The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette : 50th Anniversary Edition (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Nancy Dunnan (Author) "Certain formal occasions in our lives remain rooted in tradition..." (more)
Key Phrases: table number cards, monarch sheet, classic buffet, United States, Arthur White, David Alexander (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Since debuting in 1952, this has been one of the premiere etiquette guides. After Vanderbilt's suicide, former White House staff coordinator Tuckerman and corporate executive Dunnan have taken up the banner and completely revised and updated this standard.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Manners are the happy way of doing things, each one a stroke of genius or of love."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson -- Review

This was last revised in 1978, so the updated version will more adequately reflect the many changes which have affected common etiquette in this country. An entirely expanded, updated guide comes complete with thumb-index by subject, making for a fine overview. -- Midwest Book Review

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 786 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 50 Anv Sub edition (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385413424
• ISBN-13: 978-0385413428
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.6 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #187,743 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A disappointment, but still an authority, October 13, 2003

By	quiescere (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

My mother has a copy of the original edition, so I grew up treating Vanderbilt's work as a constant reference for social graces. Naturally, I was overjoyed to learn that a new edition had made an appearance. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.

With no disrespect intended to Tuckerman et al for their fine work, this once-great guide is a shadow of its former self. It is no less accurate than it once was, but is unfortunately much more base. Do people really need to be told not to leave dirty dishes lying about, for example?

As a guide to minimal civilized behaviour--how not to behave like a spoiled child--it carries the tradition of excellence. However, for the finer points of etiquette, I strongly recommend tracking down a copy of the 1978 (Baldrige ed.) edition of this great reference.

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Cornerstone of Modern Etiquette, January 27, 2000

By	"mlm1371" (Santa Barbara, CA United States) - See all my reviews

By far this is the most comprehensive work on modern etiqutte. It is not particularly a book that you should read cover to cover due to its vast size, but it lends itself to an excellent reference manual for everyday affairs. I would highly recommend this for the office.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful reference., June 6, 2001

By A Customer

Out of all the helpful information in this book, I found the following most helpful: etiquette with cell phones, answering machines, and call waiting. Proper etiquette at weddings, funerals, and other religious rituals. Etiquette at the office and with meeting new people.

In a world where we are often greeted with a "yeah?" when using the phone, this book is a breath of fresh air. Simply a must for the social person!