Synopses & Reviews
With the wit, tact, and wisdom that have made Miss Manners a household name, America's foremost authority on civilized behavior takes you through every aspect of your personal, professional, and social life with ease and charm. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;From somewhat classic queries:andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; * What do I wear to a job interview/felony trial/jacuzzi?andlt;BRandgt; * Where does the soup spoon/seafood fork/butter knife go? andlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;To comments on truly modern phenomena:andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; * Call waiting is like a child screaming for attentionandlt;BRandgt; * Leaky earphones are the equivalent of humming andlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;To strictly personal do's and don'ts:andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; * Don't communicate everything in a marriage ("I had the wildest dream about a man at my office...")andlt;BRandgt; * Do continue the ancient custom of mealtimes, that is, breakfast, lunch, and dinner andlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;And professional guidelines:andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; * Don't start grabbing company property after being firedandlt;BRandgt; * If a candy dish is on the visitor's side of a receptionist's desk, it is for visitors... andlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;Miss Manners offers consistently sound, sage advice to her Gentle Readers.andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; With a tipping guide (including coat checks and pizza deliveries), sections devoted to both traditional and nontraditional households, details on protocol for ceremonies and celebrations, invitations and disinvitations, insights on courtship and romance, and much more, this is andlt;Iandgt;theandlt;/Iandgt; comprehensive guide to a kinder, gentler, more civilized society.
Review
andlt;Iandgt;Kirkus Reviewsandlt;/Iandgt; How thoughtful of Miss Manners to provide us with this useful, almost encyclopedic guide to proper manners for the andlt;Iandgt;fin de siand#232;cleandlt;/Iandgt;...Elegant, sensible, exquisitely funny, Miss Manners...leads us through the dark forest of social despair and into the sunny glade of correctness.
Review
andlt;Iandgt;Publishers Weeklyandlt;/Iandgt; Miss Manners covers everything one might need to know about proper behaviour, not just for the coming millennium, but in everyday life in the present decade...entertaining as well as practical.
About the Author
Miss Manners, also known as andlt;Bandgt;Judith Martin,andlt;/Bandgt; writes a thrice-weekly newspaper column which is internationally syndicated by United Feature Syndicate. In addition to andlt;Iandgt;Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behaviorandlt;/Iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;Miss Manners' Guide to Rearing Perfect Children,andlt;/Iandgt; Miss Manners is the author of two novels: andlt;Iandgt;Style and Substanceandlt;/Iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;Gilbert,andlt;/Iandgt; a comedy of manners.
Table of Contents
andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Contentsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;List of Illustrationsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Prefaceandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Introductionandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Heavy Etiquette Theoryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Some Principlesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Sampler of Problems Mrs. Perfect Never Had to Faceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;1. Revised Conventionsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Modern Ladies and Gentlemenandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Traditional Confusionandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Forms of Addressandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Honorificsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Namesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Conventional Gestures, Phrases, and Wordsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Greetingsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Introductionsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Conventional Phrasesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Conversationandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Establishing Identityandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Traditionally Forbidden Topicsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Personal Questions and Remarksandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Questions and Comments About...andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Adviceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Correcting Othersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Fashionable Emotionsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Dressandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Public Mannersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The New Smoking Rulesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Drivingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Dealing with Strangersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Buses and Streetsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Unfortunate Habitsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Crimeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;2. Home Lifeandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Steprelations, Former Spouses, and Former In-Lawsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Changing Householdandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Unmarried Coupleandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Traditional Familyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Marital Communicationandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Roommatesandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Family Mattersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Parents and Childrenandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;For Parentsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;For Othersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Social Life with Babiesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Early Lessonsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Stepparents, Teachers, and Othersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Child Rearing Sabotagedandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Adolescenceandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Table Mannersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Equipment and How to Use Itandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Difficult Foodsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Household Helpandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Real Servant Problemandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Neighborlinessandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Communications at Homeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Telephoneandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Mailandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;3. The Workplaceandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Businesslike Behaviorandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Women in the Workplaceandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Professional Standardsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Appropriate Attireandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Business Communicationandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Life Cycle of a Jobandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;4. Business and the Publicandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Dealing with the Publicandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Staff and the Practitionerandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Attitude Problemandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Travel Industryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Hotelandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Restaurantsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Tippingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;5. When Business gets Personalandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;How to Tell Business from Social Lifeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Social Harassmentandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Presents and Bonusesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Annoyance in the Workplaceandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Mixing Professional and Private Lifeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Business of Charityandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;6. Genuine Social Lifeandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Friendshipandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Financing Friendshipandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Organizing Social Lifeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Controlling Social Lifeandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Social Obligations for Hosts and Guestsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Guest Listandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Social Occasionsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;New and Old Formsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Balls and Dancesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Parties with a Pointandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Party Procedureandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Dinner Partiesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Foodandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Social Disastersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Houseguestsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Presentsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Expressing Gratitudeandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Recreationandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Theaters and Other Public Placesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Participatory Sportsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;7. Courtship and Romanceandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Methods of Meetingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Gender Rolesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Stages of Courtshipandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Social Promiscuityandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Polite Rejectionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;8. Ceremonies and Celebrationsandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Engagementsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Showersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Baby Showersandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Weddings: An Overviewandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Planning the Weddingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Guest Listandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Invitations and Announcementsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Wedding Partyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Dress for Weddingsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Wedding Receptionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Minor Customsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Wedding Presentsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Other Ceremoniesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Birth Ceremoniesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Coming of Ageandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Special Occasionsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Wedding Anniversariesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;9. Funerals and Bereavementandlt;/Bandgt;andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Funeralsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Condolencesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Bereavementandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Legaciesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;10. Protocolandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The American Wayandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Official Lifeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Titlesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Indexandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Acknowledgmentsandlt;/Iandgt;