Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
67 used & new from $5.23

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
French or Foe?: Getting the Most Out of Visiting, Living and Working in France
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don’t have a Kindle? Get yours here.
 
  

French or Foe?: Getting the Most Out of Visiting, Living and Working in France (Paperback)

by Polly Platt (Author) "On November 3, 1991, the London Times, which, unlike the hysterical London Sun, expects to be taken seriously, came out with a story that rocked..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Grandes Ecoles, Eiffel Tower (more...)
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (76 customer reviews)

List Price: $16.95
Price: $11.53 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $5.42 (32%)
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

31 new from $9.65 36 used from $5.23
Also Available in: List Price: Our Price: Other Offers:
Paperback (2nd) 46 used & new from $0.01

Frequently Bought Together

French or Foe?: Getting the Most Out of Visiting, Living and Working in France + Savoir Flair: 211 Tips for Enjoying France and the French + Love a la francaise
Price For All Three: $34.59

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: French or Foe?: Getting the Most Out of Visiting, Living and Working in France by Polly Platt

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Savoir Flair: 211 Tips for Enjoying France and the French by Polly Platt

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Love a la francaise by Polly Platt

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong: Why We Love France but Not the French

Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong: Why We Love France but Not the French

by Jean-Benoit Nadeau
4.0 out of 5 stars (60)  $11.53
Love a la francaise

Love a la francaise

by Polly Platt
3.7 out of 5 stars (6)  $11.53
Cultural Misunderstandings: The French-American Experience

Cultural Misunderstandings: The French-American Experience

by Raymonde Carroll
4.2 out of 5 stars (11)  $12.60
Au Contraire: Figuring Out the French

Au Contraire: Figuring Out the French

by Gilles Asselin
Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French

Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French

by Stephen Clarke
4.3 out of 5 stars (20)  $10.85
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Let's face it: the French have gotten a bad rap. Mention that you're considering a trip to France and everyone will warn you about rude waiters, supercilious shopkeepers, and snooty concierges who won't give you the time of day--and worse, pretend not to understand your high-school French. Not so, says Polly Platt, author of French or Foe?; "The French are generous, exhilarating friends," but they are different--wonderfully so. The trick to getting along in France is understanding the culture and learning to accept it on French terms instead of your own. Though the book is designed primarily for people who will be living or working in France for extended periods, the lessons Platt teaches about manners, attitudes, and culture are invaluable for even those visitors just passing through. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 292 pages
  • Publisher: Distribooks; 3 edition (September 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0964668424
  • ISBN-13: 978-0964668423
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #55,493 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #51 in  Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Customs & Traditions
    #77 in  Books > Reference > Job Hunting

Inside This Book (learn more)

Citations (learn more)

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below.

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search
No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

76 Reviews
5 star:
 (37)
4 star:
 (20)
3 star:
 (6)
2 star:
 (7)
1 star:
 (6)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (76 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
82 of 82 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Outdated and not all that practical for the middle class. . ., March 28, 2006
By M. Lindner (PARIS, France) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I bought this book before we moved to France in 2004. The only edition I could find was the 2nd one. Granted, the new 3rd edition has come out, which I hope contains some corrections, but in the 2nd edition (written in the late 1990s) lists Mitterand as the President (still!) and Jaques Chirac as the Mayor of Paris. Considering this had changed several years before the 2nd edition came out, it made me question what other outdated information was in the book.

When I first read through the book, I thought it was excellent. I honestly thought it was going to prepare me for life in Paris. It certainly freaked me out completely, and I thought for sure we were going to be completely lost in this "proper" world with rallyes, snobby dinner parties, and having to forge close relationships with the cashiers at our local grocery store.

Our son attends Maternelle, which is where Polly Platt says a "rigorous and demanding" education begins. Not true!! I was actually afraid to send him to a school where teachers would talk down to him and force him to sit still for hours. Instead, his teacher is the sweetest woman, and the children spend their days painting, learning songs, reading, and playing. . .much like an American pre-school. In addition, whenever my son says "Bonjour Madame" to a woman in the store or on the street, they are always surprised, and quick to praise both of us. It is not something that is common, and children at the age of 2 (unlike stated in the book) do not usually do this.

After living in France for two years, I picked this book back up, and was frustrated with the poor advice. Polly Platt truly envisions herself as part of the upper crust of Parisian society, and most of her advice is ridiculous, at best.

I was teaching English at a local school, and tried to use the phrases Polly Platt has scattered around her book, such as "mal élevé" and "bien élevé." I was greeted with blank stares from my students who understood the words, but didn't quite grasp the concept. It wasn't an automatic given, as Ms. Platt likes to make it seem. Furthermore, on the playground, children come up to my son (a "stranger") and ask to play with him all the time -- something Ms. Platt claims will never happen due to the French pressures to be "bien élevé"

I gave the book two stars, because some of the advice is true. The French do have to be handled carefully, but most of this is common sense. Many Americans do not travel frequently, but one of the first international destinations on everyone's list is Paris. It can be disorienting to a traveler to come into a new culture, and I think this is why a lot of the misunderstandings occur. The rules aren't the same, but they are in no way as strict as is made out in "French or Foe." Nor should travelers be in the habit of rudely demanding anything from anyone, no matter where they go. I would say to the majority of people, this is common sense.

I have never shaken hands with a French person, unless I was the one who initiated it. Even in places of business, you will find people doing "la bise." One (French) friend of mine even took to feigning constant colds to get out of doing "la bise" with one of her co-workers who she didn't like all that much. I'm sure there are many situations where this is not appropriate, but it is very doubtful the average American coming to Paris will be shaking hands with the French all day long.

As other reviewers have already mentioned, the French make mistakes in their own language. Much like English has evolved, French is evolving. It is not spoken perfectly an precisely, especially by the younger generations. Dropping the "ne" in a negative sentance is quite common, turning "Ce n'est pas" into "C'est pas." Their language is protected with pride, but not quite as fiercly as Ms. Platt likes to claim.

All in all (because this review is now a monster), it's an okay book if you want a little overview of French culture, as well as some of the differences you might encounter here. However, take every piece of advice with a grain of salt, and remember that the majority of what is written on the pages of "French or Foe" will not be applicable to you.
Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
99 of 104 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Oui, Je comprends maintenant..., May 25, 2003
By Ahh! (Darting about) - See all my reviews
As an anglo saxon with a French boyfriend, living and working in Paris, I often found myself thinking, "Oh. NOW I understand!" while reading this book. Several friends have complained about the unorganized, rambling nature of "French or Foe" but if you are like me and merely reading it to learn rather than to hunt for specific information, that shouldn't be a problem.
My biggest complaint? Platt's clear desire to impress upon all her readers the fact that she is of a certain social milieu. The name-dropping throughout begins as annoying but quickly becomes embarrassing. Yes, Polly, we are very very impressed that you know endless numbers of top-ranking foreign service people, CEOs, and all other sorts of rich and famous folk. But I, for one, would be more interested in hearing their tales mixed with some about the experiences of more 'common folk'. Also, Platt seems to assume that her readers all share her social aspirations and often wastes pages which could be used for more practical information, I was quite taken aback when she described the "Rally," which is a sort of French Cotillion where teens of the french upper crust meet other rich teens. Platt claimed that American mothers in Paris are dying to get their daughters into a good Rally, then explains the difficulty of doing so, all the while broadly hinting that her children were, of course, accepted into them. I couldn't believe it! No anglo saxon parent I've met here would give a hoot about having his or her child in a Rally. Again, I think Platt often writes for an audience who makes up a very small percentage of her readers.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars French or Foe, June 20, 2000
By PAUL (MA/USA) - See all my reviews
28 years of teaching French, French culture, French history; 32 trips to France for business and pleasure; dear friends in Metz, Rueil-Malmaison, and Rennes; acquaintances in Toulouse and I STILL learned lots from Polly Pratt's delightful little book "French or Foe". Highly recommend to anyone travelling to France, especially for the first time, either for tourism or for business. Very important to read, re-read, then commit to memory the sections on everyday protocol. Polly's advice is right on the money. The French aren't just like Americans, but simply speak another language. There are some chasms between our values, based upon history-driven life experiences, and it is well to have an appreciation for those differences before leaving the USA. A lire! Amusez-vous, et bon voyage!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Recommended Book
My son who has lived and worked in France for 16 years recommended this read for me. I think he would like me to move to France to be near him and my grand children. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Jouetcat

4.0 out of 5 stars Great customer service
Even though I never received my book because I'm guessing that it got lost in the mail, I received my refund after I waited for the product for 30 days and the customer service... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Schirley Beekhuizen

5.0 out of 5 stars the other part of speaking French
I mentioned on my review of Tune Up Your French: Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Spoken French how hard it is to find intermediate books for your language studies. Read more
Published 6 months ago by R. Earle Harris

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ! Fall in love not just with the French but with Americans too! A thoroughly entertaining and educational read!
I just finished reading "French or Foe". I loved it!!!! I am an Australian, I had lived in Paris for almost 2 years in 1997-98 and now find myself living in the US. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Hollie

2.0 out of 5 stars Good information, let down by poor writing
Overall I agree with many of the other reviews here in that the information presented by Ms. Platt is helpful for someone moving to France. Read more
Published 13 months ago by M. Ketcham

1.0 out of 5 stars This book actually caused MORE misunderstandings than clarified behavioural codes
On my first visit to France, I loved the French and France. Now that I am living here and experiencing full throttle culture shock, it's a little different. Read more
Published 14 months ago by SK25

2.0 out of 5 stars Polly or folly?
Polly Platt's book is a mixture of valuable insight and eye-rolling pompousness. To give her due credit, the first chapter is full of useful information and essentially contains... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Vincent D. Pisano

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Friends We've Ever Had
As the relatively new kids on the geopolitical block, we Americans often misunderstand how the rest of the world operates, none more so than our amis ancien the French. Read more
Published on July 5, 2007 by mjmcc61

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensible
The single most indispensable book for anyone planning on living in France for longer than five months. Read more
Published on May 28, 2007 by Bachelier

4.0 out of 5 stars Informational, educational and fun!
I am an American woman married to a French husband, and when I came across this book, I was unprepared for such thorough explanations of and insights into my husband's often... Read more
Published on February 28, 2007 by Carine Fabius

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   


Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)



Look for Similar Items by Category


Hot Deals on Hitachi

Hitachi power tools
Routers don't get much more powerful than the "Incredible Hulk." Check out the entire line of Hitachi routers sold by Amazon.com.

Shop all Hitachi

 

Big Savings in Books

Bargain Books
Find great titles at fantastic prices in our Bargain Books Store.
 

Buy Three Books, Get a Fourth Free

4-for-3 Books
Order any four eligible books under $10 and get the lowest-price book free in our 4-for-3 Books Store. See more details.
 

Shop for Fish Tape in Home Improvement

Shop for fish tape
Use fish tape to easily string electrical, phone, and data wires and cables behind finished walls and ceilings.

Shop for fish tape

 

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Where's My Stuff?

Shipping & Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue shopping: Top Sellers
Paranoia
Paranoia by Joseph Finder
My Soul to Lose
My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent
Glenn Beck's Common Sense
Glenn Beck's Common Sense

Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates