Über den Umgang mit Menschen: Eine Auswahl

by Adolph Knigge, Marion Poschmann (Editor), Irmela Schautz (Illustrator)

Nichts ist so kompliziert wie der Umgang mit den eigenen Artgenossen. Und nichts könnte einfacher sein, wenn man bereit ist, sich an einige Grundregeln zu halten. Adolph Freiherr von Knigge, ein verarmter Adeliger, dem es zeit seines Lebens nicht gelang, in der Gesellschaftsschicht, aus der er stammte, eine befriedigende Position zu bekleiden, gibt in seinem berühmten Werk Anweisungen für das rechte Verhalten in allen Lebenslagen und entfaltet eine vielschichtige Sittenlehre, die von ihrer Aktualität nichts verloren hat. Denn bei allen Feinheiten der Höflichkeit, so lernen wir aus der von Marion Poschmann besorgten Auswahl, kommt es am Ende auf das eine an: Respekt vor den anderen und vor sich selbst.

142 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1788

About the author

Adolph Franz Friedrich Ludwig Knigge (1752 – 1796) was a German writer, Freemason, and a leading member of the Illuminati. He is best remembered as the author of On Human Relations.

Knigge's involvement with the Illuminati, support of the advancement of human rights, and a period of serious illness led to the loss of support of his aristocratic sponsors and finally his fortune. He found a measure of financial stability again with a position in Bremen, where he died in 1796.

Reviews

[Josh Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this book very interesting, very short, but insane to contrast 1790s etiquette with modern day, even more interesting how much of it still upholds today, with exception of the ridiculousness of the "studious women" chapter.

The Epilogue is a huge highlight in my opinion however, I knew the word "Knigge" was associated/ synonymous with Etiquette but I wasn't aware that this book and this author was the reason why, or that he is basically the forefather of all German Etiquette, and probably the reason why my granddad made me not have my elbows on the table, or made me watch a chickens head get cut of so I knew where my meat comes from...
The funniest part however, is that the woman chapter is about a specific girl he had particular problems dealing with in his life, and expressed his "revenge" in the form of this book