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Acquired Tastes
 
 

Acquired Tastes [Paperback]

Peter Mayle
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

On assignment for GQ (where these tonic pieces first appeared), Mayle sallied forth to sample the little luxuries of the richest, the best that life is reputed to offer. With unabashed gusto he praises good cigars, grand hotels, Parisian bistros, second homes, antiques and fresh truffles. With swank savvy he reviews the advantages and drawbacks of servants, the pleasures and costs of mistresses. His excursions comprise an informal buyer's guide to single-malt whiskies, pure Mongolian cashmere, deluxe shirts and hand-made London shoes. For ballast, Mayle ( A Year in Provence ) presents curmudgeonly diatribes on lawyers, tipping, New Year's resolutions, writers' gripes, Christmas ("the universal expensive habit") and Manhattan's giddy spending opportunities. This delightful celebration of the little (and not-so-little) extravagances that make life worth living scintillates with wit, brio and trenchant observations on the best and the second-rate.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Having dissected the pleasures of life in the south of France in his popular A Year in Provence ( LJ 4/1/90) and Toujours Provences ( LJ 5/1/91), Mayle turns his witty and keen eye on the lifestyles and spending habits of the very, very, very rich. In this collection of pieces from GQ magazine, he describes the ritual of ordering a pair of $1300 hand-made shoes. "Everything is measured: altitude of instep, curve of heel, contours and slope of the metatarsal range. You might even be asked if you normally wear your toenails that length, because millimeters count." Mayle advises the reader on selecting the right stretch limousine. "White is vulgar, gray is a compromise banker's color, puce and magenta and antique crackle-finish gold are not for gentlemen." He explains to the neophyte the proper way to eat true caviar (forget the sour cream, anchovies, chopped onions and capers, and hard-boiled eggs). While there is no great depth here, Mayle's amusing observations provide die-hard fans of Dynasty and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous with a few hours of pure hedonistic escapism.
- Wilda Williams, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
THERE ARE TWO OR THREE discreet establishments in London that for generations have catered to one of man's lesser-know vices. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, even if you can't afford to do the things described!, April 27 2003
By 
Matthew J. McGuire (Orland Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Acquired Tastes (Paperback)
The first time I saw this book, I was at the local library and the title caught my eye. When I saw that Peter Mayle was the author, I expected that I would enjoy it. I was not disappointed.

Whether you are rich, know people who are, or just enjoy imagining what you'd do with great wealth, this book offers an array of amusing possibilities. Mr. Mayle's best attribute as a writer is his ability to be witty without sacrificing erudition, and this book delivers on both counts.

My favorite chapter, without question, is the one about buying a vacation home; first because I know a few people who own second homes, and second because it's probably the only thing mentioned in the book that I'll ever be able to afford. Mr. Mayle offers an intriguing suggestion of how to savor the pleasures of a second home without any of the potential pitfalls. I haven't yet decided if I'll buy a vacation house or choose the Mayle method, but in the meantime, this book has been a great gift for friends and relatives who have taken the plunge.

In short, the best reason to buy this book is that it's fun.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Tantalizing morsels of the good life, Feb 28 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Acquired Tastes (Paperback)
Peter Mayle surely knows how to live the good life ï¿ or at least describe it to us. There are many who doubtless would relish his expense account and itinerary, but all you have to do is pick up this charming book to be transported to your own bespoke tailor, private jet, luxury hotel or limousine.

Written in succinct chapters, "Acquired Tastes" tells you all you need to know about what sort of suit a gentleman wears (Savile Row), how to best light up a fine cigar (don't use a lighter), or, more intriguingly, how to keep a mistress (be prepared to spend a lot of cash). Even if most or all of these upper-crust pasttimes are beyond the reach of the average person, it's a delight to imagine a week in an exotic location with every whim taken care of. At least, you'll have some arcane knowledge tucked away for the occasional moment of snobbery.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Acquired Tastes, Feb 23 2003
By 
D. G. Welch "DW" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Acquired Tastes (Paperback)
I have read all of Peter Mayle's books, but this one teaches us how to appreciate the finer things in life. This guys knows how to enjoy life and he takes all of us along with him! I taste the food, I drink the wine and I live in that home in Provence! If you ever have the chance read all of his books they are worth all of your time and every cent you pay for them!
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