The Italian Job

For generations, the global imagination has been captured by a specific, idealized version of Italy. It is the Italy of the "Tuscan sun" enchantment—a sun-drenched, postcard-perfect landscape of rolling vineyards, ancient ruins, cypress-lined paths, and the timeless comfort of slow, glorious food. It is a place we visit to escape the pressures of the modern world, a museum of the past where life slows down to the pace of an espresso sipped in a quiet piazza. But what happens when you step past the tourist veneer and actually stay? What lies beneath the surface of a land so weighed down by history, yet so deeply entangled in the complications of the twenty-first century?

In his highly anticipated book, The Italian Job: A Memoir of an American Reporter in Rome, Jason Horowitz invites readers to look through a different kind of lens. As a longtime Rome bureau chief for The New York Times, Horowitz spent a quarter-century living, working, and raising a family in Italy. He, too, initially fell under that classic Tuscan spell. However, over decades of deep investigative reportage, he discovered a far more complex, contradictory, and fascinating country—one that is not merely a vacation destination, but a vital laboratory for the future of Western civilization.

The Italian Job is a profound, sweeping memoir that bridges the gap between geopolitical journalism and intimate personal narrative. Published by Celadon Books, this 352-page account takes readers far beyond the standard travelogue. Horowitz pulls back the curtain on an Italy that is aggressively confronting the sharpest edges of our global reality. Far from being stuck in the past, Horowitz reveals an Italy conducting volatile, real-time experiments in populist politics. It is a nation standing on the frontlines of some of the most daunting crises of our era, from navigating the crucible of immigration and maritime borders to feeling the immediate, existential stakes of climate change on historical ecosystems. Furthermore, the country is grappling with the crushing weight of an aging population, observing a social and economic strain that the rest of the Western world will soon have to face. Through Horowitz's sharp reporter's eye, Italy ceases to be a static museum. Instead, it transforms into a vivid, predictive lens through which we can better understand our own political and social present and future.

What makes The Italian Job an absolute delight to read is the extraordinary, colorful spectrum of characters Horowitz introduces along the way. His press credential and deep cultural integration grant him access to worlds that ordinary visitors—and even most journalists—could never hope to penetrate. Horowitz writes with an infectious energy, pulling readers into high-stakes environments and casual encounters alike. You will find yourself flying alongside popes on the papal plane, and shortly after, drinking Spritzes with prime ministers in Rome's buzzing political corridors. He talks the philosophy of aesthetics and beauty with top fashion designers in the chic ateliers of Milan, and later ponders the heavy, existential questions of faith and power with influential cardinals within the Vatican.

Yet, some of the most compelling moments in the book occur away from the halls of power. Horowitz gets his feet wet in the rising waters of the Venice lagoon, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the visionary engineers who are desperately trying to deploy complex infrastructure to save the sinking city from the sea. Whether chatting with local shopkeepers on streets layered with centuries of history, or sitting in vibrant cafés humming with local gossip, Horowitz demonstrates that Italy’s daily life is a masterclass in resilience and adaptability.

While the book functions as an incredible political and cultural chronicle, its true beating heart is found within the walls of Horowitz’s own home. His personal connection to the country is profound; he met his Italian wife in Rome as a young reporter, and together they have raised two children. This domestic backdrop offers an even more intimate, concentrated, and rollicking view of Italian life. Horowitz brilliantly juxtaposes the macro-crises of European politics with the micro-dramas of managing an Italian household. Navigating the fiercely protected customs of Italian extended families, school systems, and neighborhood dynamics provides a hilarious and tender counterweight to his investigative journalism. It is a love letter to a culture, written by an outsider who earned his place on the inside through years of shared laughter, bureaucratic headaches, and family dinners.

As the world turns upside down and global alliances shift, The Italian Job reminds us that Italy matters deeply. It is a beautifully written, deeply empathetic, and often laugh-out-loud funny book that balances historic sweep with improbable, exquisite details. Critics and authors alike have praised its unique tone, with staff writers from The New Yorker noting it is "as gorgeous, absurd, and hilarious as the place it describes." Whether you are a lover of political memoirs, a devotee of Italian culture, or simply someone looking for a brilliant story told by a master storyteller, this book is an essential addition to your reading list. Jason Horowitz has written a book that does what the best literature always does: it changes the way you look at the world.

The Italian Job: A Memoir of an American Reporter in Rome is officially on sale starting October 6, 2026. You can secure your copy in hardcover, e-book, or digital audio formats today. Pre-orders are currently available at major literary retailers, including Rizzoli Bookstore.

You can also catch Jason Horowitz live on his book tour this autumn. He will be appearing in conversation with several prominent figures, including a special appearance with Maureen Dowd on October 12, 2026, hosted via Politics and Prose on Connecticut Avenue. Keep an eye on local independent bookstore listings for additional promotional dates near you.