The French Art of Not Trying Too Hard

We’ve often been told that anything worthwhile can only be achieved through sustained effort, hard work or 10,000 hours of practice. But what if the opposite were true?

The French have known it for centuries. We can see it in their laissez faire parenting, their chic style and their haute cuisine - the French barely seem to be trying, yet the results are world famous.

Here, philosopher Ollivier Pourriol draws lessons from French legends to show that the best results in life come not from working harder but from letting go. From Stendhal’s writing technique to Phillipe Petit’s grace on the tightrope; from the eloquence of Cyrano de Bergerac to the serenity of Rodin and the simplicity of Descartes, this book shows how the greatest French artists, musicians, writers, thinkers and chefs have perfected the art of making their achievements seem easy. And how we can cultivate such je ne sais quoi in our own lives.