America's leading civility expert knocks household discourteousness off its foundations.
As the rudeness rampant in America's streets sends its citizens fleeing inside to bolt the doors and draw the shades, they are finding what was once the relative safety of the hearth threatened by an unwelcome addition to their living space—the same rudeness presumably left behind when they stepped across their own cozy thresholds.
With the keen wit and...

Ralph Raccoon is too polite so his parents send him to Bandit School to learn to behave like a properly bad raccoon.

Exactly what are the rules these days? Is it acceptable to text your boss at home? What is the polite way to ask a colleague to take a distracting conversation behind closed doors? What about the use of smartphones in meetings? Merging classic rules of behavior with new realities of modern business, Excuse Me spotlights dozens of puzzling situations, with suggestions for bridging generational and cultural divides.

Explores the history of eating rituals and table etiquette. From the wild parties of ancient Greece to the strictures of an Upper East Side meal to the ritualistic feasts of cannibals, Margaret Visser takes us on a fascinating journey through the diverse practices, customs, and taboos that define how and why we prepare and consume food the way we do. With keen insights into small details we take for granted, such as the origins of forks and chopsticks...

"Welcome fledging Social Climbers! Allow us to show you the way. Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it, so what's the big deal? You shouldn't be punished for wanting to improve your lot in life! This is America, after all. In the grand tradition of True Prep and The Hipster Handbook, The Social Climber's Bible will teach you everything you need to know to become a pro Mountaineer: The Art of Social Climbing at gallery openings, cocktail...

First published in 1922, Etiquette has served for generations as the premiere guide to manners and decorum. It details the nuances of various social settings as well as how to act within them, so as not to offend any parties present. Different settings often call for different conduct. In addition to covering general forms of communication, salutations, greetings, and conversation, this classic manual also details what behaviors and topics are socially...