Vive La France!

Is not the words "Joie de Vivre" French for joy of life? Qui!

The French work to live while North Americans live to work. Life is short and no wonder Hemingway said that those who know Paris never forget it.

An interesting take on the Gaulle of living.

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fluff history

Some more rigorous historical analysis would have turned this 'lite' read into something worthwhile. The crude translations of 17th-century France into modern-day America, irrespective of different economic systems and radically discrete cultures, turn what could have been an inspired thesis into the kind of chatter you'd expect to hear from grandma.

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"stylish" social history

This was such a pleasant, historical read. I'm very interested in all things stylish, if not fashionable. This title interested me at once. It really describes how so many things we use today date back to the era of Louis XIV. Today's obsession with luxury goods really has its roots in France's history. Louis XIV wanted every aspect of his life, including those around him, to be luxurious. Today, many middle-class (and sometimes lower class) working person thinks they deserve a Louis Vuitton bag or Lexus SUV. Living in style is a privilege, but can be obtained with some creative thinking and budgeting, just as long as we have our priorities straight.

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