What French Women Know

About Love, Sex, and Other Matters of the Heart and Mind

By: Debra Ollivier

Narrated by: Debra Ollivier

It's not the shoes, the scarves, or the lipstick that gives French women their allure. It's this: French women don't give a damn. They don't expect men to understand them. They don't care about being liked or being like everyone else. They generally reject notions of packaged beauty. They accept the passage of time; celebrate the immediacy of pleasure; like to break rules; embrace ambiguity and imperfection; and prefer having a life to making a living.

They are, in other words, completely unlike us.

In her groundbreaking and utterly liberating new book, Debra Ollivier goes beyond familiar ooh-la-la stereotypes about French women, challenging cherished notions about sex, love, dating, marriage, motherhood, raising children, body politics, seduction, and flirtation. Peppered with anecdotes from its Franco-American author and filled with provocative thinking from French sexperts, mistresses and maidens alike, What French Women Know debunks long-standing myths and offers savvy new thinking from an old sexy culture.

Less a how-to and more a how-not-to (how not to be dogmatic about love, how not to "date", how not to mourn the end of youth), it presents a refreshing counterpoint to the stale love dogma of our times, and offers realistic, life-affirming alternatives from the land that knows how to love.

©2009 Debra Ollivier (P)2009 Penguin

Ollivier Gives French Perspective

Debra Ollivier gives a detailed overview of the contrast between French and American culture. This book is appealing to any reader in search of beautiful syntax and deep curiosity to become culturally educated. I did not know much about the French, and now I feel the need to relax and give myself the pleasure of indulging in life. There are a few things we can learn from French women. Let's not take ourselves so seriously.

Flows of Life

I completely disagree with the idea of having affairs when married as long as you keep it quiet.

However, I do agree with the idea that there should be mystery with a woman with her man. The section on beauty is fantastic. I agree Americans want understanding and ruled ways of life, boxed up and easy to digest in a false happiness.

Also, the battle of the sexes and true feminism in America is a serious issue and is discussed in the book also.

Ironically some of these french ideas are very biblical (despite the book blaming protestant ideals being America's biggest problem but many protestant ideals weren't biblical either!)

Overall, it's a great book and the narrator is easy to listen to.

Surprisingly informative

I thought this was going to be fun, fluffy background noise. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Ollivier's book had a lot of information to present. Informative, inspiring and intelligent.

Interesting and well narrated perspective

The author does a good job of showing her Anglo reflections on assimilating into Parisian/French culture. I don't know if I buy everything she says about psycho analysis but nonetheless it's an interesting perspective on "Fwench" lifestyle.

I loved it!

From the start of French women and men actually LIKING each other to the very end where we learn that only America and the strict sharia law modified children's books displaying true anatomy, this book has much to give. Food, ease, beauty, it's all here - cultivate your own garden. I wish every American young woman - and grown woman - would read this. If I had a daughter, we'd read it together. More than once.

Very good !

Where does What French Women Know rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I quite enjoyed the book, it was fun and very insightful! I would definitely recommend it for anyone, but .. perhaps as a paper book.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Debra Ollivier?

I don't know... but perhaps someone who isn't quite so... close to the material. The narration was quite good for the first half of the book, but towards the middle, every sentence started ending with a question-like tone? And it got really hard to listen to? Don't get me wrong, she has a lovely voice, but perhaps having someone else read it might have been preferable...

Any additional comments?

The stories were delightful though, and I loved the book, just thought I would put in my two cents!

Tired of the French impersonations

The American author’s imitation of French got
old immediately; eventually turned obnoxious and ultimately ruined the audible experience. I am sure the book version is better. The audio version is a regretted use of a monthly credit.

The Truth and Nothing but the Truth

I was born and lived in France for 21 years. I really enjoyed your book that is extremely accurate about French Women in general. Living in America for many years and seeing the difference between the american woman and I always puzzled me. It is with pride that I finally understand the significance of being French and loving it. Your book is excellent. I look forward to promote it to my friends who in return will understand why I am so different from them. Thank you and Vive la difference!

Refreshing

What made the experience of listening to What French Women Know the most enjoyable?

As an American woman, it's a different approach to being a wife, mother, professional, etc. it strikes me as much lower stress. I really enjoyed the perspective.

Now I know what French women know

I really like this book and highly recommend it. One good thing to know about French women is that they really like Men, a lot a lot. And vice versa for men--they like Women a lot a lot. That's a good start for both sides. Plus French women have a way of getting by the irritations and difficulties that men oftentimes present. The book reveals the secret of how French women stay trim: but I think it best to find out for yourself! It is most excellent advice compared to everything else written on the subject.