Book excerpt: If you are looking for a quick nuts-and-bolts overview, turn to Schaum's Easy Outlines! Schaum's Easy Outline of Italian is a pared-down, simplified, and tightly focused review of the topic. With an emphasis on clarity and brevity, it features a streamlined and updated format and the absolute essence of the subject, presented in a concise and readily understandable form. Graphic elements such as sidebars, reader-alert icons, and boxed highlights stress selected points from the text, illuminate keys to learning, and give you quick pointers to the essentials. New online diagnostic test provides an appealing, interactive way to assess your test-readiness and identify areas requiring more study.