Review
"Intoxicating Paris is a personal insight travel guide...a good start for a first-time visitor [but] some sections of the book...were written for me. Because I have lived here [Paris] since 1992, her therapist expertise aided me to understand the cultural differences between the American and French...I liked her sentence, 'Like some kind of cultural time machine, Paris doesn't whisk you between centuries, you step into them when you merely cross the street.' "--Colleen Shaughnessy-Larsson, Colleen's Paris
Nominated for the 2014 American Library in Paris Book Award.
"Summertime and the reading is there for the taking...Intoxicating Paris (by American therapist PJ Adams) is a wandering journey through the City of Light--its kitchens, shops, cafes, closets and most especially its creativity. Racy, insightful, delightful, this is a book for all who love Paris...wondrous..a good read."--Harvey Frommer, Frommer Luxury Travel
"In a breezy and clever writing style, [PJ Adams] has produced an entertaining memoir-cum-guide to the City of Light...witty, insightful...Nowhere is she more eloquent than when she writes of food. The markets of Paris come alive in her vivid descriptions, and each meal taken in a restaurant brought back some wonderful memories...In the end, what comes across is that this is a witty, intelligent woman with an open mind and strong powers of observation...Best of all, her affection for her subject shines through on every page."--Jane Del Monte, Bonjour Paris.com
"If you want insight into the French soul and national identity, you must read this book. There are short chapters on everything from dating to school to shopping. Intoxicating Parisby PJ Adams is worth the read." -Chris Wright, Dana Point Times "Intoxicating Paris is a vivid romp through the byways, kitchens, shops, cafes, closets, and boudoirs of Paris by American therapist PJ Adams. Her tales of love and lingerie, cuisine and creativity, and life as only the French can live it make for an enlightening and fun read."--Tom Leech, author of On the Road in '68
"I really enjoyed this book and think that it is a `must read' for anyone considering a trip to Paris; whether you're a seasoned traveller or new to the Parisian scene. It goes way beyond other travelogues and gives a real insight into the culture of the people of Paris and France...its people and their lifestyle shines through in her engaging and informative writing." Malcolm Hornby, author of Get That Job
From the Author
Measure your Intoxicating Paris IQ
In Intoxicating Paris: Uncorking the Parisian Within, PJ Adams presents some ideas for finding your inner Parisian and enjoying your life a bit more. Take the quiz below to find out how much you already know about living the French way:
1. Parisian women aged 40+ are especially valued for their deepening beauty and relational savvy. True or False
2. Thomas Jefferson was elected America's third President only AFTER he spent five years in Paris. True or False3. A secret to maximizing one's look like a French woman is to buy high quality goods, seek classics rather than trends, and evolve a signature look. True or False
4. Diane de Poitiers, who competed for Queen Catherine de Medici's husband's affections, learned to maximize her assets through regular exercise, revolutionary health practices (like imbibing gold), and maintaining her sexual agility. True or False
5. Business in Paris is done when the poire et la fromage course of a sumptuous dinner appears, not during cocktails as is sometimes the case in America. True or False
6. French women know that chocolate is a necessary pleasure. True or False7. Parisians love to shop and Thomas Jefferson caught the "shopper bug" while in Paris, shipping back 86 crates of furniture, dishes, housewares, fabrics, seeds, and plants to his home in Virginia. True or False
8. Jean Bruce most likely invented the sexy superspy character when he started writing books about the handsome French spy OSS 117, code name for Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, 4 years before Ian Fleming's James Bond (007) appeared. True or False
9. French women know that French men are more interested in their fesses (rear nether regions) than their bosoms. True or False
10. The French healthcare system provides classes and therapists to help women get back to tip top shape--both within and without--after childbirth. True or False
11. A judge once ruled that a man in France had to pay his wife a sum of money for not providing enough marital relations (sex) during their marriage. True or False
12. To flâner (wander) or stop for a café crème (coffee with cream) is one of the ways to enjoy the simple moments of life in France. True or False
13. The Statue of Liberty also stands in Paris in two places, demonstrating a philosophical link between America and France. True or False
14. French women--particularly Parisians--have the lowest BMIs (Body Mass Index) in all of Europe, despite eating baguettes most days. True or False
15. Ernest Hemingway, one of many creative geniuses who have blossomed in the magic of the City of Light, called Paris "a moveable feast." True or False
If you answered True to all of these questions, you are well on your way to understanding how to live the Intoxicating Paris way. If you have a few False answers, we invite you to evolve your inner Parisian. No matter your score, Intoxicating Paris: Uncorking the Parisian Within offers more than 225 pages of delicious ideas and tips for unleashing your inner Parisian--no matter your age, gender, or disposition.
From the Inside Flap
Nominated for the 2014 American Library in Paris Book Award.
From the Back Cover
Amazon Best Seller! "If you are looking for a street-by-street guide [to Paris] then this book is not for you. If you want insight into the French soul and national identity, you must read this book. There are short chapters on everything from dating to school to shopping. Intoxicating Parisby PJ Adams is worth the read." -Chris Wright, Dana Point Times
About the Author
PJ Adams is a California therapist and former Harcourt Brace publishing executive. Intoxicating Paris is her quirky journey through Paris; it is the first in her travel series. Freud's Revenge, her first in a series of psychological thrillers is a popular crime novel on Amazon. In Daughter Wisdom, she provides self-help wisdom for daughters young and old. The author has previously published non-fiction titles with McGraw Hill. When not writing or counseling, she enjoys learning French, growing tomatoes, traveling, learning about new cultures, and enjoying that "joie de vivre" (the joy of life) whenever possible.
