Rayleen D’Agostino Mautner has penned a guide to the secret of the Italian lifestyle, or living la dolce vita, the sweet life. She divides her book into different areas: food, time, the self, relationships, beliefs and lifestyle, and dispenses advice on how to live happy and healthy, no matter where you live or how much money you have. Many of her suggestions are common sense: the importance of exercise and eating healthy, spending time with friends and family, and “blooming where you are planted,” or being happy with yourself. I did enjoy this, and intend to take some of her advice 😉