The French Art of Not Trying Too Hard

Sick of striving? Giving up on grit? Had enough of hustle culture? Daunted by the 10,000-hour rule? Relax: As the French know, it´s the best way to be better at everything. In the realm of love, what could be less seductive than someone who´s trying to seduce you? Seduction is the art of succeeding without trying, and that´s a lesson the French have mastered. We can see it in their laissez-faire parenting, chic style, haute cuisine, and enviable home cooking: they barely seem to be trying, yet the results are world-famous, thanks to a certain je ne sais quoi that is the key to a more creative, fulfilling, and productive life. For fans of both Mark Manson´s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and Alain de Botton´s How Proust Can Change Your Life, philosopher Ollivier Pourriol´s book draws on the examples of such French legends as Descartes, Stendhal, Rodin, Cyrano de Bergerac and Françoise Sagan to show how to be efficient à la française, and how to effortlessly reap the rewards.