While an enormous amount of information is packed into these pages, the end result is surprisingly colorless, almost synthetic. One knows the facts; but one loses the pulsing color, vitality, provocative quality that is Italy. The historical and geo-graphical aspects have been whittled down to bare essentials. One learns something of the new factors operating to bring a new Italy into being. One is told of the terraced farms, the modern orchards and grain fields and vineyards of the river valleys. But somehow one does not see the sun-drenched, vibrantly green hills and vineyards, and the families at work. One learns of the new industries in Italy's towns and cities; but one gets only bare bone pictures of the streets and piazzas and parks, while emphasis is put on the tenements and slums. The sporting events are here, and the high holidays and holy days, the schools, and the opera houses and the galleries. But there seems more space given to Vatican City than to the ancient ruins shouldering the modern Rome built around them. The other cities Florence, Milan, Venice- are snapshots only. Enough, perhaps, to titivate the appetite if the appetite was already there. But somehow not enough to create the drive that makes Italy a goal.