A delightful new book seeks to dispel myths about Southern Italians in a humorous, yet informative manner. “Mezzogiorno Mistaken: The Top 10 Myths About Southern Italians” is a new book by author John De Luca, which takes on the most common stereotypes and misconceptions about Italians and Italy, with a focus on the South.

The book covers everything from the ways Italians are portrayed in the media and the myth of pervasive criminality (Chapter 5) to the reasons why Columbus has been so roundly attacked lately (Chapter 4). Backed by the latest DNA evidence, it dispels the notion that Southern Italians have large amounts of exotic blood (Chapters 2-3) and the myths that common Italian products, like pasta, have exotic origins (Chapter 6).

It discusses the fascinating yet true etymology of the slur, “Wop” (Chapter 7), and ends with a uplifting and unifying message about Italy’s long history (Chapter 10). All chapters were copiously researched and are backed by historical data, yet they are written in a manner to provoke thought and amuse.

The ancestors of the author, John De Luca, originally migrated from Mezzogiorno (the name for Southern Italy), to the East Coast. Aside from frequent stays in Italy, De Luca currently calls the West Coast his home, along with his wife and children. He studied history, speaks Italian and knows Latin – but jokes that neither helped him much when he got his doctorate.

“This book dispels the many myths that pop culture perpetuates about the Italian people,” De Luca said. “It’s designed to be as engaging and readable as possible, so that any time you encounter a stereotype, you can refer to the book.” “Mezzogiorno Mistaken” currently has all “five-star” reviews on Google books. It is available exclusively on Amazon.com.