Steppenwolf Male. Milano, Italy

The rationale on which the book is based is that emotions can be applied and actually drive the life of nations as well as human beings. I do agree with this idea (let me say that I've always thought of Berlusconi as a sort of necessary step in the evolution process of the Italian psyche) and think it is helpful to understand the big picture of the current geo-political situationa and the possible future scenarios. Mr Moisi - whom I had the pleasure to listen to at a conference a couple of years ago - does acknowledge that this approach can be seen heretical in geopolitics, dominated by economics and material self interest, but - with an easy writing - does demonstrates that it makes sense to enlarge the scope of the analysis, as Barack Obama's election - inter alia - should clearly show.

read it on the beachside, not exactly in the right mood for this very touching (and sad) atypical science fiction novel.
The pervasive sadness is related to the growing sense of transience and loneliness that the characters realize along the story. It is amazing (rare, I woud say) to read how the author is able to so closely describe the thoughts and feelings of an adolescent girl.