The A To Z Of Modern Manners

A comprehensive guide to contemporary conduct, from Britain's leading experts on manners and etiquette.

This new edition of Debrett's A-Z of Modern Manners provides a wealth of practical and light-hearted advice for the digital age. From avocados to zebra crossings, via humblebragging, selfies and vaping, this is an indispensable guide to the bewildering world of contemporary conduct. Learn how to deploy an emoji, navigate a message group and online-date with distinction, without neglecting such timeless social minefields as remembering names, hosting a dinner party and giving up your seat.

Some clear guidelines to navigate a rapidly changing world. Why has ‘Mr Manners’, David Meagher, decided to write another book on the subject? He abhors crude and crass behaviour, yet found himself getting mad at others and teetering on the edge of becoming one of the ill-mannered people he so despised. So, instead of getting angry all the time – and risking becoming known as that crazy guy who yells out his car window at people – he decided the time was right to get back into the manners business. The A to Z of Modern Manners looks at the new forces shaping the way we live, as well as some old ones, and suggests the best ways to behave. It’s not about pointing the finger at people and calling out bad behaviour (okay, there’s a bit of that but he hasn’t named anyone); it’s about using common sense and thinking about how your actions might make other people feel in that situation. There is no right or wrong way to walk and text simultaneously. There is, however, a way to do it that will cause the least inconvenience for everyone else using the footpath. You can work out what form that takes by having a little empathy for your fellow humans. That’s just good manners.

Some clear guidelines to navigate a rapidly changing world Change is now constant. The world is faster than ever before. The way we live and interact with one another has changed significantly. Social media is all-pervasive. Everyone from the author's 85 year-old mother to his 13 year-old niece is using it in some way. Misbehave on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social networking site and the evidence and influence of your post lives in perpetuity. Today it's perfectly acceptable to text the boss and let him or her know you are sick, or need leave, or whatever else is happening. In fact, waste the boss's time with a phone call? You wouldn't do it! Man about town of impeccable manners and intuition David Meagher, in warm and witty prose, shares with us the guidelines for co-existing and working in a stylish and harmonious manner.