An American Professor in Italy is about an American professor of Italian descent who recounts his travels in Italy as a Fulbright Scholar, program evaluator for the European Common Market, tourist, and owner of an Italian timeshare. He reflects on Italian Culture and its stereotypes, and shares impressions of Italians in poignant and humorous anecdotes. Throughout the book he conveys a strong sense of pride and love for Italy and its Italians.

Dr. Tripodi discovers his Italian roots and describes a wide range of experiences in 52 vignettes and several poems concerned with topics such as these: his mother's house in Italy, the church his grandfather built, a conversation with Anna Maria Levi, sister of world-famous author Primo Levi, an Italian lover, the seductive city of Venice, the Jewish Ghetto, the University of Padova, Michelangelo in Rome and Florence, La Scala di Milano, and Juliet's balcony in Verona.