Aspects of Contemporary France

But its lack of any argument running through the book is not its biggest problem - in the end this is a book which tries to enable the reader to understand the basic aspects of contemporary France (this is obvious from the title). The problem with the book is its content. Each author takes a uninteresting approach to the topic. For example, the chapter on 'Women', is merely a feminist piece of writing which brings out all the usual facts and figures on how women are not treated correctly in French society. Their is no effort to take a more unorthodox approach to the subject. The book failed to show how French politics and society was any different to the rest of Europe - the same problems and ideas were brought out in this textbook as in any other undergraduate textbook (in any country); and they were dealt with in the same uninteresting way.

This book does have a few interesting chapters - those on linguistic policy and the Church. But their interest may merely be due to my ignorance in the policy area.

In short, this book is fine for an undergraduate essay which wants to produce the normal arguments in the subject area. But if you are after intellectual stimulation, then [...] it really is not worth it.