The collection "From the Outskirts of the Empire" presents essays published in various newspapers and magazines from 1973 to 1976, in which the author analyzes the semiology of everyday life and acts as an attentive and ironic critic of the morals and language of the media. Eco talks about what is happening on the periphery of the American empire, namely in the countries of the Mediterranean region, exploring advertising slogans, conversations of passengers on the train, the message of Pope Paul VI on contraception, Senator Fanfani's attacks on pornography.