Mireille Guiliano has written an interesting book on attitudes toward getting older: “French Women Don’t Get Facelifts.” Author of “French Women Don’t Get Fat,” Guiliano asserts that our obsession with looking younger does not serve us well.  Our obsession does serve the diet, cosmetic and fashion industries very well, however.

Guiliano claims while gravity works the same in France as in the rest of the world, French women possess the real secret to aging well: attitude. In a recent survey across various cultures, the French were the least concerned about aging and one-third of French respondents believe old age begins after the age of 80. They revere brain power – quoting Rousseau and debating politics of the day.

“Being an adult is being a grown up,” writes Guiliano. “And being grown up means losing some of life’s insecurities, like worrying about gravity.”

Oui, oui, madame.

(S-R archive photo: A laser-cut paper model of the Eiffel Tower, from Artifacture Studios.)

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