Customer Reviews

The Art and Power of Being a Lady

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Many of the previous reviewers of this book seem to believe this is all "common sense". Is it? How many times have you been annoyed by a woman on a cell phone talking so loud, everyone within fifty feet could hear her? How about a woman cutting in line in the supermarket? How many times have you listened to or even took part in spreading gossip? I don't think this is common sense, otherwise there wouldn't be so many instances of rudeness and self-absorbtion these days. This is a very sharp little book. One not only for young women. Believe me, there are plenty of thirtysomethings, and even fortysomethings who could learn a lot from what is written here. The introduction is wonderful. Right on target! There are tidbits on fashion and throwing parties, but the emphasis of this book is on behavior. It is a sad fact that good manners and courtesy are becoming more and more rare in today's world. For that very reason, this book is a wise buy.

I bought this book and read it in about three hours. I was interested from the beginning to the end. Although these women are brilliant writers, this book is written for a teenager rather than an older woman trying to learn etiquette or using this book as a guide. The authors are no doubt true ladies, nevertheless, they mention that if a person wanted to learn real etiquette, buy Emily Post's Etiquette. Also, this book has an abundant amount of praise for the stars or famous people and about how these famous women are truly ladies, which I skipped over because I found it boring and frivilous, it almost seemed as a kind of name dropping although, not quite. I would also like to add that famous people may seem to be ladies, however, we really do not know them personally and I think that one must know what a person is really like before they put them in the category of being a lady. I would definately recommend this book for young women but not as a guide for etiquette. I would buy this book for the introduction alone. It is the best written introduction for a book that I have ever read. I also bought Emily Post's Etiquette, by Peggy Post and It is a wonderfully graceous book that any person and a standing true lady can learn from.

This is not a rule book for Miss Porter's wannabees but rather an insight on integrity, dignity and being a better person. This book was well written and logically sub-divided by appropriate subject subject content. While a lot of the advice is common sense, I felt re-aligned with the guidelines for appropriate behavior, especially regarding getting and maintaining respect in the workplace and being a better person in general. This book will stay on my shelf as a constant reminder of how I would like to be perceived and how I should adhere to these 'lady-like' standards.

I was very turned off by this book for many reasons. The authors seem to confusion what being a lady is with simply being a strong woman. Sure you can be both, but being able to check your oil and balance your check book have nothing to do with good character and social grace. I am a female military member and I have been successful in truly what is a man's career for the past 12 years. I know what it means to be a strong woman and yet I have maintained being a lady because of the way I was raised. In my opinion the authors made it seem that every woman is a lady, which discounts what it truly means to be a lady. The authors also condone one night stands...that is correct these women say it is ok for a LADY to have one night stands. There is also mention of wearing snake skin mini skirts at clubs, fish net stockings and knowing when to have a keg at a party. None of which would be considered lady like where I am from. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and mine is the authors have NO IDEA what it truly mean to be a real lady, modern strong feminist woman maybe, but not a lady. I gave the book to a friend who wanted to read it for herself...I told her not to worry about returning it.

This book is a wonderful guide for any young woman who often finds herself behaving in a manner that she knows would make her mother cringe. The advice is simple and should seem obvious, but it is an effective reminder in a time when, whether we like it or not, manners are slipping.
From cell phones and friends and thank-you notes and fashion, Cleary and Mueffling provide practical tips and compliment them with quotes, personal reflections, and information from an international study they conducted.
Particularly for younger women like myself, The Art and Power of Being a Lady is a funny and interesting guidebook for women who hope to be embody everything that it means to be lady.

I'm sorry to say I was very disappointed with this book. It's basically just common sense advice we've all heard thousands of times with nothing new to speak of. The writing is so humdrum it just didn't hold my interest. More highly recommended books: Three Black Skirts, The Bombshell Manual of Style.

Today's woman is much more than an extension of her husband's identity or a person whose place is to "rattle pots and pans in the kitchen." There is absolutely nothing wrong with rattling pots and pans, if that is one's choice. Even today, there are many woman whose work is solely in being a homemaker. Raising children and making a house a home is no easy job. However, what women do have today is choices.

In the home or outside the home, as this book points out, many of today's women are emotionally and financially independent, free-spirited, and a fair number are well-educated, worldly travelled, informed professional women. From social style and grace to responsibility and even humour, this book is interesting from start to finish. Unlike early generations of women, today's women are restricted only by self-imposed limitations. There is nothing in this world we cannot accomplish with hard work, determination, perseverance and commitment. Oprah Winfrey is a shining example to women everywhere that we truly can overcome life's challenges, no matter how great or small. She is a woman who exudes class and style and, indeed, a lady in every sense of the word. As readers will learn through the pages of "The Art and Power of Being a Lady" any female is born a women, but being a lady requires much more...refinement, etiquette, style, class and feeling confident and good about who you are and what you are doing. This book gives readers a better understanding of what really separates "the women from the ladies."

You can learn how to set a table for high tea or how to word a classical wedding invitation from Emily Post. But what is a "lady" in the twenty-first century? Is being a lady even relevant anymore?

This handy little guide makes etiquette accessible for the modern lady. Being a lady doesn't mean requiring smelling salts or using bland flowery language all the time. It's about handling a crisis with grace, turning people down with polite elegance, and yes, even swearing - with class.

Simple enough for young readers, yet relevant enough for Grown Women who like the sound of the word Lady, this is among the best etiquette books for today.

I was very excited when I purchased this book. I thought it would be a sort-of swanky girls guide to manners and decorum. And although the book has a couple of good insights such as, "The louder you yell, the more wrong you sound", there's really nothing this book doesnt tell me that I don't already know. I got the impression that they wanted to cover a variety of topics on the definition of a lady, and I suppose they were successful enough, but if you already consider yourself a lady and are looking for some refinement, this book will do little to guide you. It is filled with tons of opinions from women allover the country on what it means to be a lady, which describes less the "art and power of being a lady", and is more a class discussion on the definition of the word. Dont get me wrong, there were a couple of intresting segments, such as "when a lady has overnight guests"; with the suggestion that you buy extra toothbrushes and soaps, & serve a big country breakfast. But this section was basically only one paragraph long. If you're intrested in topic I would check out the book, but definitally wait until it comes out in paperback! It's just not worth the hardcover price.

What a fun and thought provoking read. As a woman who frequently swears, bites her nails and breaks many of the "social rules," this book did inspire me to question --- "Am I a lady?" By the time I closed it, I realized that yes, I am.

Loved the list of the 100 women --- some I agree with and others I do not. But they certainly made me think --- and it's clear the writers did their research. It's nice to read something that reflected American women and not just NY!

It's a great present for a girlfriend or your mom. Include a note on why THEY are a lady...or not!