Etiquette

August is "Win With Civility" Month.  Here are 10 books on etiquette, manners, and civility.

101 Ways to Say Thank You: Notes of Gratitude for All Occasions by Kelly Browne - In a world of abrupt, hastily typed e-mails and instant messages, the art of pen-and-paper note writing may seem lost, yet nothing else says “thank you” with quite the same elegance or sincerity. Now you will never again struggle to find the right words for that beautifully penned message. Endorsed by Crane Stationery, 101 Ways to Say Thank You provides the perfectly worded thank-yous for nearly every occasion, from baby showers and christenings to business interviews and charitable donations. You’ll learn the etiquette of faxing a thank-you note, the keys to expressing gratitude to lovers, friends, and family members—even the correct uses of the honorific “Ms.” Exhaustive and totally indispensable, 101 Ways to Say Thank You  will assure that you will never be at a loss for words of appreciation and affection.

The Butler Speaks: A Return to Proper Etiquette, Stylish Entertaining, and the Art of Good Housekeeping by Charles MacPherson - In a clear, straightforward style, Charles MacPherson lays out the essentials of entertaining and household management in this beautifully illustrated style, etiquette and entertainment guide. For anyone who rents or owns - be it a small urban apartment or a lavish country estate - The Butler Speaks includes everything readers need to know to simplify, organise and care for their home. It also offers modern advice on personal style and etiquette. Including how to receive guests, present a business card and make polite dinner conversation.

Emily Post's Etiquette: Manners for a New World by Peggy Post, Anna Post, Lizzie Post, & Daniel Post Senning - For nearly a century, one name has been trusted above all others when it comes to proper decorum: Emily Post. In this completely updated 18th Edition of the classic Emily Post's Etiquette, the mantle is picked up by the great-great-grandchildren of the First Lady of Etiquette, who tackle the latest issues and demands of the twenty-first century--from texting and tweeting to iPhones, Facebook, and all forms of social media. The perfect guide for Millennials living on their own for the first time who wish to establish themselves properly in the workplace--as well as for Baby Boomers in the midst of planning their children's weddings, entering retirement, and helping to care for elderly parents--Emily Post's Etiquette, 18th Edition, remains the essential handbook to proper social behavior.

The Etiquette Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Manners by Jodi R. R. Smith - The ultimate guide to manners in the real world! Is it rude to keep checking your phone during lunch with a friend?  Are handwritten thank-you notes still necessary? A respected etiquette coach solves these modern dilemmas and more-including issues unique to our times, such as privacy and cyberspace, personal interaction in a diverse society, and professional protocol around the globe.

Etiquette Rules!: A Field Guide to Modern Manners by Nancy R. Mitchell - Has there ever been a time when courtesy and kindness are needed more? We need only follow the news, drive down a road, look around our communities, or visit a favorite social-media site to know there is an etiquette crisis. With rudeness rampant and civility on life support, it's time for each and every one of us to take a hard look at our behaviors to determine if we are contributing to the problem or helping to combat it. Enter Etiquette Rules! A Field Guide to Modern Manners, a common-sense examination of etiquette as an operating system for living life with kindness and courtesy as we work, play, shop, drive, dine, and interact in our real and virtual communities. Arranged by events and settings, the book clearly and succinctly defines rudeness and suggests corrective measures. Readers will not only raise their etiquette IQ, but will change their mindset about manners because Etiquette Rules! jettisons the old-school notion that etiquette is how to properly hold a teacup. In reality, it is a powerful tool that can help everyone feel comfortable and confident in a variety of situations, build personal and business relationships more easily, demonstrate respect for others, and live lives that flow more smoothly. Courtesy is contagious, and Etiquette Rules! will help to jump-start a saving pandemic.

F You Very Much: Understanding the Culture of Rudeness and What We Can Do About It by Danny Wallace - From the brilliant comedic mind behind the hit movie Yes Man, a hilarious and pitch-perfect look at the rudeness that's all around us -- where it comes from, how it affects us, and what we can do about it. You're not just imagining it: People are getting more and more rude - from cutting in line, gabbing on their phones and clipping their nails on public transportation, to hurling epithets on Twitter and in real life (including a certain President who does both). And the worst part is that it's contagious, leading reasonably courteous people to stoop to new lows in order to respond to the ever-coarsening encounters we face every day. In this engaging and illuminating new book, bestselling author and all-around curious guy Danny Wallace looks at the reasons behind the rudeness, and what we can do to stop it. His quest to stop the madness includes interviews with neuroscientists, psychologists, NASA scientists, politicians, and other experts. He joins a Radical Honesty group, talks to LA drivers about road rage, and confronts his own online troll in a pub--all to better understand the scourge that's turning normal people into bullies, tantruming toddlers, trolls, and other types of everyday monsters. Want to be part of the solution? Let Danny Wallace be your smart and funny guide.

NYC Basic Tips & Etiquette by Nathan W. Pyle - Living in New York City for five years as a transplant from Ohio, illustrator and T-shirt designer Nathan Pyle was fascinated by the unique habits and unspoken customs New Yorkers follow to make life bearable in a city with 8 million people (and seemingly twice the number of tourists). In NYC Basic Tips and Etiquette, Pyle reveals the secrets and unwritten rules for living in and visiting New York including the answers to such burning questions as, how do I hail a cab? What is a bodega? Which way is Uptown? Why are there so many doors in the sidewalk? How do I walk on an escalator? Do we need be touching right now? Where should I inhale or exhale while passing sidewalk garbage? How long should I honk my horn? If New York were a game show, how would I win? What happens when I stand in the bike lane? Who should get the empty subway seats? How do I stay safe during a trash tornado? Each tip is a little story illustrated in simple black and white drawings.

Polish Your Poise With Madame Chic: Lessons in Everyday Elegance by Jennifer L. Scott - The New York Times bestselling author of Lessons from Madame Chic and At Home with Madame Chic revives the timeless quality of poise and shows how to cultivate it as a daily practice and a life-long endeavor. Just step out your door today and you will notice that poise is a rarity in our wired, fast-paced, and unmannerly world. As uncivil behaviors like flip-flops at Broadway shows and digital oversharing proliferate, this timely book reminds us of the quiet power of behaving with dignity, kindness, and grace. Jennifer Scott's Parisian mentor, Madame Chic, embodied poise, and not just with the good posture, stylish attire, and natural manners that made her extraordinarily elegant. She also demonstrated steady assuredness and graceful calm in everything she did--from interacting with her family and receiving guests at home to presenting herself in public. Jennifer L. Scott passes on the lessons she learned as well as some of her own hard-won wisdom, addressing topics such as proper attire at social events, good grooming, communication skills, hospitality and being a good guest, our interactions with neighbors and strangers, role models, self-discipline, and self-image. This charmingly illustrated, practical, and inspiring book, full of tips, lists, and ideas, is certain to start a new conversation about the timeless art of poise.

Saving Civility: 52 Ways to Tame Rude, Crude, & Attitude for a Polite Planet by Sara Hacala - Is bad behavior the new normal? How do we change it?
Each of us has the power to make the planet a more hospitable, pleasant, caring, and safe place to live.... It starts with respecting others and recognizing their right to be here. Saving Civility is about how we contribute to society and work together--locally and globally--with greater respect, awareness, understanding, and acceptance of one another. A polite planet embodies a worldview of a civilized society--one that is enlightened and empathetic.

Very Classy by Derek Blasberg - Derek Blasberg is back with more brilliant commentary on what makes a lady truly classy. With all the razor-sharp insights of Classy plus new, never-before-seen pages packed with Derek's signature wit and timeless tips, Very Classy is the best - and the only - resource for the up-to-the minute, modern young woman.
Today's fast-maturing youth culture is confounded by a whole slew of classy conundrums. Like, "Is a funeral an acceptable place to meet a guy?" (No, the point of a funeral is to ponder how someone has touched your life, not how you hope someone is going to touch you later that night). And, "Should I wear my Wonderbra to the gym?" (No! Gyms are for exercise, not cleavage.)
Even if you're so confident, you've been attracting guys like a honey-dipped man magnet for years - Very Classy still has something for you. This illustrated volume is packed with advice for the girl who doesn't want to be a Relationship Chameleon, the girl who understands that skinny fat is worse than just plain fat, and the girl who needs a little help discovering the silver lining of a hangover. Very Classy is the ultimate guide for discerning this generations ladies from the tramps.