The agave family in Sonora (Agriculture handbook no. 399)

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Let's face it: the French have gotten a bad rap. Mention that you're considering a trip to France and everyone will warn you about rude waiters, supercilious shopkeepers, and snooty concierges who won't give you the time of day--and worse, pretend not to understand your high-school French. Not so, says Polly Platt, author of French or Foe?; "The French are generous, exhilarating friends," but they are different--wonderfully so. The trick to getting along in France is understanding the culture and learning to accept it on French terms instead of your own. Though the book is designed primarily for people who will be living or working in France for extended periods, the lessons Platt teaches about manners, attitudes, and culture are invaluable for even those visitors just passing through.

Customer Reviews:

Best Friends We've Ever Had.......2007-07-05

As the relatively new kids on the geopolitical block, we Americans often misunderstand how the rest of the world operates, none more so than our amis ancien the French. I came across this book in a Genevan bookstore shortly after moving there and it has helped me immeasurably over the years. My Parisian friends have enjoyed and confirmed the truth and wisdom contained in its pages.

Who knew that approaching the French in a typically American way with a big smile and focus on the task at hand is considered disingenuous and rude? How amazingly different is the response I consistently get with a deadpan expression, proper greeting and speaking French first before getting down to business!

A whole host of helpful tips, from playing devil's advocate during an evening together, politically incorrect flirtation, and the customer not always being right, are covered here in a humorous and easy-to-remember fashion. Understanding builds the bridge to friendship. After all, the French have been our friends since before we became a sovereign country, even if it, as President Sarkozy has said, "friendship means accepting that friends can have different opinions."

Indispensible.......2007-05-28

The single most indispensable book for anyone planning on living in France for longer than five months.

More than a mere study of facts and procedures, "French or Foe" explores the worldview of the French that make all that they do comprehensible. Without reading this work, France is incomprehensible, and you will be confined to a social and hermeneutic ghetto.

Highly recommended.

Informational, educational and fun!.......2007-03-01

I am an American woman married to a French husband, and when I came across this book, I was unprepared for such thorough explanations of and insights into my husband's often inexplicable behavior. Polly Platt's book goes a long way in demystifying the French, and makes you laugh along the way. A great guide for anyone planning to visit or live in France.

Foreign Country Vacation prep a MUST.......2007-02-10

French or Foe is a well written book that is a thoroughly enjoyable read AND was of immense help in preparing us for dealing with our first trip 'across the big water.' Despite our having very limited French at our disposal, the understanding of the French - through this book- allowed us to not only get along, but to thoroughly enjoy ourselves (in contrast to an unprepared fellow American Travelor, at our motel, who appeared to be about ready for a straight jacket).

How to enjoy the French.......2007-01-26

This book is an excellent guide to people proposing to live/work, of just visit in France. While it is directed mainly to Americans, it would be equally useful to Australians, or anyone from any other culture. It explains the culture, and particularly the codes of behaviour that non-francophones find so baffling. There is a rather long, complex potted history section which explains much of the background to the code, but for the short-term visitor, just having knowledge of the codes and how to respond to them will suffice. Armed with the contents of this book, one should have a trouble-free time in France.

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French or Foe
Polly Platt
Manufacturer: Culture Crossings Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0952328607

Foes of French Revolution Centralization and Anarchy

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Foes of French Revolution Centralization and Anarchy
HERMANN LIEB
Manufacturer: BELFORD CLARKE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RBKPTI

Product Description

From the lib. R. D. Pott; Ramsay Douglas Potts Brigadier General, US. Army Lieutenant Colonel, Artillery Corps July 19, 1903 Colonel, Artillery Corps June 8, 1905 Brigadier General August 31, 1908 Commandant, Artillery School of the US. Army 1904-06 Commander, 3rd Field Artillery 1907 Commander, 5th Field Artillery 1907-08 Commandant, General Service & Staff College 1911-13 Ret. September 1, 1914

Foes of the Red Cockade: A Story of the French Revolution

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Foes of the Red Cockade: A Story of the French Revolution
Captain Fs Brereton
Manufacturer: Charles Scribner's Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000FSQ8XU

Friend and foe: Aspects of French-Amerindian cultural contact in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

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Friend and foe: Aspects of French-Amerindian cultural contact in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
Cornelius J Jaenen
Manufacturer: mcClelland and Stewart
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Friend and Foe: Marcel Proust and Andre Gide

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Friend and Foe: Marcel Proust and Andre Gide
Frederick John Harris
Manufacturer: University Press of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0761821813

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Her Dearest Foe V2: A Novel
Annie French Hector
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1432652206

Book Description

In Three Volumes. This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

Campaigning with Braddock, or, Fighting allied foes: A tale of colonial days ([Boys' own library])

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Campaigning with Braddock, or, Fighting allied foes: A tale of colonial days ([Boys' own library])
William Murray Graydon
Manufacturer: Street & Smith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0008COXDU

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Foes of the red cockade: A story of the French Revolution
F. S Brereton
Manufacturer: Blackie & Son Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008CZ4G0

Our bitterest foe: An incident of 1870 : one-act drama (French's acting edition)

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Our bitterest foe: An incident of 1870 : one-act drama (French's acting edition)
Herbert Gardner Burghclere
Manufacturer: S. French
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B000896DJ0

Book Description

THE RETRIEVER: ITS POINTS; MANAGEMENT; TRAINING and DISEASES. By Frank Townend Barton. M.R.C.V.S. A VINTAGE DOG BOOKS CLASSIC REPRINT Originally published in London 1907, this scarce early work on the Retriever is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. VINTAGE DOG BOOKS have now republished it using the original text and artwork as part of their CLASSIC BREED BOOKS series. One hundred and thirty four pages contain seventeen detailed chapters:- General Management. - External Parts and Conformation. - The Flat-Coated Retriever. - The Labrador. - The Curly-Coated Retriever. - Management of the Stud Dog. - Care of Brood Bitch and Rearing Puppies. - Breaking Retrievers. - Liability of Breakers and Trainers. - Diseases and Injuries affecting Retrievers. (9 chapters) etc.The author was a highly respected breeder of the day and wrote several other important dog books. This is a fascinating read for any Retriever enthusiast or historian, andalso contains much information that is still useful and practical today. Many of the earliest dog breed books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. VINTAGE DOG BOOKS are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Our Friend the Retriever; Curly-Coated, Flat-Coated and Golden

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Our Friend the Retriever; Curly-Coated, Flat-Coated and Golden
Rowland, Editor Lohn
Manufacturer: Methuen & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RWHA6I

Book Description

This convenient guide describes the best species and hybrids for various garden uses and desired blooming times in moderate climates. It includes 100 species, 200 hybrids, and both deciduous and evergreen azaleas that can form the core of an interesting collection.Published at $24.95 Our last copies available at $12.49

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