The French Art of Living Well: Finding Joie de Vivre in the Everyday World

Cathy Yandell

May 2023 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Kim Niemi

About this audiobook

Cathy Yandell's The French Art of Living Well is a delightful look at French culture, from literature to cuisine to humor and more, showing how the French have captured that magic elixir known as joie de vivre. What is joie de vivre, and why is it a fundamentally French concept? In search of those ineffable qualities that make up the joy of living, this lively book takes listeners on a voyage to France through forays into literature, history, and culture. How does art contribute to daily life? Why is cuisine such a central part of French existence? Why are the French more physical than many other cultures? How do French attitudes toward time speak volumes about their sense of pleasure and celebration? And finally, to what extent is this zest for life exportable? These and other questions give way to a dynamic sketch of French life today. Peppered with anecdotes and humor, this book uncovers some of the secrets of the celebrated French art of living well. Drawing from her years of living in France as a student, professor, and mother, Yandell crafts an honest and profound appraisal of French culture and how la joie de vivre can be developed in anyone's life.

About the author

Cathy Yandell is a professor at Carleton College, teaching courses in French Renaissance literature and culture, contemporary cultural and political issues in France, and the French language. Having published articles on writers from Louise Labe to Montaigne, she has also authored, edited, and coedited several books.

Kim Niemi has appeared on numerous stages in the Boston area as an actor and singer/songwriter. Kim is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and a proud member of Actors' Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. Her voice has been described as soothing, soulful, and powerful.