Sorry: The Hardest Word and How to Use It

by Max Davidson

'Just say you are sorry.' It has become one of the drumbeats of the age. Fresh apologies are demanded every from broadcasters, politicians, errant spouses, disgraced bankers, myopic referees. Sometimes an apology is forthcoming, and honour is satisfied. But, for many people, the S-word proves a bridge too they shrink from using it even when common sense tells them that they should. How have we got ourselves into such a tangle over a simple two-syllable word? The English used to be world-champion a nature of inveterate sorry-sayers. Now we hardly know if we are coming or going. Written by serial apologiser Max Davidson, a man who believes in saying he is sorry, then waiting to be told what he is sorry for. Sorry! examines the origins and history of the word 'sorry'; dissects some of the reasons that apologies are seen as a sign of moral weakness; explores the religious notion of sincere contrition; considers the legal consequences of admitting liability; and casts a sceptical eye over the fashion among politicians for apologizing for things that happened in the distant past. Some famous apologies are saluted; some famous failures to apologise deplored. Praise for It's Not the Winning That Counts by Max 'A simple but brilliant idea executed with great skill and judgment', Marcus Berkmann, Daily Mail 'A collection of sporting stories whose plots and punch lines quicken the step and lift the heart', Jim White, Daily Telegraph

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Saleha Malek · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry but this book is not fun at all. Too many examples, so many names mentioned and the points are just wandering around there. Not helping.

[Hani Yahaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting non-fictional book I must say. I set my heart on this book when I first saw the title itself. I was wondering, "Just sorry ey for your title. Seem pretty cool to me." The rest is history.
When I read this book, I learnt lots and lots of new words which I believed these could improve my vocabulary. I did scribble a lot in this book. Never in my life I scribbled so much in a non-fictional book. I loved how the author put the art of apologizing into a book and turned out to be a brilliant book! I even wrote down some of the quotes that really touched my heart when I read this. And all those examples given, they were so real (may be some of them were not). But I recommended this book to all of you. Seriously folks, we are indeed to improve our manners! The art of apologising is not only to say sorry, maybe to some extend you need to take the blame to make this world a better place.

"Just misplaced chivalry, some would say, but what is wrong with a bit of chivalry in our backbitting world?"