The Paris of Appalachia: Pittsburgh in the Twenty-First Century Paperback – February 19, 2026

A study of the city of Pittsburgh’s unique history and spirit. Maybe you never wondered if any metro area nearly straddles the borders of three major regions of the country, but The Paris of Appalachia: Pittsburgh in the Twenty-First Century tells us why this city is a place apart. It’s not East Coast, Midwest, or Southern, but the rest of America can fret about how to label Pittsburgh. It’s just fine being a walkable town that plays a big city on TV. Brian O'Neill, who walked its streets for more than three decades as a newspaper columnist, fell in love with the place from the moment he arrived. And when you read what he found, odds are better than even that you will, too. This reissue of the book includes a new introduction. Read more