The Bonjour Effect won't help Francophiles with tricky verb conjugations or obscure vocabulary, but it will help you more effectively communicate with the French—and better understand their culture— regardless of your fluency in the language. Addressing such questions as why French service people may seem rude, why the French seem to relish discussing the demise of their country, why they are so quick to say “ no,” why they get so passionate discussing their language, and much more, Canadian authors Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoit Nadeau look to their own encounters with Parisian locals—as well as historical and cultural contexts—to “ take readers beyond what the French say to explain what they mean.” It's a sparkling read that's as delightfully fascinating as it is hugely practical to visitors to France (I recently traveled to Paris and wish I'd read this book beforehand!).