Published by Quarto Publishing Group – Wellfleet Press

Synopsis:

“The world was my oyster, but I used the wrong fork.”
—Oscar Wilde

Although surely alluding to something besides good table manners, Oscar’s classic metaphor does contain a grain of truth underlying the pros and cons of proper etiquette. Like it or not, manners and etiquette are the hallmarks of a well-rounded person and, even if only subconsciously noticed by others, are a trait whose benefits are enormous both socially and professionally.

Today’s etiquette is so much more than simply being able to correctly identify spoons. For many, especially young professionals, conducting oneself properly in the office, meetings, and work events are extremely critical.

Nancy R. Mitchell is here to educate! For more than 25 years Nancy has been an etiquette consultant for numerous clients and is the owner and principal instructor of The Etiquette Advocate, which has been featured on CNN, ABC Nightline, Martha Stewart Living Radio, The New York Times, and many more.

Arranged by events and settings, the book will clearly and succinctly give you everything you need to know to successfully maneuver in today’s world; from knowing how to properly serve high tea, to giving a perfectly tasteful toast.

I picked this book up out of curiosity – I half expected it to be outdated and inapplicable to the average person’s everyday life but I was pleasantly surprised!

The book covers good manners in pretty much every situation you’re likely to encounter in your day to day life – work, parties, networking, eating, meeting new people. It even had a brilliant tip for eating out when you have severe food allergies (call the restaurant in advance and arrange a suitable meal to save awkwardness at the time. GENIUS.).

The chapters are laid out logically and there’s a handy index at the back if you’re looking for something in particular. The pages themselves are bullet pointed and have handy summaries for useful facts, which keeps it relevant and easy to read.

It covers a lot of very basic rules that seem obvious to some as well as more specific rules such as how/when to send Thank You cards, what different dress codes mean and office etiquette. I think this should be a staple on an HR department bookshelf and would make an excellent gift for an older teen about to enter the wider world.

*Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review*