A French writer, Pierre Baynard, has written an invaluable book for these hectic times: "Comment Parler des Livres que l'on n'a pas Lus" ( How to Talk About Books that You Haven't Read) will solve the problem of carrying on scintillating conversations about tomes you know nothing about.
Sarah Vine writes in the Times of London that "it is perfectly possible to bluff your way through a book that you have never read -- especially if that conversation happens to be taking place with someone else who also hasn't read it. All of which just goes to confirm what I've always thought about French academics, which is that mostly they are oversubsidised frauds."
I can't wait to get my hands on Baynard's book and not read it.
Well, I don't know if I'd recommend that you actually purchase the book. While the author's concept is intriguing, in a manner typical of some French academics he is prone to overstating his points, and some concepts simply don't translate well from French to English.
(Now you don't know if I've read the book or not, do you?)
I taught for a few years in French universities as a guest professor. Professors are profoundly honored in their system. They will be much more revered at a social function than doctors or lawyers. This applies to high school and elementary school teachers as well. It vastly encourages folks entering these fields and you can be sure that their professors (as they all are called) reflect a higher level than in the US where those going into teaching were in the bottom category of those taking the SAT. However, there is some truth in what you say. They tend to be pompous: like attorneys and doctors here who are on the identical pinacle socially.
Mike D exposes that those of like mind, such as he, are not really interested in pursuing fact but instead can bluff their way through on emotion and hyperbole.I have not read the book, don't intend to, and would find no use in something that would help perpetuate a fraud. It's the same reason I would not read an "Inconvenient Truth."
Sheesh, Brian, lighten up a little. I just did a little tongue in cheek response in the spirit of the original post. No need for you to get personal.
i'm curious brian, how do you figure all these scientists came up with the climate change story, and why?
I don't know John, ask Mike D. Maybe he read the book or didn't.You figure it out
Or you can take Brian's approach and just ask Rush what he thinks of the book.
(If I may indulge in a little tit-for-tat, since I seem to be Brian's favorite target.)
I would like to know how I should do in order to get one, because I am very interested on it and because I think that this book did not come here in Brazil yet. I would like to get one and maybe make the translation of it for the Portuguese on my period of training in the college.