"I was intrigued from the first sentence clear through the book! It teaches so many life and leadership lessons—about family, relationships, learning, improving, and becoming better. I’ll read it again and again, and I’ll read it on the plane on every vacation I ever go on."
-Oliver DeMille, NY Times Best-Selling Author of A Thomas Jefferson Education, Freedom Shift, and 1913
“Extremely engaging and delightful—a well told story!”
-Chris Gross, CEO of Gabriel Media Group, Inc. and Co-Founder of Networking Times
"A beautiful story and pivotal idea for a book!"
-Richard Bliss Brooke, Author of Mach II, The Art of Vision and Self Motivation, and The Four Year Career
"As a native Italian I appreciate all the details on my country that bring to life the art, traditions, and values of my land! This is a book every traveler should read and bring along in order to experience the best of Italy."
-Dr. Gaetano (Guy) Sottile, President and Founder, Italy for Christ, Inc.
"Witty, funny, and, at points, downright hilarious, but mixed with profound truths shared in a way that makes one pause and ponder."
-Orrin Woodward, Winner of the 2011 IAB Top Leadership Award
"Chris Brady redefines the "American Dream" by using his humorous, fun-filled, family adventure in Italy to show how to revitalize your life in today's fast-paced world. He accurately describes it all—Italy's culture, beauty, history....It's a spellbinding lesson in learning how to live again, with real purpose. You can't stop turning the pages to hear first-hand how he navigates the harrowing roads of Italy, feasts like a king on traditional Tuscan food, and banters with the Italians like a native—with entertaining mishaps along the way. A guide to traveling, Italy, and life itself."
-Art Jonak, Founder of MastermindEvent.com
"I have never read a book that teaches so much while being this fun at the same time."
-Tim Marks, Best-Selling Author of Voyage of a Viking
“Elbert Hubbard once said, ‘No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one.’ In his book A Month of Italy: Rediscovering the Art of Vacation, Chris Brady dispels this theory by sharing his life-changing personal journey through Italy. With humor, he guides you through the trauma of driving a minibus through the small streets of Italy and fool-heartedly relying on a GPS... and how it ultimately allows him to discover all Italy has to offer. He shares the unbounded pleasure of vacationing with your family in a land of heart-warming history, incredible beauty, the most gracious people, and of course, the world's most delicious food and wine! After reading his entertaining work, you will be charting your own course to Italy.”
-Sharon Lechter, Co-Author of Outwitting the Devil, Three Feet from Gold, and Rich Dad Poor Dad
“This is the best work Chris Brady has written to date. I have read all of his books—Chris' genius in communicating vividly is evident—but never more so than in A Month of Italy. This is a book you will keep on your desk forever instead of on a bookshelf. Chris is a prodigious observer and his God-given gift of taking the seemingly banal, or sometimes even dry, moments of life and making a point through humor and insight is remarkable. I laughed. I contemplated. I learned a lot reading this book. I felt myself on Chris' shoulder making this journey through Italy. Sometimes I felt like the camera in his hand, and even part of his family through their Italian experience. If this is a vacation handbook, he has redefined the vacation experience. Whether you have been to Italy once, never, or many times, you will never look at Italy with the same eyes.”
-Venkat Varada, Silicon Valley Executive
“Vacationing truly is a lost art, and Brady poignantly and beautifully illustrates why it is so vital for driven leaders. A timeless treatise on ‘sharpening the saw,’ A Month of Italy is a book I will sip and savor, ponder and reflect on time and time again. Not only are Chris’s insights powerful and refreshing, but his vivid and witty writing is simply a pleasure to read. Reading this book is a charming vacation itself, and it will inspire you to vacation deliberately, effectively, and joyfully.”
-Stephen Palmer, New York Times Best-Selling Author of Uncommon Sense: A Common Citizen’s Guide to Rebuilding America
“In our hectic lives, we are rarely 100 percent present in any situation. Chris Brady shows that with proper play time, our work time is so much more effective. He has freed my spirit!”
-Jason Ashley, Country Singer/Songwriter (Texas Songwriter of the Year 2008)
“Italy is unique. Moreover, it is a country where the traveler can enjoy the most various experiences. Chris Brady’s book has the ability, astonishing even for an Italian, to convey to the reader that variety, that richness of feelings, sights, perfumes, tastes . . . and people.”
-Senator Lucio Malan, Senior Secretary of the Presidency of the Italian Senate
"Chris Brady chronicles his travels with such energy, wit and charm that readers will fall under Italy’s spell right along with the author and his young family. Brady brings a fresh and perceptive eye to the Italian landscape, serving up plenty of insight and offbeat wisdom along with descriptions of madcap adventures, mouthwatering meals and the kindness of strangers. A Month of Italy is a treat for veteran globetrotters and armchair travelers alike."
-Karen McCann, Author of Dancing in the Fountain: How to Enjoy Living Abroad
"A Month of Italy : Rediscover the Art of Vacation is a story of locational mishaps, family detours, and exceptional surprises and delivers a hilarious account of the beautiful happenstances of Italian travel. Immediately, I associated the spontaneity of the story with the beloved Chevy Chase film, National Lampoon’s Family Vacation. Matching the heartfelt instincts of ‘Daddy time’ with the childlike wonder of countless new locations and experiences, Chris Brady allows the reader to fully experience the allure of this magnificent country while showing the reality of life to a reader in a foreign country." Read more
-Elizabeth Condelli, Elizabeth - Promoting Italian Travel, escape-artists.com
Chris’ Brady’s book “A Month of Italy, Rediscovering The Art of Vacation” is a delightful and engaging read with its release timed perfectly to be included in your reading list for this summer. Brady has a gift of sharing his family’s radical vacation in Italy in a witty manner with some accounts that are just outright hilarious.
With a title that includes the words “Rediscovering The Art of Vacation”, I was eager to dive in and secondly, as it is set in Italy, it’s interesting to see how visitors view the country. Living here, I could easily relate to the experiences encountered by the Bradys’ and while they are some generalizations, they are actually quite accurate. One that stood out for me is “Line Straddling” and to find out what that’s all about, you’ll have to pick up the book. Read more
-Diana Simon, http://www.browsingrome.com
Many a soul has dreamed of traveling the world, going on fascinating adventures, meeting new and interesting people, discovering and admiring treasures of art, history, and architecture, marveling at the many varied landscapes and scenes of nature that can take one’s breath away, relishing the peace and tranquility of those scenes, and experiencing life from the perspective of a people and culture uniquely different from one’s own. But few ever take action to make those dreams come true. Too many let life get in the way of truly living and end up stuffing their wanderlust somewhere deep down inside in the realm of Someday, which they know may never come. The distractions of life can cause a person to have such a myopic focus and limited vision that he may wonder if anything outside of work and the normal routine of life even exists anymore and how he could possibly find the time, energy, and money to take advantage of it if it does! Read more
-Deborah Brady, (no relation to Chris), one of the book’s Final Editors
I've always enjoyed Chris Brady's leadership blog, his previous books, and the many times I've seen him teach leadership/success/life principles...able to glean helpful nuggets of info that I could apply to my various roles and responsibilities. A huge piece of Brady's appeal as a speaker is his ability to weave a story...being descriptive, emotive and funny. This genre of writing threw the doors open for the author to employ all of these story-telling skills. I opened the book up as my family and I traveled to northern Michigan to begin a family vacation with no agenda...and I found that it was the perfect mental preparation to appreciate the people I was with, the places we went and the memories we made. The "take-alongs and take-aways" that Brady shares at the end of each chapter are helpful tips that can be applied whether playing Legos with your kids, enjoying an afternoon picnic at the park or a month in Italy. It's really about being present wherever you are, employing all of your senses and focusing on what is REALLY important in the moment.
-Tracey Avereyn, Social Networking Consultant
A masterpiece for feeding your subconscious mind. Chris Brady brings you with his family as they explore and eventually melt into Italy's countryside. The sights, sounds and smells that has made Italy famous is brought to your living room and told in a way that would make an Itialian immigrant want to go back home.
-Jamie Shaw,
“A Month of Italy” authored by Chris Brady, is one of the most entertaining books that I have ever read! I started reading it on a plane last week and the person sitting next to me kept on looking at me because I was laughing out loud, seriously!! I returned from my trip and told my wife Laura about it. She started reading it right away and she was laughing out loud! I have never seen this happen. I also learned so much from this great read! My family is now planning another trip to Italy.
-Joe Darkangelo, Business Owner
Chris,
Your book, "A Month of Italy" was definitely fascinating. The irony of the total enjoyment I experienced reading this book is that initially, I did not think I would enjoy it. Nevertheless, I plunged into the book thinking I would get through a chapter or two. To my pleasant surprise, I kept reading chapter after chapter and always looked forward to the next day of reading. Chris' style of writing is very captivating and humorous. The way it is presented makes one feel that he is actually part of the adventure. A Month of Italy is like a great movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Hey, that's a thought!! I think this book can be a great movie for the movie watcher to tour Italy through the eyes of Chris Brady and the Brady family.
-Turhan Berne, Owner, One Love Tennis, LLC
A couple of months ago, I was contacted by author Chris Brady’s publiscist. They were starting a publicity campaign for Chris’s new book A Month of Italy: Rediscovering the Art of Vacation and they wanted to buy ad space on Vagobond. I asked the publicist, Doug, if he would send me over a copy of the book so I could make sure it was something I could feel good about recommending. I also offered to do a review on the condition that it be honest and unbiased. Read more...
-Vago Damitio, Editor in Chief of Vagobond.com, CEO of Vagobond Travel Media
Just finishing up "A Month in Italy". The best part, outside of the fantastic descriptions and life lessons, is wondering what the next book from Chris will be. I cant think of a topic I wouldnt want to read!
-Pete Nicolini,
Outstanding fun book to read. In fact, I just promoted the book to a friend today who is planning her trip to Italy. Told her that this book of Chris Brady's is a must read and advised her to take a copy with her!
-Judy Serafano, Business Owner
I loved the book. I'm having my wife read it now. It has truly made me realize that I need to sharpen my saw. I always feel with my finances (where vacations are concerned) that I’m Noah preparing for a flood, when all my family wants is a boat ride. I think we’ll have to start planning soon. I hear Italy is nice.
One thing that I had learned from you that changed my perspective was the siesta. I was on tour in Bosnia early into my military career and I was living with an Italian Carabinari. He was a nice enough gent but I kept thinking that he was the laziest guy on the planet. Every time I came by the room during the day he was asleep. One time that sealed his fate in that category for me was when I came back to the room to get ready to go for a run. He was fast asleep (as per usual) but his phone went off. “Pronto….something in Italian….” He hangs up, snuggles back into his pillow and say “I work so hard.” I almost died laughing. Thanks for the added perspective, he’s not lazy, just Italian. I can only imagine what he was thinking about us.
-John Hayward,
The book caught my eye while browsing through a resale shop. My Son & Daughter-In-law will soon be living there! The book was funny, informative, and insightful! I will be sharing it with the kids! Can't stop reading it! REALLY want to visit Italy now!!!
-Carol Carr,
I have visited Italy several times, and have read so many travel books on Italy, but this by far is the best! What an easy and delightful read, Chris Brady has a wonderful sense of humor, and remembering and reliving so many of the experiences that I had in Italy through the authors eyes , I won't settle for just 12 days next time! I'm saving up for a whole month of Italy next time! Thank you Mr. Brady, for taking the time to write your memoirs!
-Roselyn Tesauro,
Really enjoyed the book and helped me to prepare for the nuances of travel within Italy. From personal experience, Italy is even more beautiful than the story describes!
Italy is a must
-Sandi Bain,
What a well written, humorous, engaging book. I bought the book because my wife and I had been to Italy several times, and I wanted to see if there was something that we might be missing. I must say, from first page to last, I was drawn back to our many days spent getting lost in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I found myself laughing as I remembered experiences so similar to that of Chris and his family. Also longing to be back with friends, and in those surroundings that make me feel so comfortable but alive. The truths that Chris relates about the friendliness of Italians, and their love for Americans is evident in our many friends, and our many trips back for weddings, birthdays, and just because we miss them! Do not misunderstand though, Italians love their country,and would not trade with us for anything! This book was a joy to read, and is a wonderful, light, conceptual guide about how to really enjoy Italia! Enjoy, Ciao!
-Jeff, Masters