The Art of Being a Woman: A Simple Guide to Everyday Love and Laughter

by Veronique Vienne

Book Overview

From the author of The Art of Doing Nothing comes a practical approach to discovering joy in the things of everyday life. The Art of Being a Woman is designed to infuse women's lives with the one thing that they have been missing: unabashed joie de vivre.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307337243
• ISBN13: 9780307337245
• Release Date: December 2006
• Publisher: Potter Style
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.3" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Lighthearted view of us women

I enjoyed this quick read tremendously. It made me laugh and think. We tend to forget sometimes the wonderful thing us women do and it is nice to reminded. Also, some of the corky things we do to each other and ourselves. Totally worth it. I'm buying another one for a gift!

Insightful and Uplifting Reading

I love Veronique's comments about "sisterhood." She says this should be more inclusive and should not be some exclusive club. Rather, she celebrates all women and the uniquely wonderful feminine qualities that are theirs. Vive la difference! This is a charming, funny, and encouraging book!

Vivienne is absolutely right!

Being born and raised French and now living in Chicago, I can completely relate with Veronique Vienne and this great book. Yes, French women are raised very differently, and from that their regards towards food, cooking, working, cleaning, dressing up, and being sexy is based on different beliefs from the Americans. When Vivienne recommends to cherish your home and clean in it in your best outfit, that doesn't mean literally in high heels, of course, that means you know those chores are beneath you intellectually, but every action has its beauty, its purpose, its grace, its honorable simplicity, therefore its not a chore anymore, it's a service to yourself, so you don't have to turn yourself into the completely ridiculous sweatpants and oversized t-shirt person you despise in you. And when she talks about cooking to loose weight, well same thing applies here. I personally don't cook much but I know my ingredients and what is right and good for me to eat. Most americans sadly are not raised with the knowledge of quality eating for their own body needs. They don't know the difference of what is a proper lunch dessert and dinner dessert for example, right for a good digestion. Fast food and junk foods have jinxed most of their taste buds and cravings from childhood. So Vivienne advises to reduce your portions, sure, but mostly to discover, analyse and eat the right stuff (fresh and clean food) and it will elevate you. And from a woman stand point, don't go and think French women are perfection, far from it, they aren't as ambitious, as gender-aware and as friendly to each other as American women, but their appreciation of variety of styles, from antique to modern, of fashion, of manners, and of self-respect and self-indulgence is what has made them distinct and widely admired. This book goes way beyond that, is an easy read and I have been offering it to my very best friends so they can realize what a privilege it is Being a Woman.

Delightful and the perfect gift for a favorite female

Although this is lightly written, the information inside is a fabulous celebration of how to live and celebrate the life of being female. Lots of the information is original, clever and makes you both smile and nod in agreement with the wit and wisdom of the author. Because of its smaller size, high quality paper and charming illustrations this is a perfect gift for a female friend, girl graduating high school/college or anyone in need of a lovely pick-me-up.

Exactly what I was expecting

This is the first of Ms. Vienne's books that I have purchased. She was recommended by Anne Barrone because she brings the French joie de vivre to American women. It is a very easy and quick read, it is very uplifting and the language is smooth and pretty. I have not actually done much in applying the philosophies for any period of time, but I did get a joie de vivre while reading it. She talks about house cleaning and men and her words make both seem charming and enjoyable, even the most irritating things. I highly recommend this book to bring joie de vivre to every woman.