60 million Frenchmen can't be wrong

[Masquerouge]

Have you read that book ? It's excellent. It's one of the best books ever written on France. The authors are two Canadians, one from Québec and one from Toronto, and they spent three years in France to study what makes the French so french, as they say.
It describes France as objectively as possible, explaining what built our cultural and political background, and how it differs/is similar to other countries (especially North American ones, that makes 2 IIRC )
Anyway I strongly advise it to you if you want a fair view at France, or if you want to understand why we're the way we are. It's not pros and cons, it's explanations : that's why it's good.

Anyone else read it ? Please share !

 

[Akka]

Interesting, I like to know how others see us ^^

What's the "native language" of the book ?
(in other words, to get the truest version, should I seek it in french or english ?)

 

[Masquerouge]

It's written in English, even if one of the writer is a québécois

I bought it on Amazon.co.uk so you can get it pretty easily

Geez... I'd have never bet you were French, Akka !

 

[privatehudson]

I understand already why the French are the way they are... it's too much wine and not enough ale

Either that or it's an obsessive desire to base how you do anything on ensuring you never do it the same way as the British

Makes you wonder why it took these Canucks 3 years to work it out Fools could have asked any Englishmen that

j/k I like France.... no really I do!

 

[IglooDame]

Sixty million Frenchmen can be wrong, after all, eighty million Americans were wrong just under four years ago.

 

[Masquerouge]

Either that or it's an obsessive desire to base how you do anything on ensuring you never do it the same way as the British

Not at all, it's the Brits who can't stop doing the opposite of the French

ANd FYI, the title of this book (did I recommend it to you ? )comes from a song "50 million Frenchmen can't be wrong". Now was it from Coleman or Cole Porter ? Darn.

 

[privatehudson]

See? Even when we point out the glaringly obvious to them they have to deny it because it's "British"

 

[Akka]

It's written in English, even if one of the writer is a québécois

I bought it on Amazon.co.uk so you can get it pretty easily

Nah, it will be a bit harder. I don't have paycard (yeah, I know, I'm old fashioned and paranoid ^^), so I can't command from Internet.
I'll have to wait for it to be available in a Fnac.

Geez... I'd have never bet you were French, Akka !

Why ?
I don't look French ? ^^

 

[El Justo]

Have you read that book ? It's excellent. It's one of the best books ever written on France. The authors are two Canadians, one from Québec and one from Toronto, and they spent three years in France to study what makes the French so french, as they say.
It describes France as objectively as possible, explaining what built our cultural and political background, and how it differs/is similar to other countries (especially North American ones, that makes 2 IIRC )
Anyway I strongly advise it to you if you want a fair view at France, or if you want to understand why we're the way we are. It's not pros and cons, it's explanations : that's why it's good.

i've been searching for this answer for a while

it is now on my wish list (seriously)

 

[Marla_Singer]

I've seen a little book in the book shop called "Dialog with my dog about French people". The thing was written by a French guy and it was quite virulent and funny !

I wonder if there are as many books trying to explain the German people, the Russian people or the Chinese people. I'm not really sure. It's weird that France fascinates that much, as much foreigners than French people themselves. That's something I can't really explain.

 

[El Justo]

I've seen a little book in the book shop called "Dialog with my dog about French people". The thing was written by a French guy and it was quite virulent and funny ! I'm not really sure. It's weird that France fascinates that much, as much foreigners than French people themselves. That's something I can't really explain.

i suppose that it's b/c of the french's uniqueness and individuality.

just my thoughts.

 

[Karl Lenin]

No, again.

 

[Masquerouge]

Why ?
I don't look French ? ^^

No, your English is too good for a French

And Karl Lenin, I'm afraid I'm missing the meaning of your post

 

[Tassadar]

It's written in English, even if one of the writer is a québécois

I bought it on Amazon.co.uk so you can get it pretty easily

Who is the Quebecois ? after all i am one.

 

[Mise]

No, your English is too good for a French

Yeah but I'd imagine his French is WAAAY too good for an Englishman

 

[Masquerouge]

Who is the Quebecois ? after all i am one.

His name is Jean-Benoît Nadeau. He's a journalist by formation, and works for the World Institute on Current Affairs, or something like that. His initial idea was to explain why French resisted globalization (think Jose Bove, think Exception Culturelle) and then he realized it was not as simple as that...

 

[Steph]

My wife has just bought a book that I'm currently reading, and I find it very interesting.

It's written by two Canadian journalists, Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow.

The title is "60 Million Frenchmen can't be wrong".

These two journalists have been two and half years in France, trying to study the French mind, and to explain the difference between how North Americans and Frenh people think.

Here is what the Wall Street Journal says about it
"60 Million Frenchmen can't be wrong does it job marvelously well. After reading it, you may still think the French are arrogant, aloof and high-handed, but you will know why".

I'm only at chapter 4, but I didn't notice any big mistake yet. There analysis is quite good, and I think every American who doesn't understand why the Frenchs behave as they do, or every French who doesn't understand why the Amricans doesn't understand the French, should read it.

If you are interested : ISBN: 1-4022-0045-5

pupilshed by sourcebooks (www.sourcebooks.com)

 

[samildanach]

Didn't you post this earlier? I'm sure I read this yesterday. If not ....whoah deja vu baby!

 

[Japher]

60 Million Frenchmen?! I don't think there are that many pansies in the world

Moderator Action: Enjoy your 3 day vacation. I suggest you improve your posting if you wish to return for any length of time. Eyrei.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[Jawz II]

i defenitly saw this 2 weeks ago or so

but hey if the books that good maybe i should get it from the library