As a community, Italian Americans are just beginning to understand the value of the written word.  For years publishers have been saying that the Italian American is not the target audience for most books--they don't buy books because they don't read.  However, there is something happening to Italian/American culture that is changing this stereotypic notion. This "something" emerges as Italian Americans transfer dependence on oral tradition to one of a written tradition.
 
I am often approached by people who have asked me to write their life-stories.  Why, all of a sudden, do these Italian/Americans begin searching for writers?  I believe this is caused by the disintegration of the traditional Italian/American community and the dissemination of Italian individuals into American society.  The life stories of our ancestors were part of the common knowledge of those who lived communal lives.