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The Paris of Appalachia: Pittsburgh in the Twenty-First Century

3.81  ·  Rating details ·  167 ratings  ·  30 reviews
This isn't so much a history of Pittsburgh as it is a biography. Sometimes we're so afraid of what others think, we're afraid to declare who we are. This city is not midwestern. It's not East Coast. It's just Pittsburgh, and there's no place like it. That's both its blessing and its curse. ...more
Paperback, 152 pages
Published September 4th 2009 by Carnegie Mellon University Press (first published 2009)
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Paul Haspel
Dec 14, 2012 rated it really liked it
Pittsburgh is a fascinating city -- a culturally rich metropolis set amid the steep hills of a region often associated with industrial blight, poverty, and hard times. No doubt it is for that reason that Brian O'Neill calls this portrait of the city The Paris of Appalachia. Pittsburgh is a beautiful, pleasant, eminently walkable city, filled with delightful restaurants and museums and music clubs; the "Paris" reference, in that regard, is not far off. At the same time, it is undeniable that Pitt ...more
Matt
Jan 02, 2010 rated it really liked it
O'Neill is a very good newspaper columnist, and this book reads like it. The unifying theme is his perspective on the city, but beyond this unifying theme it reads like a whole lot of nice snapshots cobbled together. Some snapshots depict the charm and others depict the less desirable aspects. But he's sharp and he definitely understands the place, good and bad. It's an easy read, funny where he wants to be, and thoughtful about the historical and political issues facing the city and region.

In f
...more
Michelle
Mar 18, 2011 rated it liked it
I would not necessarily recommend this book to anyone who has not lived or spent a lot of time in Pittsburgh, but it is an interesting study of the city both from a cultural and from an urban development perspective. Definitely made my heart grow fonder for the old 'Burgh. ...more
Kathryn Bashaar
Jan 10, 2010 rated it really liked it
I thought this book was actually going to make the point that Pittsburgh has things in common with Paris (other than city steps). Oh, you silly yinzer. The title is more sarcastic: Pittsburgh's the closest thing to Paris you're going to find in Appalachia, which ain't sayin' much. Actually the book is kind of a love letter to Pittsburgh, but from a frustrated lover who sees his beloved ruining her life. And it was interesting to learn why we ended up with so many little municipalities in Alleghe ...more
Bill
Jan 22, 2011 rated it really liked it
Pittsburgh at its finest...
Lisa
Jan 08, 2011 rated it really liked it
He hit the nail on the head. We love the city, but it drives us crazy.
Ryan
Nov 05, 2017 rated it it was amazing
This is a wonderful book about Pittsburgh, in particular, the Northside. O'Neill, adds a human touch to his exploration of the history, culture, present, and policy of the Pittsburgh region. He also has great columns in the Post Gazette that are very similar to his writing style in this book. Note, some chapters do read like he pulled them from his columns at PG. But he adds a lot more than just reprinting his PG columns. ...more
Brooke G
Aug 18, 2019 rated it liked it
Shelves: non-fiction
An interesting ode to a city I just moved away from.
Amber
Sep 18, 2020 rated it it was amazing
Made me homesick for the Yinzerhood.
Andy Greenhow
Sep 12, 2017 rated it liked it
In the universe of books about cities by the journalists who cover them, this is a habitable planet, but not a star.
Mike
Mar 15, 2011 rated it really liked it
The author, a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist, obviously loves Pittsburgh. This smallish book can be approached in several ways: 1. as a Pittsburgher, 2. as a Pennsylvania taxpayer, and 3. as a data source. I have lived in Pittsburgh for 34 years and enjoyed his meanderings, warts and all as noted in another review, about Pittsburgh. His political asides relating to the most expensive state legislature, Pennsylvania, in the USA should raise a taxpayer's ire. The author's comparison of Pittsbur ...more
Sue
May 10, 2010 rated it really liked it
Recommended to Sue by: Matt
Brian O’Neill has written a love letter to his adopted city. He’s right, of course. Pittsburgh is manageable, walkable, green, and full of things to do. The hills, the rivers, the bridges, the sports. What’s not to like?

Love isn’t blind, however, and O’Neill notices a few warts. The distinctly 21st-century challenges for Pittsburgh might not be so different from many other political entities, especially those which have lost whole industries and struggled to revive themselves. In other words, th
...more
Miss Michael
Jul 14, 2010 rated it really liked it
Recommended to Miss Michael by: Matt Ruben
I don't generally read non-fiction, but sometimes I forget that a non-fiction book can still be a narrative. This one tells the story of Pittsburgh, and so my boyfriend gifted me with it as we planned for a trip to his hometown.

O'Neill reveals late in the book that he was originally thinking of calling the book "I Love Pittsburgh Like a Brother (and My Brother Drives Me Nuts)." This title would have been far more telling of the books content. While much of it does make the reader (or at least, t
...more
Nancy
This is my current favorite book! I've always enjoyed Brian O'Neill's columns in the Post-Gazette, but I was not an avid follower. However, reading this book may make me one! The book is interspersed with personal stories and facts and statistics. It is extrememly readable and there is much I could personally relate to.

I have now bought 5 copies of this book; one to keep and four that I have given or will give as gifts. Hint: If ordered throught the PG website, one can get a signed copy.

January
...more
Barb
Jul 22, 2010 rated it really liked it
I really enjoyed this book; it was interesting to learn about how Pittsburgh evolved and the changes that have occurred since the Civil war. I want to visit some of the neighborhoods that Brian O'Neill talks about. I will also look at Pittsburgh in a different light since reading this book; mostly, I will be more aware of how important it is to be grateful for all of the great things this city has to offer, such as its emphasis on the arts, its beautiful architecture and picturesque downtown alo ...more
Louise Silk
Oct 06, 2013 rated it liked it
Shelves: non-fiction
This book reads like a long editorial about the value of Pittsburgh particularly the North Side where the author lives with his family. But I'm from the east end and live on the South Side so he was praising the wrong territory for me.

Even though the book isn't that old- 2009, I couldn't help be think that it is already outdated- Pittsburgh is still very much in flux and this book didn't seem to allow for continued growth.

...more
Jenn
Feb 02, 2011 rated it liked it
Shelves: 2011
I really wanted to like this book, and in the beginning, I did. It filled in little bits of information, things I didn't know about places in the city I've never been. By the middle of the book, though, I kept thinking "OK, fine, I get it, you can walk there." Meanwhile, every time I try to cross a Pittsburgh street on foot, I feel like I'm playing Frogger.

This book was surprisingly full of typographical errors, which someone very helpfully marked in pencil in the library's book.
...more
Amy
Dec 27, 2013 rated it liked it
Shelves: 2013-finished
Starts off meandering, with the first two thirds mainly thin column-type rumination (not surprising, as the author is a longtime Post-Gazette columnist) on how great it is to go to local bars and get snow cones at the local park in the summer. The last third is a really interesting look at some of Pittsburgh's structural problems. That should have been the bulk of the book, with the column-type musings used at sparing intervals. ...more
Christine Cato
Feb 01, 2011 rated it it was amazing
I don't remember who told me to read this but it's excellent so far!....

Loved it. Ok- to be honest- I loved the love letter parts more than the what's wrong parts- but he did a wonder job of walking through the statistics while keeping it interesting. Going to research that foot bridge more- thats some cool stuff.
...more
B.
Jul 11, 2013 rated it liked it
Shelves: owned, pdf
The author knows Pittsburgh very well and as a reporter has spent considerable time thinking about the city. Covers the good and bad of Pittsburgh much of which would apply equally well other other rust belt cities like Buffalo in particular.
Jehnie
Mar 23, 2014 rated it liked it
Shelves: academic
A fun, light read, written by a local journalist, that gives a good introduction to the Pittsburgh of today. For what it's worth, I have this labeled as academic not because of the writing style or type of book, but because it will likely get used in a classroom. ...more
Paula Kelly
Feb 02, 2016 rated it it was amazing
I love Brian O'Neill, he so 'gets' Pittsburgh...and he loves libraries! ...more
Eric
Interesting enough collection of essays here. I love the local element, as it is about Pittsburgh. Worth looking at, for sure.
Michael Lewyn
Dec 13, 2015 rated it really liked it
Generally good- could use more comparison to other Rust Belt cities. Pittsburgh is stronger than Cleveland or St. Louis- how come?
Erin
Apr 17, 2014 rated it really liked it
I only went to college in Pittsburgh, never lived there permanently, but reading this book was like a good visit. I always enjoy going back to the Burgh.
Henry Le Nav
Dec 01, 2010 rated it it was amazing
A thought provoking book written by a gentleman who genuinely loves his adopted town. Great explanation on the city and county structure of local governments. Enjoyable read as well.
Alicia
Jan 18, 2010 rated it really liked it
This is a fun read for a Pittsburgher. I enjoyed learning about all of the little ethnic neighborhoods and the history and traditions of the people who live in them.
Catherine
Nov 17, 2014 rated it really liked it
A set of well-written essays about the author's hometown. ...more
Iaconea
Jan 04, 2010 rated it really liked it
Funny and frustrating...well worth reading if you love (or even like) the Burgh! O'Neill nails the city - foibles and all! ...more
Max Garber
rated it it was amazing
Aug 02, 2011
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