What is a household account book?
There are books that we read with interest. And then there are books that evoke a much rarer experience: the feeling that someone sitting across from you is confiding their entire life to you.
That is exactly how one feels upon discovering Jacques Attali’s *Le Livre de Raison*. That is exactly how one feels upon discovering Jacques Attali’s *Le Livre de Raison*. de Jacques Attali.
From the very first letter, it becomes immediately clear where the author intends to take the reader: to the heart of a family legacy in which memories, life choices, beliefs, and secrets become a legacy as precious as material possessions.
Historically, a family chronicle was a record kept by families to preserve the memories of past generations. It documented births, marriages, deaths, and significant events, as well as reflections, values, and lessons that families wished to pass on to their descendants. It was not merely an administrative document.
It was already a tool for preserving memories.
Why *Le Livre de Raison* Is So Powerful
What stands out in this book is the power of the personal narrative. We live in a world where people often talk about assets, estates, and inheritance from a financial perspective. Yet when someone passes away, it is not just their possessions that are at risk of being forgotten.
They are also her memories, her reflections, her worldview, the lessons she has learned from her life, and everything that has shaped her journey.
Yet it is precisely these aspects that interest future generations the most. We want to understand who those who came before us really were. We want to know their motivations, their dreams, their doubts, their successes, and sometimes even their regrets.
Le Livre de Raison powerfully reminds us that a family’s true wealth is not limited to what it owns. It also lies in the stories it passes down.
What families really want to pass on
As you close the first pages of the book, a question naturally arises: How does it feel when this story is about your own father, mother, or grandparents? Because suddenly, time seems to stand still. A person continues to speak even though they are no longer here. The conversation carries on through their words. That is undoubtedly what makes the concept of the book of remembrance so fascinating.
For centuries, human beings have sought to answer the same question: How can we pass on what truly matters? How can we leave behind more than just material possessions? How can we pass on the experience of life?
The Paradox of Digital Memory
Today, we produce more memories than all previous generations combined. We take thousands of photos. We record videos. We exchange messages all day long. We store our data in nearly unlimited digital spaces. And yet, a paradox emerges. We preserve more information, but we sometimes convey less meaning. A photo gallery can show a face. A hard drive can hold thousands of files. But neither one necessarily tells a life story. What gives value to a record is not just its content. It is the intention to share. The fact that a person took the time to share what they considered essential.
From the household ledger to the memory video
Ledgers fulfilled this need at a time when writing was the only way to leave a lasting record. Today, technology offers us new possibilities. We can convey not only words, but also a voice, a look, an emotion, and a presence. A video preserves a way of speaking. A way of smiling. A personality. It allows those who come after us to experience something far more intimate than mere information.
BIZOU.me: The 21st-Century Household Ledger
When you read That is exactly how one feels upon discovering Jacques Attali’s *Le Livre de Raison*.one idea naturally comes to mind. The tools change. Human needs remain the same. In the past, families wrote letters or kept household ledgers. Today, they can record video messages to be discovered in the future. That is precisely the mission of BIZOU.me, the first solution developed by MY-MEMOIRE.
BIZOU.me allows you to record a video, audio, photo, or text message and schedule it to be sent at a later date.
For a child's 18th birthday.
For a special birthday.
To pass on a family history.
To share a memory or a life lesson.
To say what we don’t always get the chance to say these days.
In a way, these messages have become the digital guestbooks of the 21st century. They don’t just convey information; they convey a sense of presence.
Why preserving one's memories has become essential
Upon reading the Livre de Raison, a conviction takes hold.
What truly spans generations is not money, nor objects, nor even documents. It is stories. Personal accounts. Intimate confidences. Life lessons.
It is these fragments of humanity that allow those who come after us to understand where they come from and, at times, to better understand who they are themselves. The tools evolve. The need to pass on this legacy remains.
In the past, families kept household ledgers. Today, they can share their voices, faces, and memories through solutions like BIZOU.me and MY-MEMOIRE. Because, deep down, the greatest treasure we can leave behind may not be material. It is the memory of our human experience.
https://www.fayard.fr/livre/le-livre-de-raison-9782213722146
For further reading:
The Benoist Family Archives: Household Accounts and Family History in the 15th Century https://www.persee.fr/doc/shmes_1261-9078_1983_act_13_1_1389
Livre de Raison _ Montaigne https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livre_de_raison_(Montaigne)
The account book of a Lyon burgher in the 14th century: a text in the vernacular https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1021815/f1.item