Almost broken from the relentless pressure to perform, an anxious child prodigy struggles to break free and find her true calling. All Maria Agnesi wants to do is stay in her room and read books. But her father has other plans for his “little genius.” Thrust into Milan’s elite academic […]
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Pietro Belluschi
The story of how a chance encounter with an Italian countess helped one man reach for the sky and bring us closer to the divine. Luck, talent, and hard work. Pietro Belluschi was blessed with all three—whether crossing paths with Ernest Hemingway or Ayn Rand, surviving World War I battlefields, […]
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“My experience in childhood and adolescence of the subordinate role played by the female in a society run entirely by men had convinced me that I was not cut out to be a wife.” —Rita Levi-Montalcini Prevailing over her father’s traditional values, Rita attended medical school and continued to study […]
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The Soul of a Child: A Novel Based on the Life of Maria Montessori places the brilliant educator and reformer in the context of her time. It examines the relationships, inner struggles, and inspirations of Maria Montessori, a woman with heart, empathy, and resilience. As a strong woman who lived through two world wars, […]
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Luca Pacioli stood beside the great Leonardo da Vinci and gazed at The Last Supper. He saw immediately that something was terribly wrong. An orphan from a small town in Italy, Pacioli came of age during the Renaissance seemingly destined for a life of struggle and obscurity. But Pacioli had […]
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More than a painter. Renowned artist Leonardo da Vinci was the greatest genius to ever conquer the worlds of art, science, and philosophy. Writing backwards to protect his knowledge, da Vinci epitomized creativity and eccentricity. Despite being plagued with frustrations and failures, da Vinci was spurred to create, invent, research, […]
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They said, “No!” She asked, “Why?” The answer was always the same: “Because you’re a woman.” She vowed to shatter each barrier they placed in her way. Inquisitive and precocious, Laura Bassi grew up on the Italian Peninsula in the 1700s, dreaming of studying science at the famed University of […]
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Born with an inquisitive imagination… Brilliant inventor, electrical engineer, and wise entrepreneur, Guglielmo Marconi was best known for inventing long-distance radio transmissions and the telegraph system. But his success wasn’t solely a product of his curious mind. Marconi attributed his prosperity to the people in his life who encouraged him […]
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From hero to heretic, would he live to see honor again? Enchanted by the labyrinth of stars above, Italian professor Galileo Galilei was determined to unearth the mysteries held within. It was 1609 and inspired by the newly invented “perspective glass,” which magnified objects on land up to three times […]
ContinueFilippo Brunelleschi
Sometimes your greatest accomplishment comes after your greatest disappointment. One of the founding fathers of the Renaissance, Filippo Brunelleschi was more than an Italian designer. Brunelleschi made his mark in architecture and construction. In his early years, sculpting was Brunelleschi’s passion. But after being passed over for a major commission, […]
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