The French (Kodansha Globe)

Rating:
Summary: An Englishman gives lessons on how to be French
Review: I bought this book at Shakespeare & Co. in Paris before there was an Amazon.com to offer it at such an excellent price. Still I feel I got my money's worth. It is true the essays in this book rely a lot on the opinions of the author but Theodore Zeldin has supplemented them with interviews, cartoons, charts, and footnotes which leave the reader feeling he has stumbled upon a textbook of the highest order. Whether you are wondering about French humor (what's with that Jerry Lewis thing) or which blood types are the most common the information is here. Save yourself a lot of money, buy the book here and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: A good foundation
Review: I bought this book at Shakespeare & Co. in Paris before there was an Amazon.com to offer it at such an excellent price. Still I feel I got my money's worth. It is true the essays in this book rely a lot on the opinions of the author but Theodore Zeldin has supplemented them with interviews, cartoons, charts, and footnotes which leave the reader feeling he has stumbled upon a textbook of the highest order. Whether you are wondering about French humor (what's with that Jerry Lewis thing) or which blood types are the most common the information is here. Save yourself a lot of money, buy the book here and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: A good foundation
Review: I bought this book, hoping to get up-to-date information on French culture and society. Although I enjoyed the book and found it very informative from a historical perspective, I was dissappointed that much of the quoted information and statistics derive from studies and interviews done as long ago as 1973, most from the 1970's in general, and nothing after 1982. Since I was a student in France in 1982, it is interesting to look back on my experiences in view of what I have read in this book. But if you want to know anything about current trends in French popular culture, or more recent studies, statistics, and [attitude revealing] interviews with French individuals, you will not find it in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Another excellent author to consider for French culture
Review: I have all of these books, plus one, a new one just published by Kogan Page in the UK in February. I highly recommend that Amazon.Com and Amazon.co.uk have in its stocks - "Chez Vous en France: Living and Working in France" by Genevieve Brame. It is the only guidebook for foreign residents in France written by a French person. Several well known personalities have contributed to her preface, including Mr. Zeldin. Destined for those whose work, career, or studies bring them to France. Organized into 10 themes, this 300 page book offers an attractive and active approach to learning about France and the French culture - offering the « keys » to the practical aspects of life in France. Going beyond the standard clichés, Chez Vous en France : Living and Working in France is an excellent guidebook ; its insights will help the professional and his/her family adapt quickly to living in France. It also serves as an excellent resource for HR professionals.