La Dolce Vita University LDVU is the perfect sampler for anyone curious about or already in amore with Italy and its remarkably rich cultural gifts, both past and present. True to its lighthearted name, La Dolce Vita U is all about pleasurable learning, or what we prefer to call edu-tainment. Its dozens of entertaining yet authoritative mini-essays on a wide assortment of intriguing topics encourage random dipping at the reader's pleasure. Even the most erudite Italophile will discover fun new facts and fascinating new insights in the pages of La Dolce Vita U. p Mini-essays treat specific topics in one or more of the following subject areas the Italian character the visual arts art, artists, architects the performing arts music, theater, cinema history and antiquity language and literature cuisine and agriculture wine and spirits traditions and festivals style and applied arts unique places. In a wink and nod to the book's academic identity, the 165 mini-essays are arranged alphabetica