Customer Reviews

More Things You Need To Be Told

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Here's the deal, "Grrls". Your audience, the young ladies and gents of the world, could care less about your breeding.

Breeding does not a refined person make, nor does wearing a black dress and pearls, urban decay nail polish, or a twinset.

Refinement comes from treating others with dignity, and from knowing the difference between advice and insult. Etiquette comes from respect not only for tradition, but also from a love of others, and a desire to be kind and gentle in your dealings with others.

Etiquette is not about whether or not you follow trends or like Andrew Lloyd Webber. Etiquette is simply treating other people well, something in which these Grrls could use a few lessons.

This book is nothing more than a diatribe against anything the Grrls don't like. These "Grrls" suggest that if one doesn't care for the same books, movies, music, TV, etc, that one is somehow lacking in social grace.

I suggest a different perspective: The Etiquette Grrls hide behind such snobbery under the guise of "Etiquette" when really it is to cover some inferiority complex with which they struggle.

I suggest that you look at this book as a warning: this is exactly what can happen if you let a string of pearls or an overpriced education determine your self-worth.

Leave this on the shelf, then go out into the world, say please, say thank you, bite your tongue in anger, and use your own two hands to help a stranger in some way every day, and you will be more polite and refined than these Grrls could ever hope to be.

I kind of liked the Grrls first book and awaited their follow-up, hoping it would be less aimed at the post-college crowd.

It's a quick read, that's for sure, and I was about half way through the book when it dawned on me that this is not a researched or referenced piece, it's simply 2 girls sitting around over a bottle of wine dictating what they think it proper! I may drive a Volvo (the Grrls fav. car), but I certainly don't think it's "the only car" to drive. Who cares? The book has a lot of opinions like that... meaningless ones.

But what made me *literally* throw the book in the trash was the chapter on 'tipping'. Under tipping a maid at a hotel they think that you should leave a tip only at the END of your stay in a white envelope. You should NEVER do this. Even the finest hotels will tell you that. How ludicris to think that a hotel manager assigns a maid by GUEST. What if s/he is off on your final day of your stay? Always leave your tip daily to ensure that the proper person receives it.

And re: the postman. They state (and I quote) "they are paid rather well". Please define "rather well" and is this a reason NOT to tip? You should only tip those that are not paid at a level that YOU deem worthy? And I know that my mail has increased at a rate NOT comparible with their salary. My poor postman carried boxes and stacks of magazines and catalogues every day. He deserves a little appreciateion. And to state, "we're told that are not allowed to receive tips" is CRAZY. A simple phone call to their local post office would have given them FACTS and not OPINION for their "book". (they are allowed to receive no more that $20 in cash as a tip)

These Grrls were paid "rather well" by their publishers to deliver a well written and researched reference book to the public and all we got were some narrow, bland, white bread opinions. Yuck.

This book has a lot of fine points and the authors should be commended for trying to bring some civility into modern manners, however I was instantly struck at the dictatorial and arrogant tone of the book, as well as the large amount of non-etiquette content.

This is not an Etiquette Book - it attempts to be a 200-page reference work on Savoir Vivre. It seems to me that the authors are trying to mold their readers into the ubiquitous East-Coast English Lit student. There is quite a large section on `Movies you should see' and `books you should read' etc. This is all well and good if you believe that the authors have it Figured Out in terms of the Great and the Good. A note to the authors: there are more amaizing composers, authors, singers out there than just those that came out of the British Isles or France or New England! Even your favorite - FSF - was from (gasp!) Minnesota.

It always strikes me how surprisingly similar the "East Coast Prep" aesthetic is. And how Boring. After reading this book, I get the impression that an Etiquette Grrl "soiree" would consist of a bunch of women wearing Little Black Dresses, men in Brooks Brother's blazers, drinking Gin and Tonics and listening to Jazz. What would they talk about? The Met and Tennyson, of course. How verrrry interesting and original. Been there. Done That.

For all their self-important opinions about how superior their behavior is, I find their non-etiquette-related advice remarkably limiting. I'm not talking about listening to Cajun music (but why not?), but there is a heck of a lot more out there besides The Met, Shakespeare, and Vintage. Take a chance, Grrls! Break out from your safe worlds and try some non- "Lisa Birnbach approved" activities! I went to Prep School, too - but I Graduated when I was 17.

I actually thought this one was better than the first EGs book, simply because it was less over the top as far as outlandish life instructions (I mean really, who is going to buy a classic Jaguar convertible for their road trip to the Grand Canyon?) but definitely relevant today. I too am sick to death of annoying song cell phone rings. And many people have not figured out how to be polite with a cell phone to begin with. Definitely still has signature EG wit and humor.

More Things You Need to Be Told is not only an etiquette book, it is a lifestyle handbook as well. The Etiquette Grrls style and humor will probably only appeal to a limited number of people, and may come across as rather old fashioned & snobby to many. They do give common sense advice that alot of people seem to not follow (wearing tube tops in church, having a huge gift registery for your child's first birthday, etc.) but some things seem rather like fun, albeit unnesscesary gripes, such as the existence of annoying cell phone rings. However, you can just write that off as a tongue-in-cheek litte thing and get on with your life.
The EGs also include an extensive list of (mostly) classic films and books they deem necessary viewing/reading material, and a fashion 101 thing for boys. I definentely don't think anyone needs to follow their fashion advice seriously (it's only about how to follow a preppy-vintage thing) but you have to admit, it IS fun to read about.

Some of their advice may be old-fashioned, but you are not obligated to take it seriously! I am rather annoyed by some bitter reviews of this book and the first EG book that gripe about how sour and caustic the EGs are. I am quite sure the Etiquette grrls know that you don't have to be an East coast preppy to be gracious and intelligent, but incorporating their personal tastes into their writing is a way to make it more fun.

I enjoyed this book, and would definentely buy a third volume by the EGs.

I certainly can understand why many readers would find the Grrls un peu snobbish, but this book is cross-listed under "humor." I found myself laughing aloud in an otherwise quiet library. Certainly a person can still have impeccable manners even if they do enjoy Stephen Sondheim (how could they have excluded him from their list of must-listen-to-musical theater, even if he writes both before and after the Grrls' Musical Theatre cut-off-date?). If you do not take the Grrls' advice too seriously, they are hilarious. And I really appreciated the books' final notes on pet care. This section transcended snobbery and showed the Grrls' real concern for the welfare of animals.

In the midst of Britney-like halter tops and cell phones used during funerals, the EG's like to remind us that we can be polite and refined -- despite the fact the world can be tacky. Whether's it's proper apparel or just plain manners, the EG's like to talk about the more classy things in life, how to get around certain subjects and rip on that which is considerably a social faux pas.

As for the negative reviews here, the EG's have obviously gone over their heads with their brand of satirical humor. Their talk of gin and tonics, exasperated reactions and capped words (very much like Southern Belles) are ALL tongue-in-cheek. That's the joke on their side; the authors are actually "characters" in their book. They play up to their etiquette advice and it's too bad some people don't get it. They never come across better-than-thou to anyone -- except the people who are tacky enough to invite people to the bridal shower -- not the wedding.

Along with their book, they have a great website which answers Q&As and are quite entertaining. Both are great reads and I highly recommend it.

I SO wanted to read this book all the way through--and love it--because the basic idea is excellent. But from the first paragraph, it's all cutsey-pie, puke-inducing prose that you can't believe someone really used to fill up an entire book. Not only that Everything Is In Title Case, Which Makes It Very Difficult To Determine What's Important And What's Not. Why didn't they just use ALL CAPS? SAME ANNOYING THING. I put it down after a chapter and a half, and it's a pity because it probably has some really good ideas buried within. I likely won't bother with the first one unless I thumb through it at the library.

I first came across the EG's whilst travelling the USA - bought their first book in Chicago and it had me merrily entertained for the rest of my trip.

As someone who adores New England life, loves reader-directed-humour, as well as has a penchant for Etiquette Books - their books are great!

We don't have the books available here in Australia so the day it was released I ordered off the net and whilst I don't think it was quite as good as the first, it satisfied my fix!!

I find myself always going back to read them just for a quick laugh and have my little taste of New England.

Snobby - not at all! They rock!! ... and they know their make up!

More EG's more!!

Hurrah!

Great read, fun approach to the deal with situations. Highly recommend it for readers!