I was not impressed with Debra Olliviers book, as I found it boring.
I do not know where the other reviews live at, or how much they have traveled!
I have grown up in Los Angeles, Ca, and personally do not find French women much different, or the men.
Yes there culture is a bit different, but you will find that in any Country you travel in.
Does that mean the French women have it better then we do! I think not. Yes there values are only a bit different. We are all women, and truly think the same in my opinion.

I’m a Grandmother not a kid.
Ollivier talks about French men fliting with women or women fliting with a french man ,but that does not mean they want to sleep with them.
I find the same thing true with American women and men. Who doesn’t like to flirt, have fun,but that does not mean we as Women want to go to bed with that man!
Married women flirt all the time, what is the big deal. .

As far as French women being more sophisticated, and sure of them selfs!
So are the American women.
I do not think any French women would want to read about American Women either.
This would make a good magazine article, but a whole book!

She also spells allot in french, like us American women can all read or spell in French.
I’m Not impressed.

For my taste, I found this book a Bore.

While I admit that French women have a great deal to teach us about slowing down and living a good life there are elements of the book that really bothered me. First off is the over focus on the female body and the idea of ‘bien dans sa peau’ or being at ease in her body, while then going on and on about how they fret over a few pounds which doesnt suggest being comfortable in ones body, or being slim for health reasons since French women smoke in large numbers compared to American women.

No mention that intellectual attributes and having a top notch education are low on their list of wants or needs.

Again nothing about the value of a good education for French women in the book. Nothing about French women who run successful companies because they find this important or anything about why French women are not seen as role models for others in the business arena. French women may not care if a man makes a good income, American women who have a good education aren’t keen on settling for someone who has less ambition and thus less income than she. Or is not their equal.

Also have to take issue with Chapter Six titled Art De Vivre and how the French seem to have a view that having money and being proud of ones accomplishments is somehow distasteful.

And let’s remember that Asians are as success and education driven as we Americans. Studies show that the French are not leaders in high tech, other new century ideas or business in general.

They seem to live in the past. Sure they work fewer hours but once Nicolas Sarkozy, was running for President of France he noted he wanted to allow a longer work week and every news story here in the states noted that women were overjoyed with the possibility of making more money and thus having more savings.

At least the author notes on page 91 when discussing rules that the French have rules, but they also are not ruled when it comes to common courtesies we have here in the states like not smoking around others unless they say its ok, or no curbing their dogs or obeying traffic signs.

They don’t like lines and unlike Americans don’t like waiting their turn. In the end we need to realize that America is a very diverse country with more ethnic, cultural, religious, economic and educational terrains that France has ever known. Very little if anything in the book about France wanting to become better. In the end its about women being sex objects by choice, eating and being fun company at dinner.

Yet think about this. . . . . We Americans elected a black man as our leader. Why hasn’t France been more progressive considering what an old country it is? In the end I think we Americans should take the best from ALL cultures and make our country even better.

So yes the book is very thought provoking.

I was not impressed with this book I felt it was pointless, redundant and just a lot to do about nothing and greatly stereotyped both American women and French women. I hate books that try to take the individualism out of a culture and lump them into a tidy neat little package. I know a lot of American Women that are far more “French” by this books simplified definition including myself. Every culture has mixed individual personality and traits and it is unfair to define any culture from a few encounters by an outsider. I found some of this book somewhat entertaining but I wouldn’t recommend it.

frenchwomen are so superior to american women that they don’t watch any stupid american TV shows: nobody in france watches grey’s anatomy or desperate housewife. . Far too busy to go to the opera! since they don’t care about what people think about them and look so naturally stunning, they never go on a diet; if the best selling book on amazon. Fr right now is a diet book (”je veux maigrir”, i. E “I want to loose weight!”) it’s because they buy it to ship it to their fat american friends !! that book explains how frenchwomen know that life is brief. Of course that’s why they all have great paying interesting jobs and never go on strike! Also, instant pleasure is important to frenchwomen so is being great in bed: that’s why their husband never leave them or cheat!
american women can really learn a thing or two in that book!

I’m unsure why my first review of this wasn’t approved so I will be brief. I did not like this book. I thought it talked down to women and that the voice was annoying.

the most exceptional woman I have met thus far is French, her exceptional beauty and smile is exuded via her persona, not her country of origin ^^

which would dictate to me, this is a chemistry issue as opposed to a nationality issue being that I am American.

because Elodie has the most wonderful smile I have ever seen <3333