Would It Kill You To Stop Doing That: A Modern Guide to Manners

by Henry Alford

A few years ago, humourist and journalist Henry Alford found himself 'reverse-apologizing': offering apologies for other people, on their behalf, when they failed to do so themselves. Ever since, he's realized he needed to take a closer look at manners-his own, and others'.

In WOULD IT KILL YOU TO STOP DOING THAT? he interviews experts both likely (Miss Manners, Tim Gunn) and unlikely (a former prisoner, an army sergeant). He volunteers himself as a tour guide for foreigners visiting New York City and as an online etiquette coach for his friends. He travels to Japan. He teaches Miss Manners how to steal a cab and designates the World's Most Annoying Bride.

Providing answers to questions like, Why shouldn't you ask a cabdriver where's he's from? and Why is posting baby pictures on Facebook a fraught activity?, this hilarious and non-elitist book looks past the standard 'dos' and 'don't's' of good form, in search of ways we can treat each other better.

• ISBN10: 0446557668
• ISBN13: 9780446557665
• Publish Date: 5 April 2012 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Twelve
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 288
• Language: English

Reviews

[empressbrooke]

I am midway through and am amused by the number of reviews that are upset or confused about this being a book of humor and not an actual guide to manners. I'm not sure how one can be disappointed by a book that lists entries for "Random, bitchy comments on" and "Sex tentacles" in its index.

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I have now completed the book, and had forgotten above to mention that I do not understand how people mistook this for a Serious Manners Book because it has a TOILET on the front cover. Having not read a real Serious Manners Book, maybe this is par for the course, but surely not?

It seems that the Goodreads word of the day for this book is "disjointed" and that is probably because it is. Each chapter is a different essayish rumination on manners, and it all theoretically flows from one topic to another, but does feel a bit "everything and the kitchen sink." No worries though, it was all perfectly amusing and provided more than a few genuine laugh out loud moments.