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stephszeto's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars rounded down to a 3. First section was by far the most interesting - had some very astute cultural observations between the French and Americans that I found really insightful: how notions of private / public spaces and spheres can vary quite a bit across both cultures, just how much the state and identity of France was and is held together by language and culture, just how federalist France is as a state vs the US, how education and politics work in France. It gave me so much more meaty insight into how French society works, so much more so than all the typical high-level surface material that you usually see. This section alone deserves five stars.
Second section about major events that was less interesting but still informative - I didn’t realize all the baggage and backstory the French have with WWII and just how complicated their relationship with that period of time was and also came to realize just how large of a figure CDG was in their history.
The third section about “modern” day politics (the book is now 20yo) was a complete slog to get through - very dry and dull in comparison.
Second section about major events that was less interesting but still informative - I didn’t realize all the baggage and backstory the French have with WWII and just how complicated their relationship with that period of time was and also came to realize just how large of a figure CDG was in their history.
The third section about “modern” day politics (the book is now 20yo) was a complete slog to get through - very dry and dull in comparison.
trickyplanet's review against another edition
3.0
Learned a lot about how France works but it is dated.
samporter's review against another edition
3.0
Recently, I spent six weeks holidaying in France. Three of those weeks I spent working on a farm in a remote commune in the south of the country. One of my hosts, a British woman now living in France, gave me this book to read after we shared our observations and questions about the French and their daily life.
Whilst the French are obviously still a part of Western culture and politics, there are no doubt some differences as to how the French view life and the world. Co-authors and partners, Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow (from French Canada and the USA respectively), set out to explain "why the French are the way they are" based on their two years living in Paris in the late 90s/early 2000s.
Are two years abroad enough to qualify their observations? Personally, I don't think so. The first section is a series of embarrassing generalisations based on the authors' loosely-connected observations about French life. There is very much a tone of 'them/the weird French' and 'us/the normal North Americans.' At this point, I was worrying about how I might find the stamina to finish this book.
The second section is a lot better as the authors draw on facts and statistics to support their writing. I found the chapters on France's role in WWII and the Algerian war extremely insightful and explained in a palatable manner. Some of the later chapters in section two were interesting but dense in subject matter. Nadeau and Barlow did a good job to explain tedious structures of French Social Security and French government but, admittedly, I did zone out and have to re-read sections many times. This isn't necessarily the fault of the authors, just an observation and warning for those who are considering reading this.
The third and final section focussed on France's relationship with the world and, more specifically, within Europe. I really enjoyed this section as it dealt with topics such as federation/sovereignty, the European Union and the future of France/the EU. I was especially impressed with the discourse about race and racism (both cultural and structural) that occur in France. The authors based these discussions on facts and used their personal anecdotes to support the evidence rather than the other way round (as they seemed to do in Section One).
Overall, I would not recommend this book. It is extremely niche and was published in 2002 so a lot of the information is now outdated. The reason I continued (and often struggled) with this book was that it allowed me to access deeper discussions with French friends and locals on my travels. I could ask them whether they think the President wields too much power, why the servers in French bakeries have no sense of urgency when it’s busy and what their opinions are on the horrific Algerian War of the 60s.
If you want to known more about the culture, language, economics, history, politics and everyday life in France, read a book that has been published more recently and is not by these authors.
Whilst the French are obviously still a part of Western culture and politics, there are no doubt some differences as to how the French view life and the world. Co-authors and partners, Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow (from French Canada and the USA respectively), set out to explain "why the French are the way they are" based on their two years living in Paris in the late 90s/early 2000s.
Are two years abroad enough to qualify their observations? Personally, I don't think so. The first section is a series of embarrassing generalisations based on the authors' loosely-connected observations about French life. There is very much a tone of 'them/the weird French' and 'us/the normal North Americans.' At this point, I was worrying about how I might find the stamina to finish this book.
The second section is a lot better as the authors draw on facts and statistics to support their writing. I found the chapters on France's role in WWII and the Algerian war extremely insightful and explained in a palatable manner. Some of the later chapters in section two were interesting but dense in subject matter. Nadeau and Barlow did a good job to explain tedious structures of French Social Security and French government but, admittedly, I did zone out and have to re-read sections many times. This isn't necessarily the fault of the authors, just an observation and warning for those who are considering reading this.
The third and final section focussed on France's relationship with the world and, more specifically, within Europe. I really enjoyed this section as it dealt with topics such as federation/sovereignty, the European Union and the future of France/the EU. I was especially impressed with the discourse about race and racism (both cultural and structural) that occur in France. The authors based these discussions on facts and used their personal anecdotes to support the evidence rather than the other way round (as they seemed to do in Section One).
Overall, I would not recommend this book. It is extremely niche and was published in 2002 so a lot of the information is now outdated. The reason I continued (and often struggled) with this book was that it allowed me to access deeper discussions with French friends and locals on my travels. I could ask them whether they think the President wields too much power, why the servers in French bakeries have no sense of urgency when it’s busy and what their opinions are on the horrific Algerian War of the 60s.
If you want to known more about the culture, language, economics, history, politics and everyday life in France, read a book that has been published more recently and is not by these authors.
briarsreviews's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
1.0
Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong by Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow is an incredibly well researched piece about how the French work, behave, and live. The history, French system, and future are written very well and reads very much like a textbook. It's informing, gives insights into many aspects of the French (history, cultural practices, language, health, etc.), and can open your eyes into the French culture as a whole.
Personally, I couldn't connect with this book well. I wasn't engaged and got bored easily. It's the kind of book I'd need a professor to break down and explain. Perhaps in audiobook form, I might have been more engaged. Regardless, I can tell the research was well down and it is written well. It just didn't connect to me personally.
One star out of five. The book just isn't for me, hence the one star. For how well it's written, someone else will thoroughly enjoy it!
Personally, I couldn't connect with this book well. I wasn't engaged and got bored easily. It's the kind of book I'd need a professor to break down and explain. Perhaps in audiobook form, I might have been more engaged. Regardless, I can tell the research was well down and it is written well. It just didn't connect to me personally.
One star out of five. The book just isn't for me, hence the one star. For how well it's written, someone else will thoroughly enjoy it!
manadabomb's review against another edition
3.0
Written by Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow, this book tries to explain why so many people love France but not the French. An interesting book, although a bit dry at times, it travels through the reasons the French are just worlds away from any other country.
It starts out with French history and how the French people are ingrained in their history even when they are moving forward and becoming more modern. The French hold their elite up and expect them to be better (grandeur); going as far as to create elite schools just to make some people better than others. The book also covers the wars France was involved in, including WWII where they persecuted their Jews before Germany could. Explanations of the various forms of government explain why the French are more than ok with one large governing body and ok with being taxed on everything. Overall, the system works even if it looks unwieldy to everyone else. Most people are covered for medical and unemployment and retirement in France.
This book doesn't explain everything about France but it's pretty close. A good introduction into why the French are the way they are and why they are not necessarily what we think they are.
It starts out with French history and how the French people are ingrained in their history even when they are moving forward and becoming more modern. The French hold their elite up and expect them to be better (grandeur); going as far as to create elite schools just to make some people better than others. The book also covers the wars France was involved in, including WWII where they persecuted their Jews before Germany could. Explanations of the various forms of government explain why the French are more than ok with one large governing body and ok with being taxed on everything. Overall, the system works even if it looks unwieldy to everyone else. Most people are covered for medical and unemployment and retirement in France.
This book doesn't explain everything about France but it's pretty close. A good introduction into why the French are the way they are and why they are not necessarily what we think they are.
spiderfelt's review against another edition
3.0
This is an informative read that explains the complexities of French culture and provides useful background for anyone trying to live in French society. While I learned much while reading, the book is written like a textbook. It is clunky and desperately needs a good editor. This is the sort of non-fiction that gives the genre a bad name. I would rate the book lower if I hadn't learned so much along the way. Each time I picked it up, I uttered a little groan. My family asked me why I continued to read it. Partly because I wanted to give it a fair shake, partly out of a sense of duty to the friend who gave it to me as a gift and partly because I was hoping to enjoy it. By the end, I was skipping the last half of each chapter.
erintby's review against another edition
3.0
Very interesting quasi-ethnological perspective on France and the French! I would love to read an updated edition of this book that analyzes some more recent current events.