Modern Manners: An Etiquette Book for Rude People

P.J. O'Rourke has spent some part of his life observing manners, their uses and mis-uses. He prefers the latter as they provide territory, though he approaches it with hesitation, to ponder on paper. And we are much improved for that. Where else could we learn how to run a first class funeral which is also a study in themes and variations on how to be deceased yet remembered properly by divergent groups of persons, some family, some unfriendly, some friend.While he is rather inclined to hold his nose as he steps over the bodies of the too merry makers, he is observant and reports what he's seen and others doing.His tongue may be in his cheek but his observances are chillingly close to accurate. The way he puts it, the satire doesn't seem real but one senses the cruel truth that lies not very far away. Persons who have read this may hesitate before inviting him to any sort of function but, as the consumer of his dissections of what occurred, one rather hopes he'll at least sneak a peek over the fence.While not a stop on the road to perdition himself, he well knows the path that leads to it and is only to happy to point the reader toward Modern Manners done badly.

P.J. O'Rourke doesn't write any bad books. An entertaining and illuminating look at today manners. Who should read this, everyone young and old.

I read this book a couple decades ago, then ordered it via Amazon as a present for a friend. Those of you expecting O'Rourke to do political analysis in this book are looking for the wrong sort of thing. This is more in keeping with his writings for National Lampoon back when he was managing editor. I still like his hat advice: "A hat should be taken off when you greet a lady and left off for the rest of your life. Nothing looks more stupid than a hat."

Excellent

Na

what an author. such novel and random ideas in this book. A must read for unique people. ;)It's silly, yet poignant and relevant.

This book is simply hilarious. I laughed out loud many times.

Very witty!

Excellent auhor