French art of living effortlessly

For centuries, representatives of various creative professions have strived to reach Paris, as if the very spirit of France helped to create, to make masterpieces, to live easily and unconcernedly. Love for exquisite food, a keen sense of personal freedom,... a taste for beauty, a desire for ease and enjoyment — this is the formula je ne sais quoi (literally «that, I don't know what», the elusive something) that gives the French way of life its unique shade. Can one master this art of living effortlessly, or is it embedded in the DNA? Philosopher and writer Olivier Puriyol is convinced that it can be learned.

Don't try too hard; it will only make things worse. With the right mindset, things get done by themselves while you enjoy life. Doubt yourself — you've lost. The author provides examples of famous Frenchmen who mastered the art of living effortlessly — Descartes, Cyrano de Bergerac, Rodin, Gérard Depardieu, Stendhal, Françoise Sagan, and many others. Their stories help to understand what it means to be effective in the French way and how to achieve set goals with little effort.

For those who want to understand the mysterious formula of the French way of life.