Nobody Sits Like the French - by Charles Pappas (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A Paris travel guide and history book about how the World Expos of 1855-1937 shaped the city, from its architecture to its (culinary) customs.

Paris is the physical memory of seven World Expos that took place in the city from 1855 to 1937. These Expos left behind monuments like the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d'Orsay, the Grand and Petit Palais... But many traces are more subtle: your suitcase today is an evolution of the trunk Louis Vuitton won a gold medal with at Paris' Exposition Universelle in 1867, and the typical Parisian bistro chairs were designed during those years when a multitude of cafés and restaurants flourished because of the Expos, including icons like Le Procope.

A cocktail of travel guide and history book, Nobody Sits Like the French tells these stories and many more, pointing out the marks the Expos left behind. From now on, you'll know that every time you sip a glass of burgundy, drink from Baccarat crystal, admire a Manet or a Gauguin, and even enjoy the benefits of a working sewer system in Paris, you owe it to a World Expo there.

Review Quotes

"In this fascinating work, Pappas brings to life how the fairs transformed the city's architecture, culture, and daily life."-- "Bonjour Paris"

"...The original bistro chair was developed in 1859 by the German-Austrian cabinetmaker Michael Thonet (pronounced like bonnet), who discovered how to bend strong wood into graceful shapes using hot steam. His No. 14 chair first captured the world's attention at the Paris Exposition of 1867. Its iconic status is one of the topics explored in "Nobody Sits Like the French," Charles Pappas's sprightly yet authoritative history of the seven universal expositions held in Paris between 1855 and 1937. The No. 14 chair is emblematic of the book's broader survey of how the expositions fostered innovations at both micro and macro levels. What began as everyday items--cafe seats, Louis Vuitton trunks and Roquefort cheese--would become enduring classics, fit to stand alongside engineering marvels like the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Palais..."-- "The Wall Street Journal"

"...makes the case that international expositions matter, by tracing their effect on a European capital that really went all-in on them: Paris hosted major expos in 1855, 1867, 1878, 1889, 1900, 1925 and 1937."-- "Bloomberg CityLab"

"This exploration of Paris "through its World Expos" (the city managed seven between 1855 and 1937) is the story of what those colossal festivals of modernity gave to the world, from Louis Vuitton trunks to the Ei!el Tower (the world's most valuable monument, "with an estimated worth of $600bn") and "a working sewer system" - giant stone balls propelled by the pressure of stoppered sewage to declog pipes."-- "Strong Words Magazine"

"Pappas's witty, conversational style pulls readers along unexpected avenues...This entertaining gem should be slipped into the suitcase of any traveler headed for Paris."-- "Publishers Weekly"

About the Author

Charles Pappas' books include Flying Cars, Zombie Dogs, and Robot Overlords and Expo 2020 Dubai: The Definitive Edition, both of which focus on the transformative power of World's Fairs. In Expo 2020's official list of its top 50 attractions at the Dubai event, he was ranked #12 as the Expo Historian. He's an advisor for the US effort to win the 2031 International Horticultural Expo and a co-chair of the Institute for the Study of International Exhibitions. Charles has also covered the expo industry worldwide for Exhibitor magazine for more than 20 years. His articles have won several national/regional ASBPE, MAGGIE, and TABBI awards.