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labunnywtf's review against another edition
3.0
Funny, and clever. But.
There's something off with this book. I agree with a lot of the other reviews, this book is terribly disjointed. The flow doesn't really happen, and it's disappointing.
The anecdotes are great, though. As with most etiquette and manners books, this is largely common sense. Mind you, that doesn't mean I'm not guilty of multiple offenses. But what can you do.
There's something off with this book. I agree with a lot of the other reviews, this book is terribly disjointed. The flow doesn't really happen, and it's disappointing.
The anecdotes are great, though. As with most etiquette and manners books, this is largely common sense. Mind you, that doesn't mean I'm not guilty of multiple offenses. But what can you do.
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
3.0
Part memoir, part (I'm guessing) creative nonfiction. Not a manners manual, but a book that talks about manners. Lots of name dropping. The author is at his best, and funniest, when telling anecdotes about his own life. Overall, I found the book enjoyable.
ksdambro's review against another edition
1.0
I'm a fan of snark, as long as it's, well, funny. This wasn't.
meghan111's review against another edition
3.0
Charming guy, similar to David Sedaris, which is not faint praise. But this is a cursory, haphazard, hit-or-miss look at the topic of etiquette. Although, really, how awesome and great is an etiquette guide that heaps praise on Dolly Parton for responding to people ogling her by smothering them with her chest?
jennifermreads's review against another edition
1.0
Another reviewer on Goodreads said “This book is exceptionally disjointed, and I am a bit upset that the author could pass this off as "A Modern Guide to Manners.’” I couldn’t have said it better myself. This book should not be considered a guide to manners at all … humorous and anecdotal, yes, but guide to manners? Not one lick! Problem: each of the libraries in my library's inter-library loan system have this book catalogued in etiquette … of course, the title page verso tells us it is etiquette but oh it so shouldn’t be! Even if this book had just been a discourse on how bad manners have become, I would have been happier with its categorization. I ended up all-around disappointed: not an etiquette book (which I could read ‘til the cows come home … just like wedding planning books!) and not even a whining book (which would have been funny & had me nodding my head a lot). Just move along to something else.
saralynnburnett's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a quick, fun read. Henry Alford is very funny and I found myself chuckling throughout. I especially enjoyed the beginning of his journey through the ins and outs of modern day manners because he went to the (as he calls it) 'Fort Knox of manners' - Japan. After this, he delves into all sorts of American social situations movie theatre "sushers," unresponsive party guests, play dates for your children, wedding invitations, vegetable trading (for real), reverse apologies, false compliments, and so on and so forth... but one area I found lacking that I wish he would have had more to say about was social media. To de-friend or not to de-friend, to block or not to block, do you point out inaccuracies on facebook or 'save face' on facebook? Or what about those friends who seem to enjoy your company when you invite them out, but yet have never once invited you out? Is that a hint, or cluelessness? Or digital family drama? - can you de-friend your uncle without causing a rift or do you sit back and let him prattle on all over your post? I would have liked more of his hilarious commentary on that end.
Anyway - it was a throughly enjoyable read though it didn't really present anything new or thought provoking - mostly a lot of laughs, which fit the bill for a lazy Sunday.
Anyway - it was a throughly enjoyable read though it didn't really present anything new or thought provoking - mostly a lot of laughs, which fit the bill for a lazy Sunday.
buntyskid's review against another edition
4.0
Hilarious. I would so love to go to NYC and have Henry Alford as a tour guide.
dja777's review against another edition
1.0
Tedious, even though I tried to cut it some slack for not being the actual etiquette guide that I thought it was when I checked it out. Finished it and almost immediately forgot it.
platinumwarlock's review against another edition
4.0
Funny, engaging, timely, and pertinent - Alford does a good job of presenting his ideas about manners in broad strokes, making them relevant to and accessible by all of us. Lots of chuckle-out-loud moments, balanced by several ideas profound yet simple. A very enjoyable read.
anngarth8's review against another edition
1.0
The book was a mix of memoir and advice, which were oddly interspersed without any clear (to me) structure. The author writes for Vanity Fair and the New Yorker and this book's tone was the worst of those -- using fancy words unnecessarily, trying too hard to be dry and witty. There were quite a few small factual inaccuracies in the service of witticisms, which annoyed me. I didn't find the memoir parts particularly illuminating. And the advice content was not helpful to me either, and in some cases it was based on the suggestion of just one person and seemed controversial.