"Your thoughts, please, on why the best selling books in France have anti-American themes."
They do not.
The top bestselling book in France "Que-ce que'une vie reussie?" ("What is a successful life?") by the philosopher Luc Ferry. It is a philosophy book and has nothing to do with the Americans.
Recently, "Bonjour Paresse" (Hello laziness) was making the rounds: a mordant critique of the pointlessness of office work today.
The foreign country the French are most curious concerning recently is Britain, because the British economic model is currently working relatively well, within a European cadre of social protection, and the French are watching it closely to see which elements of it are suitable to import, if it is sustainable.
America is not at the top of French concerns today.
Why is there anti-Americanism in France sometimes?
Partly jealousy.
Partly fear of an aggressive power that wants to be obeyed but does not seem much to want to talk.
Why is there anti-French sentiment in America? Because France does not simply obey American commands?
Wives do not either, but one does not normally hate them for having their own minds.
We in America do not want to be surrounded by Yes Men. We don't respect them. But we don't have any use for obstructionists either. The choice not to support us in the Iraq war was fine. As I have said on these threads before. France and Germany are sovereign nations and as such have every right to make that decision. I respect that. What really has Americans angry is the efforts to undermine our position. It was done overtly and mockingly. We were subjected to endless condescending lectures from Schroeder, Chirac and the popinjay. We are fighting for our lives here and Chirac and Schroeder have done everything that they could to undermine our cause. Friends do not do that to friends.
As for aggressive power that must be obeyed? Obeyed? Since when? Did we force you to obey us? As for talking. Europe does that much better than we do. We are a people who believe in action with few words. We leave the hand wringing and debate to Europe. In the run up to the war I was losing my mind with the unending debate. We were going around in circles with no end in sight. We have no patience with that. Are we "cowboys?" You betcha!
I think I will have to add you to the list of French persons who I respect. It is a short list as I don't know many French people. We have a few here on FR Marie007 and Atlantic Friend for two that I can think of off hand. They are good people.
As for France, you are still the enemy to me and many of my fellow citizens. I have often thought that the next war America will engage in will be with Europe. So much dislike and distrust needs an outlet. We are already in a cold war. From there it is just a hop skip and a jump to a hot war.