Etiquette for Dummies 2nd Edition Paperback – May 18, 2007

bought this for my mother in law shes not the brightest.

Originally I researched a number of "manners" books and then gleefully purchased this one for a friend's grandson whose table manners were below terrible. Suggested I was not trying to be unpleasant and then suggested he would be invited to a girl's house for dinner and would thereafter wonder why the girl's mother would never ask him back. Or he would lose a job after a lunch or dinner interview and never, ever know why. It was stuff he needed to know that would give him a decided advantage, because many, many young people don't learn manners these days.It is written to make logical sense. It is not just a list of rules as several of the others were. Position your gift as "a whole undercurrent of standards on which you may be judged but may know noting about" and apologize for the inappropriate judgment of the title. In my experience and having been so positioned it has been read cover to cover by high school age people and those going off to college. One mom told me her son -- headed for a prestige university on a full scholarship, by the way -- had kept in in the bathroom and often approached his dad with, "Did you know ... ?". It was the core of several family discussions.Following the "you will be judged according to standards you know nothing about" I just gave a copy to an immigrant family acclimating to this country. Have read and reread it myself and learned more every time.

It seems like a no-brainer that people should say please and thank you and excuse me, but how often do we all have the opposite experience? This book covers the basics of etiquette along with other scenarios that you might not run into but once in a lifetime.. Ways to handle important business dinners/meeting, gifting, disagreements, and more are covered in an easy and readable format. No boring lists or feeling like you are reading something written by surly old school marm with a bun so tight she can't blink. Good reading for anyone who wants to present their best front in any social situation.

Great book. Some of the information is a little outdated, but it does give some great tips.

I really enjoyed this book about etiquette. I was so surprised by the changes in etiquette as it relates to different places that you visit. It goes so in depth...right up to knowing how to use the knife and fork in a proper way so that you do not offend anyone. It helped me when preparing for business dinners, social outings, networking with potential clients and jobs, and so on.

I have given this book to all my nieces and nephews and other young people. It gives excellent tips and hints about how to avoid social mistakes and how to feel more at ease in social situations. It is very easy to read, with a good format, and highlights special tips to remember. It is a good preparation for high school students and those going off to college as well as young people who are entering the business world for the first time. A good summary of the basics.

I purchased the Kindle edition of this book as part of some research I was conducting. It contains useful information, especially in the area of dining and table manners and on a few other practical matters. The credibility of the book was a bit sullied early on however, when the author advises the reader to use the phrase "excuse me" when I believe she meant "pardon me." This happened 3 or 4 times in the first parts of the book. The difference between the two phrases is part of such a basic rule of etiquette that I had to question the extent of her real knowledge on the subject.

Very well structured and to the point. A must read of anyone who is looking to be polished and self-ware of their image. I spent a good amount of time searching for an etiquette book. Albeit, there are many books out there, many just ramble with personal anecdotes and don't give direction that is precise. Luckily, this book doesn't.