You're kidding me. This post is simply a list of the book sections? How about a compare/contrast with Emily Post or Miss Manners? are Spade's books any good? or just a regurgitation of the old standbys? learn anything new? Get validation for anything you've already been doing?

kimg924, that is so rude!
lol, just poking fun. I love the irony though...

Kate Spade has always struck me as kind of frigid and snobbish. I know her BIL isn't a big fan of hers but I am going to be open minded and put a book of hers in my library que.

My favorite manners guide is "Mind Your Manners, Dick and Jane". Very funny:

http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Your-Manners-Dick-Jane/dp/044844433X

I don't know, I'm agreeing with kimg924... what makes Spade's books unique? I've poked through them, and I liked the illustrations, but what does the meat say -- especially since you now own them!

Personally, I've got a '28 copy of Emily Post and "Things You Need to be Told," which are both fabulous & snarky. Some things never change!

Let's just say Post's chapter called "Dinner Parties: Not For the Novice to Attempt" made my year.

"Family's" or "families' ", not "families." Make it possessive!

It would be the "Manners" section that would interest me, since people not having/using them is my biggest pet peeve.

When my son was 9 or so, we went to the mall. He held the door open for me and the several adults that were behind me. Not one said "Thank you"! It made me so mad that I (quite loudly) told him that even though those people didn't have enought courtesy to say thanks, I appreciated him holding the door open for them. At least a couple of them did look back with a guilty face.

Perhaps a book on manners should be required reading in schools, although that wouldn't help the millions of adults.

Sorry - I'll get off my soapbox now...

Oceandreamer56, isn't talking about people rude as well? Isn't it polite to be gracious rather than to passively-aggressively try to wring guilt out of strangers for not living up to your standards of conduct? Just wondering.

Fabframes - you're absolutely right, and I usually don't. That particular incident just made me so angry as I'd worked so hard to instill manners in my son, and the hurt/confused look on his face was more that I could stand at that moment. I guess I should have added that on the way home I explained to him that not everyone was taught manners, and not everyone chooses to use them, and that what I'd said wasn't very nice, either. The entire incident made a big impression on him, though, as I noticed that he was saying "thanks" more often.

Keep in mind that 'manners' are culturally subjective-- it seems like a more constructive discussion to have with our kids would highlight this-- that others may not perceive 'gracious' acts of kindness/courtesy in the same ways your family might, if that makes sense.

Also, it seems like if one is to choose to open doors etc. for others, they might do so becuase they want to, as opposed to doing so for the sort of external reassurance (via getting a 'thank you' in response, for instance).

I don't know, just a thought...

mm yes, we all need books to teach us how to be human these days.

god, what does that say about society?

Oceandreamer56, I don't mean to pick on you, but I just think it's important to do the "right thing", whatever you may think that is, because you believe it's the right thing to do. So, I hope your son is learning that lesson, in addition to learning the manners you're teaching him.

Fabframes - I don't feel at all like you're picking on me - after all, if I were always right I'd be named 'God'. :->

I've changed my mind or opinions more than once after discussions of this sort; and perhaps instead of 'manners', I should be using the term 'courtesy', and perhaps am sidetracking the original intent of this post? If so, my apologies to everyone.

My son is now an adult, and I hope I've given him the tools/lessons/manners/basic courtesy that he needs to move forward in life and be successful; including not being closed to new ideas - he's seen that I'm definately not.

I probably could have explained the door incident better, but I was trying not to write a novel about it. :-)

I have the Kate Spade "Style" volume - it's not about etiquette at all, just style in clothes and all kinds of things around you.

There are no great new revelations but its inspiring to read, like having a stylish friend come over and say "why don't you try wearing THAT with THAT?"