Interviews with many american and french executives explain the differences and the similarities in procedures in the work place compared to five years ago. Nonetheless, there were many aha moments for me reading this book. Having never lived in france, i found it extremely interesting. I had been coming to france for about 20 years before someone gave me polly platts book french or foe. Platt was born mary marr platt in fort sheridan, illinois on january 29, 1939, and later adopted the name polly. Before coming to france, i researched french culture. When we first arrived in france, we came across this book by polly platt called french or foe. French or foe getting the most out of visiting, living and working in france has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. She also had a professional background working as a consultant, seminar leader, and public speaker. Polly platt is an american woman married to a frenchman in the upper echelons of society, so her view of france or more specifically paris is somewhat skewed towards a specific frame of reference.
French or foe getting the most out of visiting, living and working in france. This book has long been the reference for what it is about the french that rubs americans the wrong way, why the francoamerican alliance has difficulties, and how to handle french people, and find out, she says, how wonderful they are. When i got my first french consulting client in 1994, i found an indispensable guide in the book french or foe, by polly platt. Getting the most out of visiting, living and working in france by polly platt paperback. This best seller, along with its followup, savoirflair. Polly platt understands us, the french, like few anglosaxons before her. Find french or foe getting the most out of visiting, li. Polly platt, author of french or foe, cultural advisor, and former american. Years later i finally met polly in person, and have always admired her continued dedication to helping bring french and american people together through better understanding of each. Europe french or foe a friend who lived and worked in paris in the 90s gave me french or foe by polly platt and culture shock france by sally adamson taylor to read before my first trip to paris. Foe the book is a romp through the business, social and cultural. Her book french or foe was extremely popular and her writing gained a strong audience amongst many francophiles in the us.
All about french or foe getting the most out of visiting, living and working in france by polly platt. Though somewhat dated, youll know when to take a few comments with a pinch of salt. When the horse saw the stag, he thought, ah, here comes a brother from the forest. A goose in toulouse and other culinary adventures in france mort rosenblum, 2000. French or foe was not only an entertaining read, but it was also highly enlightening. I talked to people who had spent time in france and read as many books as i could including polly platts seminal book on life in france, french or foe.
Getting the most out of visiting, living and working in france polly platt. The book is a romp through the business, social and cultural. This book has more incredible and truly useful information packed into one paragraph than any two popular guidebooks combined. So i made sure we had hauled it east from my office bookshelf in santa barbara, and took it with us to paris, where i began reading it again today, the.
Polly platt was an american author specializing in books related to americans living or working. After multiple recommendations, im nearly through the book french or foe. French or foe getting the most out of visiting, living and. Europe book on italian etiquette like polly platts on france before traveling to france, we read polly platts excellent books, french or foe and savoir flair. It became our bible of sorts, our window into understanding french culture. Top books about france and the french beeloved city. Top 10 books about france expat guide to france expatica. Click to read more about french or foe getting the most out of visiting, living and working in france by polly platt. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. After multiple recommendations, im nearly through the book. Dec 26, 2008 polly platt is the author of french or foe. W hen the stag came out of the forest and saw a horse for the first time, he thought, well, there is a brother. About a week after i got back to the us, i picked up the book once again to see if what polly platt says in the book corresponded to my experience. French or foe by polly platt this book was offered as a gift from my french fathernlaw.
Polly platt tells you everything you need to know about getting the most out of visiting, living and working in france. I think many of the men polly interviewed for this book were of a certain class and age, and their views and beliefs dont automatically transfer to the rest of their countrymen my french boyfriend, included. One thing was consistent dont expect to have a social life. Buy french or foe getting the most out of visiting, living and working in france 3rd updated, expanded ed. Everyone should read polly platts books and take a few french lessons before they go to france, if they want to get the most out of their time there. Polly platt 9 january 1927 in bryn mawr, pennsylvania 26 december 2008 was an american author specializing in books related to americans living or working in france. But why is his head so bare in the middle of summer. Getting the most out of visiting, living and working. In north european countries it is generally felt that being 15 minutes late for a meeting is somewhat rude, and halfan hour is. Culture crossings this is possibly the most wellread expat title for incoming americans and with good reason, if only for its explanation of why the french dont smile. French or foe by polly platt, 9780964668409, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Her father, john, was a colonel in the judge advocate generals corps of the united states army, while her mother, vivian, worked in advertising. But if youre going to buy one book before you move to paris, make it polly platts french or foe. Learning the importance of saying bonjour really turned things around for me.
Reading this book is like wandering the streets of paris with the author, who lived here for 16 years. Book on italian etiquette like polly platts on france. French or foe getting the most out of visiting, li. Europe french or foe a friend who lived and worked in paris in the 90s gave me french or foe by polly platt and culture shock france. Polly platt provides countless examples of americans who just couldnt grok the french, suggests how the french perceive the world and recommends ways of approaching the situation better. French or foe getting the most out of visiting living and. One of ricks recommended books is french or foe by polly platt, which my local library was able to find with a bit if difficulty. Now in the third edition, polly platt examines the revolution of the last few years brought about by the computer and the internet. Nov 22, 2010 before coming to france, i researched french culture. I am sure many readers will be sad to see that author polly platt has died, aged 81. Books france travel tips, guides, pictures about paris and. Not that anyone said the french are unfriendly, just that it took them time to warm up and one year.
French or foe getting the most out of visiting, living and working in france platt, polly on. As i am sure is the case with french womean, american women also. A word coined in the polly platt book french or foe to describe the attitude towards being on time that is prevelant in mediterranean cultures and countries as opposed to northern european countries and cultures. Polly platts book is great educational reading if you want to know what it is about the french that rubs americans the wrong way and vice versa. The one thing that stuck in my mind was the authors 10 magic words to learn, so much so that i put a note with them in my phone. Jun 01, 1994 i had read french or foe just before going to live in france for about a year. This was the first transatlantic trip for us, and i had last actively used my french 27 years ago, in my sophomore year of high school.
Help is at hand in the form of polly platts savoir flair. Her book is wonderfully affectionate, very funny and very accurate. It will teach you how to handle private and business situations, and provides plenty of insight into concepts youll want to be familiar. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new. Buy a cheap copy of french or foe getting the most out of.
Books france travel tips, guides, pictures about paris. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This is where polly platts advice is valuable, and why i think the book is worthwhile. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers.
Aimed at french readers, this book is an examination of what it is about the french that rubs the rest of the world the wrong way and why, ultimately, the french have no choice but to keep being french. Polly platts excellent and engaging book, savoirflair, was of particular use to my wife and myself on a recent trip to paris. I had read french or foe just before going to live in france for about a year. Hey jeanou, based on the web site for the book since we havent read the book, its the only information we have about french or foe, i wouldnt take any of these stereotypes she seems to use seriously. A word coined in the polly platt book french or foe to describe the attitude towards being on time that is prevelant in mediterranean cultures and countries as. So i made sure we had hauled it east from my office bookshelf in santa barbara, and took it with us to paris, where i began reading it again today, the first full day of our summer here. French or foe getting the most out of visiting living. In a post today pollyvous francais writes about the time she.
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