Are You Minding Your Manners?

I put Emily Post’s Etiquette, 19th Edition by Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning on reserve at the library in late May. On June 5th, I went to pick it up and almost fell over when I lifted the book off the shelf. It was huge!

Front cover of the book

This new behemoth comes in at 722 pages and weighs almost five lbs. I am sure of this because, at the risk of sounding like a nut job, I weighed it after staggering home with the book, groceries and the daily mail that I foolishly picked up at the end of this backbreaking trek.

I made a giant mug of coffee to boost my energy level and sat down to take a close look at, what can only be called “the absolute definitive book of Manners for Today” -- which is the subtitle of this tome.

Emily Post -- 1872 to 1960: Her first etiquette guide appeared 95 years ago

The book is so overwhelming that the only way I can tackle it is to quote liberally from the back cover. It is described as “bringing sound wisdom to all-new topics.” Some brave soul has done a masterful job of summing up the contents. Here goes:

• POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS

• How to approach conversations with someone who deeply disagrees with you? Determine the right time to engage in a debate or back away. Voice your opinions respectfully.

• SOCIAL NETWORKING

• Gives up-to-date advice for Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and blogging. This includes strategies and principles for successfully managing your online relationships, regardless of the platform.

• TODAY’S FAMILIES

• The book examines the evolving dynamic of what a family is, and how to set standards and values in your own home. It includes advice for dealing with change, from a 20-something moving back home to an 80-something moving into a retirement community.

• PERSONAL BRANDING

• Explores how to consciously make choices about how you present yourself to best reflect who you are and what you do in any situation.

• YOUR BUSINESS WORLD

• Looks at how to establish foundations for cultivating business-savvy skills when dealing with bosses, colleagues, your company’s culture and business social situations.

• PLUS SPECIAL FEATURES

• You’ll find real-life Questions and Answers; sample scripts for difficult situations, examples for invitations and announcements; an alphabetical how-to-eat guide that covers everything from artichokes to spaghetti; plus dress codes for every occasion.

WHO ARE THE AUTHORS?

LIZZIE POST is a columnist for Women’s Running. She co-hosts the Awesome Etiquette podcast and has conducted speeches and seminars nationwide. As a spokeswoman she has represented brands such as American Express Platinum and Bank of America.

Lizzie Post, 35, is the great-great granddaughter of Emily Post

DANIEL POST SENNING is the primary presenter of the Emily Post Business Etiquette Seminar series. He has been a spokesman for Ford Motor Company and Bank of America. He has a bachelor of science in molecular biology and lives with his wife and daughter in Duxbury, Vermont.

Daniel Post Senning, 39, is the great-great grandson of Emily Post

CLICK HERE FOR: Millennials Mind Their Manners, 4/12/17

Shaun Nelson-Henrick

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