Deb's Book Nook: Madame Chic by Jennifer L Scott

Madame Chic is a delightful little book that allows one to experience a greater depth of life through the adoption of French culture. The author Jennifer lived as an exchange student with a french family and over her time spent with Madame Chic and her family she learned that being presentable, participating in rich culture and cultivating an appreciation of life can be done without the ideals of over consumption and mass materialism. Jennifer learned how to cultivate a life she desires and to bring richness into it through every day living.

Each chapter is divided into a life subject such as Exercise is a part of Life Not a Chore, Deprive Yourself Not, Find Your True Style, Reject the New Materialism. There are many simple suggestions to enrich and improve your life and live it to the fullest.

One of the things I liked most about this book was the emphasis on not conforming to societies' idea of materialism. Living a minimalist life myself as of late I can appreciate her suggestions on being happy with less, and learning or re learning to embrace cultural activities that enrich the mind as well as the soul like attending the theater, reading, seeking out different kinds of movies such as alternative, or foreign films that have a deeper message than hero's saving the world. ( not knocking those movies, just creating more of a balance ).

Another favorite suggestion of mine was incorporating more high quality foods into the diet instead of endless amounts of lower quality or junk foods. She talks about how the French have always enjoyed their food and don't obsess over carbs or calories or body size. Its definitely a cultural one up France and other countries have over the U.S. Our shelves are filled with tasteless lower calorie meals loaded with salt or sugar to make up for lack of flavor. Our citizens continually think about if a certain food will go to their waist or how much they have to workout because of what was eaten.

There are many more golden nuggets to take from this book. Not all suggestions will work for every lifestyle, one should take what is doable and adaptable to one's lifestyle. Living a minimalist lifestyle I fell this book goes hand in hand with the concepts of living a more purposeful life. I highly recommend tis book if you're looking for an overhaul or improvement of life in general.