How the French Think

Author: Sudhir Hazareesingh
Publisher: Basic Books
ISBN: 0465061664
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 352

Book Description
An award-winning historian presents an absorbing account of the French mind, shedding light on France's famous tradition of intellectual life Why are the French such an exceptional nation? Why do they think they are so exceptional? The French take pride in the fact that their history and culture have decisively shaped the values and ideals of the modern world. French ideas are no less distinct in their form: while French thought is abstract, stylish and often opaque, it has always been bold and creative, and driven by the relentless pursuit of innovation. In How the French Think, the internationally-renowned historian Sudhir Hazareesingh tells the epic and tumultuous story of French intellectual thought from Descartes, Rousseau, and Auguste Comte to Sartre, Claude Lé-Strauss, and Derrida. He shows how French thinking has shaped fundamental Westerns ideas about freedom, rationality, and justice, and how the French mind-set is intimately connected to their own way of life-in particular to the French tendency towards individualism, their passion for nature, their celebration of their historical heritage, and their fascination with death. Hazareesingh explores the French veneration of dissent and skepticism, from Voltaire to the Dreyfus Affair and beyond; the obsession with the protection of French language and culture; the rhetorical flair embodied by the philosophes, which today's intellectuals still try to recapture; the astonishing influence of French postmodern thinkers, including Foucault and Barthes, on postwar American education and life, and also the growing French anxiety about a globalized world order under American hegemony. How the French Think sweeps aside generalizations and easy stereotypes to offer an incisive and revealing exploration of the French intellectual tradition. Steeped in a colorful range of sources, and written with warmth and humor, this book will appeal to all lovers of France and of European culture.

How the French Think

Author: Sudhir Hazareesingh
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 014197480X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 448

Book Description
Sudhir Hazareesingh's How the French Think is a warm yet incisive exploration of the French intellectual tradition, and its exceptional place in a nation's identity and lifestyle Why are the French an exceptional nation? Why do they think they are so exceptional? An important reason is that in France intellectual activity is regarded not just as the preserve of the thinking elite but for almost everyone. French thought can sometimes be austere and often opaque, yet it is undeniably bold and innovative, and driven by a relentless quest for the regeneration of humanity. Sudhir Hazareesingh traces its tumultuous history in an enormously enjoyable and highly original manner, showing how the French ways of thought and life connect. This will be one of the most revealing books written about them - or any other European country - for years. Sudhir Hazareesingh was born in Mauritius. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and has been a Fellow and Tutor in Politics at Balliol College, Oxford, since 1990. Among his books are The Legend of Napoleon (Granta, 2004) and Le MytheGaullien (Gallimard, 2010). He won the Prix du Memorial d'Ajaccio and the Prix de la Fondation Napoleon for the first of these, and a Prix d'Histoire du Senat for the second.

What We French Think of You British

Author: Marcel Lucont
Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing
ISBN: 1780091168
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 158

Book Description
Marcel Lucont, France's premier misanthropist and lover, introduces the reader to the British character as seen through the eyes of the French. From food and weather to television and pets, he shares his disdainful opinion on all things British and offers advice on just why the French do it so much better. The book features: "Dans La Rue", an eye-spy parody set on the British high street; "Tits of the Brits", a poem concerning the large British bust vs the petite French cup; "Stolen French", a guide to words the British have stolen from the French; "The British Joke", Marcel's take on British humour; and, "The Monarchy", including why the French got rid of theirs.

The History of Modern France

Author: Jonathan Fenby
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1471129314
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 717

Book Description
With the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815, the next two centuries for France would be tumultuous. Bestselling historian and political commentator Jonathan Fenby provides an expert and riveting journey through this period as he recounts and analyses the extraordinary sequence of events of this period from the end of the First Revolution through two others, a return of Empire, three catastrophic wars with Germany, periods of stability and hope interspersed with years of uncertainty and high tensions. As her cross-Channel neighbour Great Britain would equally suffer, France was to undergo the wrenching loss of colonies in the post-Second World War as the new modern world we know today took shape. Her attempts to become the leader of the European union is a constant struggle, as was her lack of support for America in the two Gulf Wars of the past twenty years. Alongside this came huge social changes and cultural landmarks but also fundamental questioning of what this nation, which considers itself exceptional, really stood - and stands - for. That saga and those questions permeate the France of today, now with an implacable enemy to face in the form of Islamic extremism which so bloodily announced itself this year in Paris. Fenby will detail every event, every struggle and every outcome across this expanse of 200 years. It will prove to be the definitive guide to understanding France.

Read & Think French, Premium Second Edition

Author: The Editors of Think French! Magazine
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 1259836304
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 227

Book Description
Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product. Your first-class ticket to building key French language skills From the bestselling Read & Think series, this fully-illustrated guide brings the French language to life! In addition to introducing, developing, and growing key vocabulary, this book gives you an insider’s look at Francophone life and culture—from a trip around Marseilles to a walk through Senegal’s bustling markets, and from biographies of famous French personalities to articles on the customs and gastronomy of French-speaking countries. Including more than 100 engaging articles written by native French-speakers, each one provides a bilingual glossary on the same page, allowing you to learn without stopping to look up new or unfamiliar words. Each chapter contains several exercises to reinforce comprehension and the new premium edition features streaming audio recordings of more than 40 readings (70 minutes) and over 7,000 vocabulary items by flashcard, easily accessible online or on any mobile device, through the unique McGraw-Hill Language Lab app.

French Theory

Author: François Cusset
Publisher: U of Minnesota Press
ISBN: 0816647321
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 414

Book Description
Explores how the French theory of philosophy, which became popular during the last three decades of the twentieth century, spread to America and examines the critical practices that French theory inspired.

Political Thought in the French Wars of Religion

Author: Sophie Nicholls
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108840787
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 285

Book Description
Fresh analysis of the political thought of the French Holy League, active during the religious wars, within its intellectual context.

Read & Think French, Premium Third Edition

Author: The Editors of Think French! Magazine
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 1260474585
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 257

Book Description
Your first-class ticket to building better French language skills—and appreciating the diversity of Francophone culture! From the bestselling Read & Think series, this fully illustrated premium third edition of Read & Think French brings the French language to life! In addition to introducing, developing, and growing key vocabulary, this book gives you an insider’s look at the exciting diversity of life and culture the French-speaking world—from etiquette at the French table to the comedians of Quebec to the gastronomic flavors of the French West Indies. Including more than 100 engaging articles written by native French speakers, each one provides a bilingual glossary on the same page, allowing you to learn without stopping to look up new or unfamiliar words. Each chapter contains several exercises to reinforce comprehension. This premium edition features streaming audio recordings of 35 readings (more than 2 hours), supported by the McGraw Hill Language Lab app. Read & Think French, Premium Third Edition features: New articles reflecting the current aspects of life in the French-speaking world New and expanded materials in the McGraw Hill Language Lab app (free online and via mobile) App includes flashcards of more than 7,000 vocabulary terms App includes audio recordings of 35 readings (2+ hours)

Paris France

Author: Gertrude Stein
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 0871403749
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 129

Book Description
Matched only by Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, Paris France is a "fresh and sagacious" (The New Yorker) classic of prewar France and its unforgettable literary eminences. Celebrated for her innovative literary bravura, Gertrude Stein (1874–1946) settled into a bustling Paris at the turn of the twentieth century, never again to return to her native America. While in Paris, she not only surrounded herself with—and tirelessly championed the careers of—a remarkable group of young expatriate artists but also solidified herself as "one of the most controversial figures of American letters" (New York Times). In Paris France (1940)—published here with a new introduction from Adam Gopnik—Stein unites her childhood memories of Paris with her observations about everything from art and war to love and cooking. The result is an unforgettable glimpse into a bygone era, one on the brink of revolutionary change.

Design Mom

Author: Gabrielle Stanley Blair
Publisher: Artisan
ISBN: 1579656552
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 289

Book Description
New York Times best seller Ever since Gabrielle Stanley Blair became a parent, she’s believed that a thoughtfully designed home is one of the greatest gifts we can give our families, and that the objects and decor we choose to surround ourselves with tell our family’s story. In this, her first book, Blair offers a room-by-room guide to keeping things sane, organized, creative, and stylish. She provides advice on getting the most out of even the smallest spaces; simple fixes that make it easy for little ones to help out around the house; ingenious storage solutions for the never-ending stream of kid stuff; rainy-day DIY projects; and much, much more.