The Hindu Business Line : Where cars are an extension of the womb

Being Italian is a full-time job, begins Beppe Severgnini in La Bella Figura (www.landmarkonthenet.com) . The book, `an insider's guide to the Italian mind', is a 10-day tour of 30 places, including Malpensa, Milan, Rome, Naples and Sardinia. "Don't trust the quick smiles, bright eyes and elegance of many Italians. Be wary of everyone's poise," cautions the author, a columnist for Italy's daily Corriere della Sera.

He describes his country as "an offbeat purgatory, full of proud, tormented souls each of whom is convinced he or she has a hotline to the boss." Italians are prepared to give up a lot for the sake of beauty, even when it doesn't come in a mini-skirt, frets Severgnini.

"We judge books by their covers, politicians by their smiles, professionals by their offices, secretaries by their posture, table lamps by their design, cars by their styling and people by their title," he writes. No different, closer home.

Do you know why Italy's "superb concierges, military police - the excellent carabinieri - exceptional traders and mediocre scam merchants" are in demand all over the globe? Because of the trademark warm welcome. "Lukewarm is the average temperature of Italian social relations," explains the author. The courtesy is not as superficial as in other countries, nor passionate as some non-Italians believe it to be. "It's a combination of intuition (this is what the customer wants), professionalism (this is what I'm supposed to do), kindness (thou shalt coddle thy neighbour as thyself), shrewdness (a happy customer is a less demanding customer), and good sense (it takes just as much effort to be rude as it does to be polite)." Useful lessons.

Severgnini is eloquent about the cars on Italy's roads. They "don't just talk. They make comments, insults, protests, insinuations, and lectures." Italy has 72 cars for every 100 residents, one learns. In January 2005, births registered were about 45,000; vehicle registrations were nearly five times as many. "Cars aren't used for transport... They are an extension of the womb that comes after the stroller and before the easy chair."

The alternative uses of the car are growing, informs Severgnini. "In our cars, we telephone, argue, deal, wait, drink, confess our sins, warm our hands, slake our thirsts, listen to music, catch up on the news and fiddle with the instruments... Cars are still where people woo and seduce." So much so, to some, "performance in a car is more important than the performance of a car."

The book wraps with 4 Is in the Italian mind that can confuse: intelligence ("overused to the point of exasperation"), intuition ("almost uncanny"), intentions ("not always accompanied by good groundwork"), and intimacy ("admirable, but sometimes you don't know when to stop").

And there are 4 Gs that are enviable: genius ("in everyday behaviour"), gusto ("keen enjoyment... good taste"), guts (the way they "tackle life's complications"), and generosity ("a foreigner is never an outsider in Italy").

Helpful insights, you'd agree.

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