Etiquette for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: The Best Gift
Review: I bought this book because I experienced a form of arrested development while growing up in an over-zealous fundamentalist Christian family that basically made me believe it to be a sin to have any non-Christian friends--therefore, I had no friends and I lived in my bedroom, and as a result I developed no social skills until I became an adult. I had a lot of catching up to do, and I had hoped this book would provide some common sense to an ignorant fool like myself.

I was disappointed in the book. The book delves into many categories of social activity and specifies in an ordered, classroom textbook fashion what should/shouldn't be done, as opposed to describing the why's and the varying perspectives of given scenarios.

As founder and owner of Etiquette Survival, Inc., Fox has a lot of wisdom to share, but unfortunately a lot of it is rather old-fashioned and sometimes biased toward the female perspective. For example, I did not appreciate the fact that there were 19 points on how to be a gentleman and only three or four points for how to be a lady, including very detailed instructions for women to "allow men to be gentlemen", as though there was no other responsibility for women in the 21st century for women to be ladies. Obviously I am not a woman and do not need advice on being a lady, I was nonetheless offended by such bias. I came across this section and shut the book permanently ever since.

I believe any book on etiquitte should be authored/edited by at least two men and women (not all men or all women).

Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference volume
Review: I found this book both a useful tool and an easy read.

I originally purchased this book to resolve some light hearted family disagreements regarding such items as; the correct "title" of a married woman in the 21st century or the correct method of setting the formal table for Thanksgiving dinner. I ended up reading the book cover to cover. The author has done an excellent job of making this potentially dry topic, fun and enjoyable.

I particularly enjoyed the chapters on etiquette as it relates to new technology such as; cell phones, call waiting, and e-mail. None of these things were around when I originally learned "Manners 101". It was useful to review the "do's and don'ts" of modern technology.

An excellent purchase and I would recommend it to others.

Rating:
Summary: Never Get Caught Doing The Wrong Thing!
Review: I picked up this book prepared to learn nothing new. Boy was I surprised! This is a well written, concise primer that can be read straight through (as I did, again to my surprise) or dipped into as specific needs arise. Getting what you want out of business dinners, greeting new business acquaintances, dressing for 'semi-casual' events, picking up the right knife and fork at a formal dinner. All the unspoken signals that say you know what you're doing - they're all here!

Rating:
Summary: Insightful and fun to read -- don't miss this one
Review: I've always been a little skeptical of the Dummies books but when I received Etiquette for Dummies as a gift I couldn't help but get caught up in it immediately. The author takes a refreshing look at how we all get along in society (the good, the bad AND the ugly!) and gives us insightful yet friendly advice on communicating better with each other on a daily basis. This is a must read for everyone, even if you think your etiquette is already up to snuff.

Rating:
Summary: Insightful and fun to read -- don't miss this one
Review: I've always been a little skeptical of the Dummies books but when I received Etiquette for Dummies as a gift I couldn't help but get caught up in it immediately. The author takes a refreshing look at how we all get along in society (the good, the bad AND the ugly!) and gives us insightful yet friendly advice on communicating better with each other on a daily basis. This is a must read for everyone, even if you think your etiquette is already up to snuff.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Gift
Review: This book is great! I was given a copy as a gift - I had never read a "Dummies" book and wasn't sure what it was all about. After reading it, I gave copies of it to all five of my children, age 19 - 27, for Christmas. The information is timely, appropriate, and presented in a "non-preachy" manner. Anyone who meets with clients, has interviews or wants to feel comfortable in social situations needs to read "Etiquette for Dummies".