After equating the cruelty of Jews with that of Hitler and Stalin, Truman waxed philosophic about ingratitude: "Put an underdog on top and it makes no difference whether his name is Russian, Jewish, Negro, Management, Labor, Mormon, Baptist he goes haywire. I've found very, very few who remember their past condition when prosperity comes."

The book barely mentions the country's literature, art and restaurants — the tourist's France — but focuses on the systems and structures that define the French. They found something essential. "Being liked is very important in American culture," Mr. Nadeau said. "Being liked is not important in France. Being appreciated, yes, being in power, being right. But being liked? The French don't like being liked."