Summary

An essential guide to modern manners, this enlightening and useful book strikes a balance between the stuffy, rigid rules of the 1950s and today's anything-goes school of thought.

An essential guide to modern manners, this enlightening and useful book strikes a balance between the stuffy, rigid rules of the 1950s and today's anything-goes school of thought. It is packed with good-humoured advice for the way we live today, but also discusses which formal points of etiquette are still relevant in the 21st century. Introduction: who needs manners? A Few Basics: punctuality (and overstaying your welcome), saying sorry and when it's best to lie Party People: invitations, playing host, being a good guest, meeting and greeting What to Wear: avoiding the pitfalls of modern dress codes Rites of Passage: christenings, weddings and funerals Eating Out: from saying grace to understanding cutlery Going to Stay: following house rules, helping out, not making yourself too much at home Getting Around: the rules of public transport and how to avoid road rage Communications: how to make a phonecall and write an email A Good Day at the Office: how to conduct yourself at work