Rating: 
Summary: More Entertaining than Informative
Review: Although there is wealth of observation on the workings of the Vatican beaurocracy, it is mostly superficial. Although there is considerable amount of historical information, it is mostly trivial. Still, Hutchinson is an engaging and entertaining writer: When In Rome is fun to read and may change the way you think about the Holy City. Hutchinson is Catholic, but this is a no-holds-barred depiction with a very American enjoyment of the paradoxes of the Vatican.
Rating: 
Summary: Are all the editors dead?
Review: Are all the editors dead? If you can get past the typos, try'n figure out the goofus history, e.g., Elizabeth I whacked her own sister? I suspect, as any 5th grader knows, he meant Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. Just plain sloppy and a shame, too. This work could have been both fun and accurate.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, informative and more importantly funny!
Review: Being a Catholic, but decidedly out of practice and an Italophile this book promised much. I was not to be disappointed. This book combines the travel guide and the history book. Some of the stories about the Popes were, to say the least, revealing! I think the book is quite mischevious in it's representation of the Holy See, but never disrespectful. My impressions prior to reading this book were that the Vatican was a dry humourless place, while to some extent this does prove to be the case, with the exception of some wonderful characters , the book never is. Entertaining, informative and more importantly very funny now who would have thought that about a book on life in the Vatican City.
Rating:
Summary: I really enjoyed this book.
Review: For starters, it's hilarious. I laughed out loud many times. And while the author is irreverent, he's never offensive. He's a loyal Catholic who's not afraid to air out some dirty, and usually hilarious, laundry. The book is also fascinating. I often didn't want to put it down or was sorry to see a chapter end. And most of the chapters left me wanting to learn more. I especially liked his amazing account of the discovery, loss, and rediscovery of the bones of St. Peter. And his historical account of the outrageous shenanigans of some past popes was both entertaining and amusing. I also found myself wanting to visit all the places the author visited - and even to meet some of the fascinating characters he came across. If you like to laugh and you're at all interested in the secrets of the Vatican, you'll love this book, even if you're not Catholic and never plan to visit Italy.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic, very funny book!
Review: Have you ever wondered just what goes on "behind the scenes" in Vatican City? Well, wonder no longer! When in Rome reveals many innermost and often-hidden secrets buried deep in the depths of the Vatican's cellars. It's an absolutely superb book. The few negative reviewers missed the humor... and concentrated on a few insignificant details. Most of them appear to be ultra-conservative Catholics who won't tolerate the least bit of criticism (even when meant in fun) by the author. In fact, the author tells his first-hand investigative tale with passion, insight and a great deal of wit -- so much so that he had me bursting into laughter chapter after chapter. Hutchinson pulls no punches and is one of the few honest writers about the Vatican to go directly into the bowels of this treasured city. He plainly loves and admires the Vatican, Italy and even the Italian language -- which he said time and again he wished he knew better. When in Rome is truly a great read to be enjoyed by people of all faiths. It's such a light-hearted, yet fascinating book. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Observations of a (temporary) Roman
Review: Have you ever wondered just what goes on "behind the scenes" in Vatican City? Well, wonder no longer! When in Rome reveals many innermost and often-hidden secrets buried deep in the depths of the Vatican's cellars. It's an absolutely superb book. The few negative reviewers missed the humor... and concentrated on a few insignificant details. Most of them appear to be ultra-conservative Catholics who won't tolerate the least bit of criticism (even when meant in fun) by the author. In fact, the author tells his first-hand investigative tale with passion, insight and a great deal of wit -- so much so that he had me bursting into laughter chapter after chapter. Hutchinson pulls no punches and is one of the few honest writers about the Vatican to go directly into the bowels of this treasured city. He plainly loves and admires the Vatican, Italy and even the Italian language -- which he said time and again he wished he knew better. When in Rome is truly a great read to be enjoyed by people of all faiths. It's such a light-hearted, yet fascinating book. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic, very funny book!
Review: Have you ever wondered just what goes on "behind the scenes" in Vatican City? Well, wonder no longer! When in Rome reveals many innermost and often-hidden secrets buried deep in the depths of the Vatican's cellars. It's an absolutely superb book. The few negative reviewers missed the humor... and concentrated on a few insignificant details. Most of them appear to be ultra-conservative Catholics who won't tolerate the least bit of criticism (even when meant in fun) by the author. In fact, the author tells his first-hand investigative tale with passion, insight and a great deal of wit -- so much so that he had me bursting into laughter chapter after chapter. Hutchinson pulls no punches and is one of the few honest writers about the Vatican to go directly into the bowels of this treasured city. He plainly loves and admires the Vatican, Italy and even the Italian language -- which he said time and again he wished he knew better. When in Rome is truly a great read to be enjoyed by people of all faiths. It's such a light-hearted, yet fascinating book. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Of the many good books on the Vatican, this is not one.
Review: Here's what you need to know when deciding whether to buy this book: 1. The author proudly proclaims his own ignorance and unpreparedness as a supposed asset in writing about the "real" Vatican. 2. He claims as his mentor -- as the person responsible for his views of and attitudes about Rome and the Vatican -- his translator, who is the spoiled, partially Americanized, previously unemployed and unemployable, and perpetually angry, twenty-six year old son of Italian diplomats. 3. He dismisses the "vaticanisti," local and foreign long term resident experts on Rome, because they follow substantive issues and don't spend their time shmoozing with the Vatican sweepers and drinking with the Vatican guards. 4. He spends a great deal of the readers' time complaining about the fact that the Vatican bureaucracy, which he discovers is much smaller than he suspected, won't quit their day jobs to do his research for him, i.e., won't spend their time gossiping with him as the sweepers and off duty guards will. 5. He spends even more time comparing himself favorably with P.J.O'Rourke, Mark Twain, and the centuries-long list of his travel-writing predecessors, with writers with real talent. 6. His sources seem to be other malcontents with whom he commiserated in various pubs in Rome. The Italians and Vatican insiders smelled this guy coming from a mile away and stonewalled him. 7. He assumes, because Italian women don't smile at him and Italians in general won't waste their time speaking English with him, that Italian women never smile and that Italians can't speak English. (Both of these assumptions are patently absurd.) 8. He thinks that Madagascar is off the southern tip of Africa. If this gonzo jouralist is the person you want as your guide to the Vatican, spend you money and buy this book. Otherwise, type "Vatican" in the keyword search box on the left side of the screen and scan the list for good books on the subject. In the interests of full disclosure, you should know that I am a former US diplomat (neither Italian nor a writer or member of the press) with spoiled but not angry kids of my own, I am living temporarily in Rome, I find the Italians delightful and thoroughly accessable, and, unlike the swarms of American writers who aspire to the title, I know that "gonzo" is an Italian word that means ignorant, foolish, and loutish.
Rating:
Summary: Served Its Purpose
Review: Hutchinson served his purpose. He provided just enough detail about the stories he picked to keep the lay reader interested, and varied his stories widely enough to provide a wide angle portrait of the Vatican. A humorous and thoughtful look at the place and the institution which has, for better or worse, been the very center of Catholicism and the Catholic conciousness for 2,000 years.
Rating:
Summary: Served Its Purpose
Review: Hutchinson served his purpose. He provided just enough detail about the stories he picked to keep the lay reader interested, and varied his stories widely enough to provide a wide angle portrait of the Vatican. A humorous and thoughtful look at the place and the institution which has, for better or worse, been the very center of Catholicism and the Catholic conciousness for 2,000 years.
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