There are plenty of great books about Italian history and culture, as well as Italian American communities and contributions. I have read just about all of these (with a few more on my list) and they are all wonderful! I will continue to add books as I come across new volumes. Each provides a unique perspective on our community. Make sure to check back regularly. I know you will enjoy them!

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Italian American History, Culture, and Heritage

La Storia: Five Centuries of the Italian American Experience: Recalling five centuries of Italian immigration to the Americas, the authors present the stories of hundreds of immigrants and their families, tracing the impact of this arrival on American life.

Una Storia Segreta: The Secret History of Italian American Evacuation and Internment during World War II: It is a little-known fact that in California during World War II, Italian Americans were subjected to an 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew, searches of their homes, seizure of their property, and exclusion from prohibited zones along the coast. In a collection of essays, Una Storia Segreta brings together the voices of the Italian American community and experts in the field, including personal stories by survivors and their children, letters from internment camps, news clips, photographs, and cartoons.

The Routledge History of Italian Americans: The Routledge History of Italian Americans weaves a narrative of the trials and triumphs of one of the nation’s largest ethnic groups. This history, comprising original essays by leading scholars and critics, addresses themes that include the Columbian legacy, immigration, the labor movement, discrimination, anarchism, Fascism, World War II patriotism, assimilation, gender identity and popular culture. This landmark volume offers a clear and accessible overview of work in the growing academic field of Italian American Studies. Rich illustrations bring the story to life, drawing out the aspects of Italian American history and culture that make this ethnic group essential to the American experience.

Newark’s Little Italy: The Vanished First Ward: Michael Immerso traces the history of the First Ward from the arrival of the first Italian in the 1870s until 1953 when the district was uprooted to make way for urban renewal. Richly illustrated with photographs culled from the albums and shoeboxes in the private collections of hundreds of former First Ward families from all across the United States, the book documents the evolution of the district from a small immigrant quarter into a complex Italian-American neighborhood that thrived during the first half of this century.

Italian Americans of Newark, Belleville, and Nutley (Images of America): Italians first settled in the Newark area in the 1880s.Italian-Americans of Newark, Nutley, and Belleville shows these immigrant families from 1900 to the 1950s. The street peddler, the barber, the baker, the undertaker, the macaroni maker, the concert musician, and more are portrayed here in the grace and dignity of their work. Outings to the shore or Branch Brook Park balanced hard work and long hours. Family gatherings, weddings, first communions, and processions for the feasts of St. Gerard, St. Rocco, and St. Bartholomew were all a part of the life of the family and the vibrant Italian neighborhoods. More than 200 vintage photographs from family albums tell these stories.

The Italians of New Jersey: A Historical Introduction and Bibliography: This volume does not aim to be a definitive history of the Italians of New Jersey, but it is an excellent model of regionally grounded scholarship, offering not only the story of one state, but an excellent synthesis of the scholarship on the Italian role in that “greatest migration of peoples in history” to the new world at the end of the nineteenth century. “From 1891 to 1915 more Italians entered the United States than did immigrants from any other country.”

Cooking from the Italians of Newark, New Jersey An Ethnic Experience: Newark, New Jersey was a thriving Italian American community with ties to southern Italy and Sicily, with waves of immigrants coming from 1870 -1950. According to New Jersey census data from 2000 Italian Americans are the largest ethnic group in the state. There are two million citizens in the state that claim Italian descent. Many of these residents have ancestors who lived in Newark’s First Ward. The purpose of writing this book is both biographical and cultural and also the need to preserve recipes as a link to the history of a neighborhood that vanished five decades ago. Many recipes have been verbally passed down and the primary focus of the book is to preserve them for future generations. Although, the book is original to a specific geographical area the peasant food described in the recipes has become very popular in upscale Italian restaurants. The food is healthy and delicious. The “old neighborhood” was teaming with specialty shops including grocery stores, cheese shops, bread stores, bakeries, meat markets, a chicken market, and colorful peddlers. There was a pizza parlor that always used linen tablecloths and napkins. Every house had a “stoop” (colloquial name for small front porch) and on every “stoop” was a favorite chair often carried down several flights of stairs and a Nona or Zia would be seated watching over the neighborhood. These immigrants took great pride in their homes and community and knew everyone on the block and provided an informal but effective “neighborhood watch.” When they were not sitting on the “stoop” they could be seen sweeping the sidewalks. One ritual that has faded from the experience of Italian Americans is Sunday Dinner with “Sunday Gravy”. It was a time when families sat and ate at a leisurely pace with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered in one home.

Gilda Promise Me: Cav. Dr. Gilda Battaglia Rorro Baldassari’s Memoir, published by ‘idea Press” is a three-dimensional journey of a universal woman. Rendezvous as her companion from the silver screen to academe; from an Italian mountain town to the Italian consulate; from Saint Joachim’s Church in Trenton to the Vatican; from treasured family memories to the world stage; laced with compassion, humor, and challenges overcome through deep spirituality. Eileen L. Poiani, Ph.D. Special Assistant to the President Professor of Mathematics, Saint Peter’s University Gilda, Promise Me takes you on a literary adventure to foreign places, to dramatic heights and to challenging paths undreamed of by most women of her generation. Albert Stark, Lawyer, Author, Activist Gilda makes her way around the world and experiences the ups and downs of a career in civil rights and public service. She brings you into a conversation where her present speaks to her past, whipping up stories that attract and sustain attention while documenting a life full of adventures few women of her time could have had. With a conscience shaped by her ancestors and a curiosity piqued by modern opportunities, she navigates a man’s world with courage and class.

Finding Your Italian Roots. the Complete Guide for Americans: Since “Finding Italian Roots” first appeared in 1993, an ever increasing number of Americans have become interested in tracing their Italian heritage. This thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded Second Edition provides up-to-date information about accessing and interpreting the vast universe of materials available for tracking Italian ancestors and recording their stories for future generations. Whether you are just beginning your investigations or have been doing genealogy for years, this guide will help maximize your investment of time, effort, and money.

Italian Genealogical Records: How to Use Italian Civil, Ecclesiastical & Other Records in Family History Research: Filled with practical advice that will help anyone obtain the information they seek through Italian records, Italian Genealogical Records is a comprehensive guide to the complexities and nuances of what could otherwise be a daunting task. In this book, the author discusses the history and development of Italian record keeping, providing reproductions of typical records and a complete translation and thorough explanation of each. Among the many other topics covered in this book are the significance of Italian surnames and the relevance of Italian noble families in the search for Italian ancestors.

Italian-American Folklore: Italian-Americans compose one of the largest ethnic groups in the United States. Though they have often been portrayed in fiction and film, many of these images are based on stereotypes not borne out among the immigrant and assimilated population. Italian-American Folklore draws its material directly from Americans of Italian descent in both urban and rural communities. The result is a book that, while strongly anchored in scholarship, is readable, entertaining, and illuminating. Chapters on folk speech, superstitions, folk medicine, games, and more tell of customs common to Italian-Americans. But the authors have also taken pains to stress the importance of regional ties, detailing how customs vary among the Italian provinces, and how those differences have traveled to Italian-American communities as well. This collection of Italian folktales will teach readers the importance of caring, resourcefulness and respect.

Burn a Black Candle: An Italian American Grimoire: The Italian folklore tradition is one of the most ancient unbroken chains of wisdom on earth. Discover the previously unwritten secrets of an Italian American family’s magical tradition passed down from generation to generation. This spellbook provides easy, step-by-step introductions to the basics of authentic Italian American magical practice.

Italian Folk Magic: Rue’s Kitchen Witchery: Italian Folk Magic contains magical and religious rituals, prayers, divination techniques, crafting, and blessings. The author also explores the evil eye, known as malocchio in Italian, explaining what it is, where it comes from, and, crucially, how to get rid of it. This book can help Italians regain their magical heritage, but Italian folk magic is a beautiful, powerful, and effective magical tradition that is accessible to anyone who wants to learn it.

Italian Roots, American Dreams: Family Traditions: One of the most cherished aspects of being Italian is the rich tapestry of traditions that fill our lives with joy, love, and togetherness. From the warmth of Sunday dinners to the festive spirit of Christmas Eve, there’s always a special tradition to look forward to—bringing family and friends together in a way that only Italian culture can.

Red Sauce: In Red Sauce, Ian MacAllen traces the evolution of traditional Italian-American cuisine, often referred to as “red sauce Italian,” from its origins in Italy to its transformation in America into a new, distinct cuisine. It is a fascinating social and culinary history exploring the integration of red sauce food into mainstream America alongside the blending of Italian immigrant otherness into a national American identity. The story follows the small parlor restaurants immigrants launched from their homes to large, popular destinations, and eventually to commodified fast food and casual dining restaurants. Some dishes like fettuccine Alfredo and spaghetti alla Caruso owe their success to celebrities, and Italian-American cuisine generally has benefited from a rich history in popular culture.

“Who Killa da Chief?”: The Lynching of 11 Italians in 1891 New Orleans: In 1891, a politically-incited lynch mob shot and lynched 11 Italians alleged to be mafia members. This was the largest mass lynching in American history. The events leading up to these murders make for compelling reading.

Italian American Writers on New Jersey: An Anthology of Poetry and Prose: This anthology gathers fiction, poetry, memoirs, oral histories, and journalistic pieces by some of the best writers to chronicle the Italian American experience in the Garden State. These works focus on ethnic identity and the distinctive culture of New Jersey, which has long been home to a large and vital Italian American community.

Blood of My Blood: The Dilemma of the Italian-Americans: Blood of My Blood eaves together the history, sociology and psychology of first, second, and third-generation Italian Americans. Its data is presented with scholarly precision; yet the author’s personalized style, which he peppers with autobiographical tidbits, makes it immensely readable. Unlike most books written by academics, this one compels the reader to feel as well as to know.

Italian History, Culture, and Heritage

Risorgimento: The History of Italy from Napoleon to Nation State: The Risorgimento is considered to be the defining moment in Italy’s history, the period where Italy became a nation and entered the modern world. Lucy Riall provides a provocative and pioneering examination of the historical debates surrounding this complex and controversial period, incorporating new research on national identity.

Terroni: Pino Aprile is a journalist and author of numerous books. Currently residing in the Castelli Romani region of Lazio, Italy, he worked for many years in Milan where he was deputy director of Gente and director of Oggi. For television, he worked with Sergio Zavoli on the investigative series Journey South and on weekly programs for RAI News1. His bestseller Terroni sold over 200,000 copies in Italy during its first year in print.

The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies: Data in hand, this volume offers an accurate analysis of the economic situation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from its establishment to its dissolution by the Savoyard army. A must-read for anyone who wants to deepen the historical context in which the economy of the Bourbon kingdom developed, and the numerous economic and industrial achievements it managed to achieve before its annexation to the Kingdom of Italy.