Customer Reviews

Au Contraire: Figuring out the French

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What a self-serving pack of lies this is. I'm always incensed by so much misinformation presented as unbiased fact. The authors claim to provide "an understanding of hidden and often unconscious cultural patterns." Within that lofty sounding agenda, the old stereotypes I've read countless times before get trotted out one more time in the guise of providing a useful intro to the French: rude, arrogant, unfriendly, smell bad, move slowly and are lazy, is either implicit or explicit throughout this book. If you said such things about blacks or women you'd be called racist or chauvinist. You certainly wouldn't get published. Speaking about the French, however, it seems anything goes -- as long as you have dubious statistics to back it up: "Researchers found that the French are the most resistant to deodorant -- only half of those surveyed use it". An edifying fact you can find by simply looking up "cleanliness -- personal" in the index.)

Even for these tunnel-vision authors, stereotypes are hard to maintain. While at one point in the book they critique the French for being too logical and reasonable -- Descartes don't you know (YAWN!) -- in another they caution American managers about French emotionality in business. Well, which is it? Rational or emotional? And everywhere there is either a thinly veiled pat on the back for an American way of being or, at one shocking point, downright cruelty toward the French.

Try this handy tip to further your business relations: They counsel Americans to begin by speaking French with a French business person not out of deference for the fact that you are in their country, but to protect yourself from those vindictive French. "Avoiding the appearance of arrogance will forestall the French from striking back by speaking extremely rapid and slangy French just to make your life miserable. And, yes, there are French people who enjoy doing just that." So the American is absolved from actually being arrogant by expecting a foreigner to speak his or her language, while the French are condemned for speaking French the way they actually speak it. Rapid and slangy is the way most people speak their native tongue -- don't you? Why should a French person be expected to dumb things down to accommodate someone who doesn't have the courtesy or decency to meet them at least part of the way?

It reminds me of the jogging suit-clad American woman on the Ile St. Louis in Paris last summer, who within earshot of a vast assembly of locals and tourists gathered at an outdoor cafe, loudly lambasted a couple of ice cream street vendors for not knowing the English word for vanilla, which is vanille in French, and pronounced "vanee". The woman couldn't have looked that up in a French phrase book? Can you imagine any French person going to New York city and verbally abusing a New Yorker for not knowing the French equivalent of something? Now who's arrogant?

Read this book at your peril. Anything you find here will be misleading at best, deliberately self-serving at its worst. Clearly the authors wrote this book hoping to jack up their consulting practice by making Americans feel like they're okay, no matter how inappropriately they behave internationally. To hear the authors tell it, the French don't do much of anything right, either in their business or private lives, including spending lots of time with their families or raising and schooling their kids. Impartiality indeed!

If the authors truly see this as a way of furthering business relations between the two countries, and you believe them, I fear not only for the future of your business but for your immortal soul. Was Sartre alluding to his encounter with these kinds of unbiased consultants when he wrote, "Hell is other people"?

Sherwood Fleming (Lyon, France)

Although this book was written before the current political crisis that strained relations between France and the United States, it provides excellent general advice for everyone traveling between the two countries. It gives a fair assessment of both cultures and urges the visiter to adopt an open mind and leave cultural baggage and prejudice at home. I spent almost two years planning our recent 3 week trip throughout France and studying the language (which as the authors say is a must). It is arrogant to expect that people in any other country will automatically speak your language. Why should they? Everywhere we went people were reserved, as we expected, but courteous and helpful and sometimes quite friendly. I agree with the authors that the key to good relations and living, working or vacationing in another country, France in this case, is to learn "their" history, culture and language and embrace the differences. I recommend this book highly.

This is a wonderful text for everyone who does business with French companies or who has an intercultural relationship (as I have.) The authors dissect and explain those little cultural differences which often cause great frustration and prevent full cooperation, then they suggest ways in which we can adapt presentations, work situations and family plans in order to motivate culturally different persons. I was amazed by the depth of the analases and the efficacy of the solutions. Very difficult situations have been rendered simple and straightforward by application of a few basic ideas. Harmony restored.

AU CONTRAIRE is a joy to read, and informative. Having read
books by Polly Platt on French culture, I would rate this
book as "creme brulee" to Polly's "jello." Luscious detail here,
and historical perspective. I've lived in France for a number of years, and everything contained in this book is accurate and in depth. Bravo to Asselin and Mastron for their major contribution to deciphering the French culture.

French and American cultures are so close on the surface and so different underneath that if you plan to live in France for some time or if you live there already, you will never cease to bump into obstacles that you couldn't anticipate because they are cultural in nature. To paraphrase and old French/American saying "the closer it is, the more opposite it is". If you go work there as a manager or a professional this will definitely limit your success unless you are open to change your behavior. But which ones? Companies spend millions of dollars transferring employees and making mergers and acquisition but they have historically underestimated the importance of cultural cross training and support. As a French native who was transferred to the US headquarters, I wish I had received this kind of support instead of the "sink or swim" approach. I since read a lot of books on French and American culture to help me adapt and also make sense of my experience to share it with others. In one word, I wish I had "Au Contraire."
"Au Contraire" should be required reading for anybody planning to live in France for some time or interacting with French people on a regular basis, or any French expatriate who wants to make sense of what it is to be French. Companies should give it to the employee they transfer and their family. Actually, they should give it to all employees who have to deal with French counterparts. French-born people planning to live in the US or working with US counterparts will also appreciate it immensely but I wish the authors had a version made for them.
This is a gem. This is THE reference. "Don't leave home without it!" Buy it. Read it, and enjoy the culture shock. You will get out of it transformed and stronger.

I have started Au Contraire and just put it down to zip off a note to the authors and potential readers : it is outstanding. Here, finally, as George Simons says, is ZEE BOOK about France, with no value judgements, with historical rationale for the behavior patterns, with a solid logic behind the system and WHY it works for the French (and some of the rest of us). I had to put the book down to commend you both for a reall excellent job. Not only do I find it accurate and well documented (in incidents, in background, in testimony) but also extrememly well written, a compliment I don't pass out freely ! Really, hats off to both of you and I hope you get the recognition (and the royalties !) you deserve for such a well-thought out piece of work. (and I'm only in the first 30 pages !) Bravo à tous les deux Nancy Bragard

Au Contraire is more than a book on France, the French language, or a trifle on French "something." This book touches the essence of what it means to be French. The behind-the-scene look at the history, symbols, language, and customs is truly intriguing. The analyzation of such things as interpersonal relations, socialism, education, and other elements of French life is a treasure for the person who desires to live in France, if for only a short time. One of the most remarkable things about the book is the emphasis showing the inseperability between the language and the land: Being French is speaking the langauge, and don't forget it! It's a must for expats of any sort. I read the hefty book in a matter of days. It's just that good.

If you are someone who does business or is interested in doing business with the French, Au Contraire is a MUST read! The authors, Gilles and Ruth, have managed to capture the true essence of the subtle differences between American and French culture, whether they be social, political, historical or economical.

Au Contraire's greatest strength is that is leaves no detail unturned. This book is as useful to the sociologist as it is to the adventurous entrepreneur.

The writing is poignant yet easy to read. Like a bestseller, the reader is glued to the pages until the final word. If you are curious to know what really make the French tick, don't look anywhere else - Au Contraire has all the answers.

Ok, so my dad's cousin Ruth is one of the funniest people you'll ever meet! She's a great lady who loves to do impressions of our Jewish ancestors. A family gathering isn't a family gathering without Ruth there. What kind of career would you think for this great woman? A stand up comedian? She'd be great at it! A character actress on TV? She'd be the talk of Hollywood. An expert in intercultural relations between the French and American culture? Uh, wait a minute? How did we end up here? Well, that's what she is! With her French husband Pierre she's been working with various businesses to help with their international and specifically French relations. She's spent a lot of time in both France and America and is well fluent in both languages. However she's not only fluent in the language, but the culture as I'm sure you've figured out by now.

So what happens when you take a person with expertise in French and American culture and a great sense of humor and put paper in front of them? They write a great book of course! Now she didn't write the book on her own, she co-authored it with Gilles Asselin, but unfortunately I know nothing about him, other than what the "About the Authors" section of the book tells me, which is that he's originally from France and has the opposite experience of Ruth in that he came to America and had to deal with the culture shock in that direction. Now I'm not claiming that this book is one long comedy act. It's actually far from it. Ruth is a funny lady, but she's also a professional. Her sense of humor merely makes it easier for her to write a book in terms that a reader can understand and appreciate and enjoy. I don't know anything about French culture or the demands on businesses for intercultural relations. I only read this book because I knew the author, but that doesn't mean I was guaranteed to like it. I enjoyed it because the content was interesting and the numerous examples were quite helpful in clarifying the text. Even though this book is geared towards businesses or academic classes in cultural relations, I think this would be an excellent book for someone who just wants to take a trip to Europe and visit France!

This book covers everything from dining etiquette to how the French actually think! It tells you how to word things in a way so that you don't offend anyone or maybe even score you points with those who you are talking to. One of the highest complaints of Americans is that the French are "rude." Well, this book points out that the French will be overly nice to you and go out of their way to help you if you show that you are actually trying to respect them and their culture. If you go in speaking English and expecting them to know your language and abide by your culture, then sure you may not have a pleasant experience. But if you sit there with your English to French translation book and really try to talk to them in their language with a proper accent, they'll most likely be very patient and understanding. If there is any question you might have about the French, then this book will probably answer it.

Another great advantage of this book is that you'll learn more about American culture than you ever thought you had to learn! By understanding how another culture is different from ours, the authors must explain what our culture is like so you can see the difference. This book is definitely worth the money if you have any need of an understanding of French culture, or just want an interesting nonfiction read. I'm a big fiction reader myself, so that made it harder for me to get through, but I just finished college and have gone through textbook after textbook, and if this had been one of mine, I would have had a blast reading it. Heck, give it to your teens, it's right at their level too! Just enjoy, and purchase this one with confidence.

[...] :)

To suggest that "Au Contraire" should be required reading for any American with a serious interest in France or the French would be to make a duty of what is truly a pleasure. Mastron and Asselin have written a book that is as insightful as it is accessible. Their collaboration is seamless: there is no disjuncture between their joint "voices"--they have perfect pitch. This book is written with clarity and wit, full of "Aha!s" for both the student of culture and the casual reader. Encore, encore!