Teramo and the American University of Rome