An Uncommon History of Common Courtesy: How Manners Shaped the World

by Unknown Author

With engaging and artfully presented text, including sidebars on media mavens throughout history, social gaffes, and archaic manners, this book is as entertaining as it is informative. Readers delve into cultural similarities and differences through lively passages, colorful photography, and sidebars on unique history. Topics include Courtesies and Greetings, Communication and Correspondence, Dining and Entertaining, Hierarchies and Protocol, Hospitality and Occasions, Amusements and Institutions, Boundaries and Cultural Differences, New Technology and Old Manners. Whether you are planning a trip abroad or just want a fascinating, browsable read, find out what is universal and what is merely a product of one's culture.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Psychology

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

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Reviews

[Ann Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book about customs and mannerisms from around the world. Well worth the read.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of interesting information about manners and customs across the world. Though the subtitle is "How Manners Shaped the World", it really does not try to explain manners in that way. It mostly just groups different customs from over the world into interesting groupings (business, marriage, hand shakes, kissing, etc.). It also could stand from a bit more proofreading which I thought unusual since it's from National Geographic.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

1. This isn’t a survey of the history of manners.
2. This book does not explain how manners shapes the world.
3. Many of the topics have little to nothing to do with courtesy or manners.

[MD Salim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awespme বুক

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not what I had expected from a book published by National Geographic. It read and looked more like a DK encyclopedia with its bright pictures and brief blurbs.
Each manner or custom gets a one-page treatment, nothing too in-depth, and seems to have been only briefly researched. There's just not a lot of information and much of it is hedged with "no one knows how this started" or "it may have come from..." Manners, customs and etiquette tend to be well-documented in many cultures and I felt a little more digging could have provided more information as to the origins and uses of many of the customs presented. I had hoped for solid essays explaining how the manners presented came to be, what they meant, how they had changed over time, and such. I think that was the intent of each essay but I don't feel the intent was fully-realized.
I found the customs to be arranged in an odd fashion. There are eight over-arching chapters: Shake hands, tip hats; Say the magic words; Elbows off the table; Rank's privileges; All in the family; The game of life; On the road again; Getting & spending. Each chapter, then, has a page-per-custom that relates to the chapter. However, not every custom in its chapter necessarily belongs to the chapter so the arrangement feels a little haphazard, like the manners had to be arranged and this was the best way possible to put them into some type of loose construction. It's a minor thing, but one that I noticed because I had decided to read the book front-to-back.
It doesn't need to be read front-to-back. It can be flipped through and a page can be read randomly, out of order. There's no story to follow. That's just what I did after completing the Shake hands, tip hats chapter. I got bored and I was frustrated with the lack of meaty discourse, so I just started hopping, sampling manners throughout the book. I often found myself not finishing a page, moreso than I found myself nodding and thinking, "How fascinating!"
I didn't read the entire book. It didn't have what I wanted. I'm not sure what reading level it is aimed toward but it wouldn't be out of place in the children's section. It is in no way a comprehensive text on the origin of manners, customs, and etiquette from around the world. That is fine, of course. It's just not what I had wanted from this particular book.

[Rebecca Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun coffee table book about global courtesy and culture. It's not supposed to be read cover to cover, so just have it out and flip to a page and delight your friends with a fascinating fact. I think my favorite page is the man in Shanghai, China wearing PJs while at the supermarket, supposedly because the Chinese think it's dumb to change into different clothing when you go out of the house, and PJs are so comfortable.

[Jessica]

By national geographic. Each page (or two) focused on a specific courtesy throughout the ages like 'hellos' or bowing and the like. Fascinating information. Contained stuff that I've always wanted to know, but man, there was no way this thing was edited. No. Way. Punctuation flaws abounded and there was almost always a bias expressed in a way that my academic/historian/librarian mind cringe. I read the whole thing (because the information was correct), but I complained a lot while doing so.

[Duckpondwithoutducks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each page in this book describes a different custom, habit or point of etiquette from places all around the world. It is full of photographs and really helps to educate you as to other cultures and what they consider to be good manners.

[Paul Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

One page descriptions of how traditions and manners came to be and how things are done throughout the world. Although there are lots of interesting tidbits, I didn't find it comprehensive in any category or useful.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have rated this higher as it was quite entertaining. However, there were two errors that indicated that it wasn't as thoroughly researched as it should have been and therefore not to be used as a guide.

[Christy]

interesting

[Ann]

Top 5 Pop Culture - PLA

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book full of history and fun facts. Easy to read one part and pick up again. Great pictures accompany each page.