Enough with trying? Tired of hustle culture? Relax: As the French know, it is the best way to become better at everything.

In the realm of love, what could be less sexy than someone trying to charm you? Charm is the art of succeeding without effort, and this is a lesson the French have mastered. We see it in their relaxed parenting, chic style, French cuisine, and enviable cooking: they almost don’t seem to try, yet the results are world-famous, thanks to a certain je ne sais quoi that is key to a more creative, satisfying, and productive life.

For fans of Mark Manson and Alain de Botton, philosopher Ollivier Pourriol’s book draws on examples from French legends like Descartes, Stendhal, Rodin, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Françoise Sagan, to show how to be effective à la française and how to easily reap the rewards.