Customer Reviews

Miss Manners' Guide to Domestic Tranquility: The Authoritative Manual for Every Civilized Household, However Harried

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Any new Miss Manners book is like a breath of spring, and this new tome, much larger than the previous "Basic Training" series, is that much more welcome. As the title suggests, this work is home-centered but it has a decidedly modern cast and deals with such current issues as the stay-at-home worker, the geographically distant family, the blended stepfamily, and the temporarily secured help. In typical Miss Manners style, she lampoons such modern innovations as the leaf blowers (if everyone has one, it results in a leaf stalemate); the questions she answers seem about evenly divided between the just-plain-rude and the ultra-rude. (Among the latter: people who are "invited" out to dinner at a restaurant and then told to pony up their share of the check; the woman who arranged her own "surprise" party; the trespassing vacationers who can't recognize a non-invitation to their friends' beach house.)

As always, Miss Manners strikes a good balance between lecturing and answering, and between sound judgment and humor. This book is a wonderful resource whether it's your first Miss Manners book or your latest in a long line.

Miss Manners books are refreshing in their honesty. Where many current works of "etiquette", which take modern rudeness and trends, assume they are correct, and only amplify them, Miss Manners has a genuine approach of courtesy. I'd like to place this volume on the shelf of 90% of the people I meet.

The good sense in the "manners" is clear and delightful. Miss Manners deals with genuine social interaction - not the "advertising" that much supposedly social communication is today. It would be a much more pleasant world if, in accord with Miss Manners directives, people stopped the "public service announcements."

Nonetheless, for a fan of Judith Martin's writing such as I am, I've noticed that the great wit shown in such previous works as the "Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behaviour" has declined. This book does not have anything to match the humour of previous ones.

Judith Manners does a marvelous job of presenting manners to the busy family of today, where courtesy and consideration could get lost in the shuffle of demanding schedules. She has a light touch but it is underlined with authority; she writes humorously but her topics are serious. Firmly, gently, and unerringly, she writes of how to behave in every situation. (She could have been the quintessential Southern Belle of an earlier era.)

As I learned in my midwestern girlhood, the most important rule of etiquette is to make people feel comfortable, to think of others, to be tactful and kind. Miss Manners has this goal in mind as she writes on such diverse topics as answering machines and call waiting, entertaining in-laws and dealing with family differences, and being a good house guest. Politeness and courtesy lubricate all social relations, and social relations may sometimes be taxing but are utterly necessary to our mental and emotional health. This is Miss Manners' well-articulated creed.

As a mother who has raised four teenagers, I especially liked her attitude toward laying down the law in adolescent years: Give your children something to rebel against, as they need this desperately. At some level they will recognize this as a sign that parents do care about them, and as they mature they will begin to realize that setting limits is what loving parents do.

This advice to parents about teens is a good example of the tongue-in-cheek wisdom of Miss Manners, presented in an entertaining way. Her book is lengthy but the pages fly by because of her light, friendly approach. Highly recommended.

I'm a big fan of Miss Manners' mix of dry wit and common sense. In this book, she tackles everything from dealing with in-laws to throwing parties where all the guests feel welcome. There are also amusing anecdotes on the history of certain overwrought practices (such as the myriad forks popular at Victorian dinners)and essays on gift registries, opn house style parties, and uninvited guests. The title says it all: there is enough information in this book to help any household run more smoothly.

I've read some horrible "etiquette" books in the past few months, written by people who confuse fashion with courtesy and retaliatory revenge with civil public behavior. Miss Manners is the real deal. This book belongs in every household. Long may she wave.

Should be required reading and taught in every high school (freshman year would be best) in the land. The World would be a far, far better place if this were so.

As always, Judith Martin's witty and impeccably well-mannered style presents civilized behavior in an entertaining and accessible way. Miss Manners addresses those thorny aspects of interpersonal dealings that can reduce even the most competent person to futile handwringing. Chapters include The People, The Place, The Rules, The System, The Help, The Visitors, Entertaining:The Social Contract, Entertaining:The Social Event , Entertaining:The Relatives and The Community.

I gave this to my friend as a bridal shower gift. She loved it and the other guests all wanted to take a look since I don't think many knew Miss Manners had more than one book.

Miss Manners' books never disappoint. They are well written with just the right amount or wit and information. Her advice has always been spot on for me.

This book was exactly what I had been expecting.

Written tongue firmly in cheek, this is a great guide to behavior that will make life in your home more enjoyable through good manners.