When I first found this book on my neighbourhood bookshop, I was more than puzzled.What
could it be about? Is the title ironic or not ?Being a Frenchman
myself, I couldn’t do otherwise than buying this book to find it out. I
was very surprised to find an actual and very serious study on french
society without any clichés. I must admit it was so delighting to read
something about my country without a focus on frog-legs or snails...The
book is divided on three part, each explaining a part of French
society. I was amazed by how true the things pointed out could be! I
myself understood a lot of things about my own country and why we had
such habits, ways of reacting. For example, I never really noticed that
in France, telling your name or asking for someone’s name when you just
met that very person is sort of taboo, I mean you never ask it until
the very end of the conversation and by using a very precise process.
Gradually, I became very interested by the book since I learnt a lot
about how we were seen by foreigners and what really shocked them in
our life modes.Really, this is THE book to have if you plan to go
to France, it explains everything you need to know, from French history
and its impact on people’s mind, French society structures, French
Spirit (the love of rhetoric and argument) and even the way the country
is changing, its place within Europe.If you are tired of Amélie
Poulain, Eiffel Tower, crème brûlée and other clichés about France, I
strongly recommend you this book, for the first time you may have a
glimpse of how the French really are and maybe, hopefully, you will
erase the beret and baguette picture from your mind.