Italia could finally return to growth. To achieve this, it would need to capitalise on its strengths and tackle its shortcomings with greater determination. This is the argument put forward in *The Italian Dream*, Alec Ross’s latest book. The author holds up a rather unusual mirror to us: that of an American who has chosen to live in Italia. Ross knows our country well, yet maintains just enough distance to view what we consider normal with a critical eye.
It is a perspective which, through its use of personal narrative, is reminiscent of Tim Parks’ *Italian Neighbours* (1992), whilst in terms of content it takes us back to the very recent warnings contained in the closing remarks of the Governor of the Bank of Italy and, before him, Mario Draghi.
