Au Contraire!: Figuring Out the French by Gilles Asselin

Au Contraire!: Figuring Out the French Reviews

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  goodreads Customer

  Fantastic view of the French from a American point of view. Thought it would go deep into French history but gladly it stays relevant in the modern view point. worth a read to understand where you stand if you ever come across a polite French person. Which will never happen
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  Client goodreads

  Très bonne lecture. Ça ouvre les yeux sur pas mal de choses bien que cela ne remplace une réelle expérience
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  Roxanne Spar

  Chapeau to the authors who wrote such a well done book! It was not an easy job, yet they did a superb analysis, it’s accurate and thorough. They don’t judge one side or the other; they present both perspectives (e.g. how the French and Americans think and why, how they see relationships, etc.). I laughed hard to some of the anecdotes.Id say its a must read for expats, for any American married or dating a French person or who are friends, and for anyone taking French (knowing the culture is at least as important as knowing the language).The first half is about personal stuff (self, family, school, friends, romance, work, religion, and the regions), it made me very nostalgic of my French culture. The chapter about the French society made me sad still the same issues, maybe worsened.The second half is about the workplace and doing business. It reminded me why I prefer working with Americans but I was raised and did all my schooling in France and I definitely think like a French! It was interesting to realize that.The 2004 version of the book exists in French, see: “Français Américains : Ces différences qui nous rapprochent” on .fr.
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  L. Vickroy

  It sets out the differences between the French and Americans in all aspects of life. Very interesting.Clearly written.
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  Chris Morgan

  En tant que couple mixte de nationalité, tout ouvrage sur les différentes cultures nous intéressent.Déçus que cétait surtout une comparaison Franco Américaine, nous attendions à une comparaison Franco Britannique. Mais intéressant quand même pour moi française , même si moins pour mon mari Britannique, car jai qussi vécu aux Etats Unis.Je recomanderais quand même à tout imigrant voulant en savoir plus sur la culture française.
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  Kathleen W. Fox

  I like the historical and in depth analyses of the French perspective. I am an armchair travellor now. i have been to France twice as a tourist but am not planning a return trip. The cultural sophistocation Au Contraire is adding to my thinking not just about France but about being an East Coast American is valuable to me adding to the value of having travelled a few short weeks to paris, Normandy and the Dordogne. the book greatly increases myt desire to return to France.