Customer Reviews

Etiquette for Dummies

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I picked up this book prepared to learn nothing new. Boy was I surprised! This is a well written, concise primer that can be read straight through (as I did, again to my surprise) or dipped into as specific needs arise. Getting what you want out of business dinners, greeting new business acquaintances, dressing for 'semi-casual' events, picking up the right knife and fork at a formal dinner. All the unspoken signals that say you know what you're doing - they're all here!

I found this book both a useful tool and an easy read.

I originally purchased this book to resolve some light hearted family disagreements regarding such items as; the correct "title" of a married woman in the 21st century or the correct method of setting the formal table for Thanksgiving dinner. I ended up reading the book cover to cover. The author has done an excellent job of making this potentially dry topic, fun and enjoyable.

I particularly enjoyed the chapters on etiquette as it relates to new technology such as; cell phones, call waiting, and e-mail. None of these things were around when I originally learned "Manners 101". It was useful to review the "do's and don'ts" of modern technology.

An excellent purchase and I would recommend it to others.

I've always been a little skeptical of the Dummies books but when I received Etiquette for Dummies as a gift I couldn't help but get caught up in it immediately. The author takes a refreshing look at how we all get along in society (the good, the bad AND the ugly!) and gives us insightful yet friendly advice on communicating better with each other on a daily basis. This is a must read for everyone, even if you think your etiquette is already up to snuff.

This book is great! I was given a copy as a gift - I had never read a "Dummies" book and wasn't sure what it was all about. After reading it, I gave copies of it to all five of my children, age 19 - 27, for Christmas. The information is timely, appropriate, and presented in a "non-preachy" manner. Anyone who meets with clients, has interviews or wants to feel comfortable in social situations needs to read "Etiquette for Dummies".

If you feel you were raised in a barn and in need of a primer on the basics of etiquette, this is the book for you. It includes very helpful diagrams on formal table settings, clearly defines dresscodes like "business casual" and "semi-formal," and maps out proper wedding and baby shower behavior.

Author Sue Fox founded Etiquette Survival, Inc. [...] and you can tell from the tone of this book that most of her company's interactions are with the business world. Reading chapters like "Your Most Important Presentation: Yourself," you can almost see the powerpoint presentation undoubtedly accompanying the author's corporate etiquette talks. Since Fox also wrote "Business Etiquette for Dummies," the focus on corporate culture seems a little puzzling and redundant. A lot of us seeking etiquette advice work as tradespeople, teachers, healthcare professionals, and homemakers (read: not corporate employees) - so a more general tone would be appreciated.

There are a few details about this book that may prove irritating for some. For one, the tone of Fox's publication is decidedly less light-hearted, fun, and funny than most other "For Dummies" books. Rather than poking fun at etiquette "rules" (and herself), Fox comes across as a rather wooden, opinionated stickler at times. The pages of this tome abound with recommendations for ladies to always wear flesh-colored hose in the workplace and pronouncements that e-mail is a lesser form of communication than the handwritten letter. Since this book was published in 1999, some of the information in it also seems a bit dated (ex. references to beepers going off in restaurants).

When this book is reprinted and revised, it would be nice to see Fox's prim and proper persona tempered a bit by a more humorous, self-deprecating co-author who can step back and see etiquette as a set of historically-grounded skills to be learned rather than a set of unchanging rules. First and foremost, etiquette is about respecting other people's feelings and abiding by the golden rule (thus etiquette can change from situation to situation), and I don't think Fox highlighted that enough at the beginning of the book and throughout. Updated, tweaked more for the general public than the corporate world, and given a generous dose of humor, this could be a five-star book.

As a young adult I found this book to be very beneficial, full of fun and informative information, easy to read -- yet detailed enough to keep my interest. It was a confidence builder and a validation for my grandparents and aunt -- who are always reminding me to pay attention to my manners.

I have given this book to all my nieces and nephews and other young people. It gives excellent tips and hints about how to avoid social mistakes and how to feel more at ease in social situations. It is very easy to read, with a good format, and highlights special tips to remember. It is a good preparation for high school students and those going off to college as well as young people who are entering the business world for the first time. A good summary of the basics.

This is a fabulous way to reinforce life lessons for upper elementary to middle school aged children. It covers the basics to the contemporary. I love it.

This book is surprisingly comprehensive and covers a variety of topics and situations.

It's a good resource for how to handle yourself, what to do, and how to do things in a scores of different situations.

It seems like a no-brainer that people should say please and thank you and excuse me, but how often do we all have the opposite experience? This book covers the basics of etiquette along with other scenarios that you might not run into but once in a lifetime.. Ways to handle important business dinners/meeting, gifting, disagreements, and more are covered in an easy and readable format. No boring lists or feeling like you are reading something written by surly old school marm with a bun so tight she can't blink. Good reading for anyone who wants to present their best front in any social situation.