Customer Reviews

Modern Manners: The Thinking Person's Guide to Social Graces

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This book is a really nice collection of essays varying on the subject of manners and etiquette. I can't say that I learned anything that I didn't already know from it, but there was an essay or two that reminded me of what I need to fine tune.

For beauty's sake alone, my favorite essay was One Hundred Thousand Welcomes by Frank McCourt. His description of Ireland and her people is terribly lovely and one I could read again and again. It makes me wish I were even a little bit Irish so I could claim the country and the people as mine. It was nice to revisit his writing again.

Have A Little Patience by M.J. Ryan was a good reminder to simmer down, take a deep breath and keep things in perspective when it comes to developing my level of patience. A really worthwhile read for everyone in this day and age.

When Bad Things Happen to Bad People by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez was a hoot and the most fun read of the book.

Keeping Your Word by Patricia Beard was the other essay that drove it home about following through even on the small things.

In The Company of Friends by Karen Duffy felt a little braggy and show-offy, but her message about vacationing with friends and the etiquette thereof could be translated to a more humble holiday; one doesn't have to rent a $20k per week manse to have a good time with friends.

Protecting Our Language by Anne H. Soukhanov was near and dear to my heart in this very laisse faire age of speech and grammar. "Whatever" Do You Mean? by Anne Taylor Fleming was just as relevant.

Modern Manners may not be read by those who need to read it the most, but it may succeed in reminding those of us who want to hear, about those genteel qualities that make life so much nicer when we put them into practice.

I was expecting more of a manner rules book and this book reads more like a story citing many situations where one could use good manners. A bit different, but reasonably good reading.