Navigating Paradise is a collection of short stories and illustrations about places and people that Mark Hinshaw and his wife Savina have known since they moved to Italy.

As in the book The Innocent Abroad by Mark Twain, these stories are told with humor: it is the journey of an American couple who, literally, stumbles into Italian culture, customs and convoluted bureaucratic procedures. Unlike other books that tell the story of the Bel Paese, here there is less romanticism in describing it.

The author preferred to focus the lens on everyday life, with its comedies and tragedies. In particular, he wanted to highlight the kindness and generosity of many Italians who helped them in their choice to live in Italy.