In 2008 Gherardo Colombo published the book Sulle regole (On Rules) in which he explains why it is so important for Italian society to repair its fractured relationship with rules and rulefollowing. The book quickly grew to become a bestseller having, surprisingly, a very persuasive impact among younger generations. This formed the basis of his many public lectures and debates. These were not only directed at school-aged children and young (and also not so young) adults. Colombo became more and more convinced that constitutional citizenship must be cultivated from a very young age. So together with Anna Sarfatti, a specialist in child education, he published in 2009, one year after Sulle regole, a short children's book which explained in a pedagogically expert, elegant way the Italian Constitution, its letter and spirit, to elementary school children. The practical outcome of this book has been to foster in many young people more personal autonomy and greater societal engagement.

Sulle regole formulates the grounding principles of Colombo's further work. It is an impressive book which immediately draws the reader into conversation. That is the case because it draws its inspiration from three important perspectives which frame at the same time the particular form of professional self-consciousness, one which characterises the writer himself. This book is written by an author who is able to translate his practical experience as a long-serving magistrate during one of the most turbulent periods in recent Italian history into profound, social and philosophical reflections on that practice, and ultimately to connect very personal choices to it.

Tackling Systemic Corruption: A Seemingly Impossible Task

In March 1981, the Milan investigating magistrate Gherardo Colombo was tasked with the murder investigation of the lawyer Giorgio Ambrosoli. The trail pointed all too quickly to the shady practices of the banker Michele Sindona, already well-known to the police. In a very short time Sindona had positioned himself as one of the central figures of Italian high finance. This had not occurred, however, without a list of dubious contacts and ties to the mafia. Sindona was in regular contact with mafia bosses, and the mid 1950s saw him start his long-term and close involvement with the American mafia via the equally unsavoury Joe Adonis.