The Style Guy O’Brien 2000 O’Brien was GQ magazine’s fashion columnist until 2015. (He evidently blasted GQ in an interview and resigned.) His advice column talked about everything from fashion advice to etiquette. None of it is particularly timeless. I
Complete Conduct Principles for the 21st Century Newton 2000 Submitter: I feel this one speaks for itself. We may have identified the worst book ever. You’re welcome. We are a public library serving a population of 70,000 nowhere near the
Manners To Grow On Lee 1955 Submitter: I found this while working on a long-overdue weeding project in our J section. We all know manners are lacking in society today, but this book is NOT helping! If anyone doubts that this needed
Gentlemen Aren’t Sissies A Modern Guidebook for the Young Man about Town Jonathan 1938 This book is another blast from the past. Is it current? Nope. Is it useful? Maybe if you are stuck in a Nick and Nora Charles
How to be a Really Nice Person: Doing the Right Thing- Your Way Collins 1983 Submitter: We are getting ready for a new carpeting project, so we’re weeding as much as we can in anticipation of moving our 85,000+ collection. I
Telephone Time
A First Book of Telephone Do’s and Don’t’s
Weiss
1986
Another cutting edge technology book for kids. Actually, this is more etiquette for the telephone. Oh how I wish that people actually practiced etiquette with cell phones, but that rant is for another day.
In this particular tale, we are treated to some phone etiquette from a fairy called Ringalina. (I kid you not!) She instructs the Willis children, Lily and Willy, on how to use the phone. The drama comes when Mrs. Willis leaves 7 year old Lily and her younger brother Willy alone while she runs next door. Of course the phone rings and out pops the phone fairy Ringalina to pass on words of wisdom. Never tell someone on the phone you are alone, take a message, don’t call long distance (it’s too expensive), and of course be polite. Where Child Protective Services is in all of this drama is NOT addressed.
The New Emily Post’s Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage
Post
1959
This is a cool book from a nostalgia point of view. I enjoyed leafing through it (until my lungs exploded from dust and mold spores, that is.) However, the school library this came from is not really the place for it anymore. Kids aren’t interested, and teachers can’t teach from it because it’s so horribly old fashioned.
Check out these excerpts:
I Love to Laugh Nordlicht 1980 Submitter: Found on the picture book shelves of a public elementary school. As I was shelving a Laura Numeroff book the other day, this gem caught my eye. I was immediately struck by the
