How To Do It In the Renaissance

Lately, I have been re-reading Rudolph M. Bell's How To Do It, Guides to Good Living for Renaissance Italians -- a terrific social history of how Italians viewed their lives from the 15th to the 17th century. Italians were fairly literate then (the publishing industry was booming). There was a proliferation of self-help and advice manuals for both men and women to guide one through the early years of marriage (and how to manage one for the long haul), along with advice on conception (including the promising moments and positions for guaranteeing the sex of the child), to healthy living, and how to live with your teenager.

What is impressive is that our anxieties, desires, and hopes for ourselves and our families haven't changed much over the last six hundred years. Much of the advice is outrageous (based on a peculiar understanding of the human body, sexuality, and procreation.) But some of it holds remarkably firm: temperate living, a healthy diet, tenderness and respect in marital relations, and attentiveness to your teen's extra-curricular activities still sound like solid advice.

Bell's academic style is very accessible -- the chapters are well organized, clearly written, full of fascinating references, and a good dose of Bell's dry wit. Even though I am returning to the book for a second time, I am enjoying it as much as the first time...and probably taking as many notes!