Miss Manners' Basic Training: The Right Thing to Say

by Judith Martin

Book Overview

Miss Manners hereby declares that"You look terrific -- did you have a facelift?"is not an acceptable compliment. For this and the other myriad rudeness that nowadays pass for consolation, congratulation and other forms of verbal communication, Miss Manners provides politely pointed comebacks, as well as the gracious and proper thing to say in any situation. Miss Manners feels compelled to do so because saying the wrong thing -- whether in the name...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609600516
• ISBN13: 9780609600511
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 179 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Miss Manners is a goddess

Anyone who values civilization is likely to love Miss Manners. She accepts being called a stuffed shirt as a compliment; she knows exactly what is proper in any circumstance; she's funny; and she recognizes manners as the primary way in which we rough-hewn folk can interact without coming to blows. She can also teach you how to deliver a well-deserved - and entirely correct - insult. This is not your grandma's etiquette book. If you read it - and/or her "Miss Manners Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior" - you will come away with better manners, more insight into humanity, and better sense of humor.

Charming, entertaining and HELPFUL

This book was highly entertaining and I found myself using the lessons Miss Manners taught me almost immediately. This book was referred to me by a freind who had read it in her book club. I have a DREADFUL father-in-law and she told me this book would help. She was right! He came to visit shortly after I read this book and I found myself being able to POLITELY let him know that I thought what he said or did was inappropriate. It not only helped my relationship with him but with my husband as well- who, in the past, was always forced to keep the peace. For a book about manners I really thought this would be a chore to get through. I was wrong! Miss Manners is very witty and I found myself laughing out loud throughout this book. I'll be buying some more of this wonderful author's books in the future.

No better Reference Guide

This is and extremely practical and useful resourse guide to daily situations. Everything is in this book! There are fabulous descriptions of the differences between Rudeness and Honesty with tact. In a society that has become so ME based, I feel everyone needs to read this book.THIS BOOK MAKES A GREAT GRADUATION GIFT!

For those who find manners and civility "sickening" . . .

. . . Miss Manners, a.k.a. Judith Martin, is the cure for the more fundamental illness of which those feelings are symptomatic.Young people do sometimes think they are being "idealistic" in holding that there is something phony and delusive about etiquette. (One is tempted to imagine them with battered and dog-eared copies of J.D. Salinger's _The Catcher In The Rye_ stuffed into their back pockets.)Unfortunately they could not be more mistaken. Civility and politeness (which derive respectively from the Latin and Greek words for "society") are absolutely necessary in order for human beings to live together with a minimum of social friction; there is nothing whatsoever "idealistic" about supposing we can dispense with them. On the contrary, this supposition will probably, in practice, defeat every ideal you hold.Again, the best cure for this disease is to read Miss Manners herself on the subject. Those who have not read her books may not realize that in her hands, etiquette is _not_ a completely dreary affair involving nothing but superficial mannerisms and polite phrases. But it will take only a few pages for even the skeptical reader to realize that etiquette is simply the conventional means by which we maintain, and convey, genuine respect for one another as human beings.

Manners and wit combined for your reading pleasure.

As time has gone by, Miss Manners has been a one-woman navy fighting the rising tide of rude behavior. I've enjoyed all of Judith Martin's previous books on manners and this one continues the tradition.This brief, yet entertaining book explains why manners are vital and how to clearly express yourself to individuals and groups. She points out how 'inventing' your own set of manners can have exactly the opposite effect that you desire. She is also careful to explain the adverse effects of lack of manners.This book contains many examples of what to say in most social situations. For example: have you ever had the urge, when someone dies, to tell a survivor, "It's all for the best?". Miss Manners explains how that remark could burn you for life. And there's plenty more examples just as important.Read this book, and take its information to heart, and you will avoid many potentially embarrassing situations. Both you and those around you will be glad you did.