Modern Manners The Thinking Person's Guide to Social Graces

by Farley, Thomas

• ISBN13: 9781588164544
• ISBN10: 1588164543
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-09-01
• Publisher: Hearst
• More Book Details
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Summary

As a follow up to the extremely successfulTown & Country's Social Gracescomes this new collection of essays by some of our most celebrated writers, exploring the need for manners in today's hectic world. Such keen observers as David Brown, Hugh Downs, Frank McCourt, and Peggy Noonan offer their witty and incisive views on how to avoid offending others. Town & Countrymagazine has been synonymous with good taste and refinement for more than a century. So who better to comment on the need for manners in a time of constant cell phone chatter, non-step competition, hair-trigger-tempers, and fast-paced lifestyles? Both humorous and insightful, this sparkling collection of essays reflects on the pressing need for kindness, consideration, and civilized behavior. And the list of contributors is stellar: David Brown makes a persuasive plea for civility; Jamie Lee Curtis talks about "Having Dinner with the Family"; Sonya Friedman reflects on motherhood; Charles Osgood comments on everyday courtesies; and Ted Sorenson discusses "Patriotic Pride." With topics that range from the art of listening to good elevator etiquette, these eloquent pieces offer advice worth following.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 11
Everyday Courtesies
Try a Little Tenderness
The Return of Gallantry	p. 16
Win Some, Lose Some	p. 21
One Hundred Thousand Welcomes	p. 25
Peaceful Coexistence
Have a Little Patience	p. 32
Elevator Ups and Downs	p. 37
Don't Do This in Public	p. 41
When Bad Things Happen to Bad People	p. 45
The Genuine Article
Keeping Your Word	p. 52
Insincerely Yours	p. 57
Presume Nothing	p. 61
Material Whirl	p. 66
Domestic Tranquillity
Marriage Matters
The Subject Is Money	p. 74
Matrimonial Manners	p. 79
Stepping Down the Aisle	p. 83
Ever After
To Love and to Cherish?	p. 90
Penny-wise, Meet Pound-foolish	p. 95
Motherhood
So, What Do You Expect?	p. 102
Going Public	p. 106
How to Treat Your Nanny	p. 110
Teach Your Daughters Well	p. 115
You Must Be Kidding
Kindergarten Madness	p. 122
Way Too Familiar?	p. 127
It's Grand and Great	p. 132
Home Is Where the Heart Is
Respectful Renting	p. 138
In the Company of Friends	p. 144
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?	p. 149
Holiday Cheer
Let's Make a Meal	p. 154
Playing Our Cards Right	p. 159
Thank You for Not Sharing	p. 163
Gifts That Go On Giving	p. 168
Face of the Nation
History Lessons
Speaking Presidential	p. 176
Minding Miss Manners	p. 180
Patriotic Pride	p. 185
The Mother Tongue
Protecting Our Language	p. 190
Fighting Words	p. 195
"Whatever" Do You Mean?	p. 200
September 11, 2001
Civility as Our Greatest Defense	p. 206
What's Really Important	p. 210
What I've Learned	p. 216
Going Quietly
Can You Hear Me Now?
Celling Out	p. 224
The Art of Listening	p. 229
What I Should Have Said	p. 233
The Proliferation of Pretension	p. 237
Farewells
Good-bye, Old Friend	p. 244
Saying Good-bye Gracefully	p. 249
About the Authors	p. 253
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