Acquired Tastes

Peter Mayle

Read May 2003

Peter Mayle convinces his editors at a bunch of wealthy magazines to pay for him to sample the pleasures of the rich. Most of these are predictable (caviar, single malt scotch), even if a few are mildly informative (for instance, amortizing the cost, a pair of custom-made shoes are a good value); all are too short, presumably an artifact of word limits on magazine articles. He gives a pass to more practical needs such as Swiss and offshore bank accounts—presumably his readership already have trust managers dealing with such details? Some of his analysis, especially of the curious, self-propagating power of brands, is rather weak, presumably a habit formed at his prior trade, advertising. Finally, curious minds might perhaps legitimately wonder why he writes one section alone (?) in a hyopothetical rather than personal tone: that on having a mistress. Isn't it the job of such reporters to faithfully (ha!) record life so the rest may live vicariously?