--- product_id: 175468231 title: "Story of my People: Essays and Social Criticism on Italy's Economy" price: "22695CFA" currency: XOF in_stock: true reviews_count: 10 url: https://www.desertcart.sn/products/175468231-story-of-my-people-essays-and-social-criticism-on-italys store_origin: SN region: Senegal --- # Story of my People: Essays and Social Criticism on Italy's Economy **Price:** 22695CFA **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Story of my People: Essays and Social Criticism on Italy's Economy - **How much does it cost?** 22695CFA with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sn](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/175468231-story-of-my-people-essays-and-social-criticism-on-italys) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Winner of the 2011 Strega Prize, this blend of essay, social criticism, and memoir is a striking portrait of the effects of globalization on Italy’s declining economy. Starting from his family’s textile factory in Prato, Tuscany, Edoardo Nesi examines the recent shifts in Italy’s manufacturing industry. Only one generation ago, Prato was a thriving industrial center that prided itself on craftsmanship and quality. But during the last decade, cheaply made goods—produced overseas or in Italy by poorly paid immigrants—saturated the market, making it impossible for Italian companies to keep up. In 2004 his family was forced to sell the textile factory. How this could have happened? Nesi asks, and what are the wider repercussions of losing businesses like his family’s, especially for Italian culture? Story of My People is a denouncement of big business, corrupt politicians, the arrogance of economists, and cheap manufacturing. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking insight into the financial crisis that’s striking Europe today. Review: Spectacular Gem - This spectacular gem of a book is one of the best nonfiction books I have read. As a writer who included a segment on Prato's textile machinery manufacturers in my book, Life with an Accent, I am in awe at the prose and the way Nesi handles serious political and current events that impact ordinary citizens. I plan to buy a dozen copies to give as gifts to all those who ask my husband to explain his business relationship with machine manufacturers in Tuscany and why the textile industry has changed in America as well as Italy. It is both an important story that must be told and a damn good read. Marilyn Gottlieb, author, Life with an Accent. Life with an Accent: One Immigrant's Quest to Belong Review: Sad but true - I enjoyed this even though it is the story of a business being destroyed and a country being harmed by 'free trade'. I have been to Italy and loved it. It's a shame to see this type of thing happening. It tells of a factory being bought out by Chinese companies and then they send in workers to run the machinery and sleep on the factory floor. They do this so they can still say the products are made in Italy. There was an article in the news this past week about a fire in a factory in Italy in which some workers died. They were some of twelve Chinese workers living in a room in the factory where they worked. Exactly the type of thing this book covers. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #4,377,589 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #309 in Business Infrastructure #446 in Fashion & Textile Business #453 in Historical Italy Biographies | | Customer Reviews | 3.9 out of 5 stars 35 Reviews | ## Images ![Story of my People: Essays and Social Criticism on Italy's Economy - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71UdhSLztqL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Language, Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spectacular Gem *by M***B on August 26, 2013* This spectacular gem of a book is one of the best nonfiction books I have read. As a writer who included a segment on Prato's textile machinery manufacturers in my book, Life with an Accent, I am in awe at the prose and the way Nesi handles serious political and current events that impact ordinary citizens. I plan to buy a dozen copies to give as gifts to all those who ask my husband to explain his business relationship with machine manufacturers in Tuscany and why the textile industry has changed in America as well as Italy. It is both an important story that must be told and a damn good read. Marilyn Gottlieb, author, Life with an Accent. Life with an Accent: One Immigrant's Quest to Belong ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sad but true *by C***L on December 9, 2013* I enjoyed this even though it is the story of a business being destroyed and a country being harmed by 'free trade'. I have been to Italy and loved it. It's a shame to see this type of thing happening. It tells of a factory being bought out by Chinese companies and then they send in workers to run the machinery and sleep on the factory floor. They do this so they can still say the products are made in Italy. There was an article in the news this past week about a fire in a factory in Italy in which some workers died. They were some of twelve Chinese workers living in a room in the factory where they worked. Exactly the type of thing this book covers. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Ruin of Prato---and a way of life *by R***T on June 26, 2013* I just read "Story of My People," by Edoardo Nesi. This is the first non-fiction title to ever win Italy's Strega prize. This short, smart, angry, and sad book documents the hollowing-out of Prato's centuries-old fabric industry in the face of globalization. (Another fabulous book, Iris Origo's "The Merchant of Prato," documents, among other things, Prato's fabric industry - in the 1300s!) Nesi's book is also a compelling intellectual autobiography, of a sort. He somehow managed to translate "Infinite Jest" into Italian, a thankless task. His writing reminds me of Roberto Saviano's "Gomorrah," with a shared sense of moral outrage. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.sn/products/175468231-story-of-my-people-essays-and-social-criticism-on-italys](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/175468231-story-of-my-people-essays-and-social-criticism-on-italys) --- *Product available on Desertcart Senegal* *Store origin: SN* *Last updated: 2026-10-01*