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More Things You Need To Be Told
In a second humorous look at modern-day etiquette and manners, updated for the twenty-first century, The Etiquette Grrls answer important and baffling questions about letter-writing, cohabitation, grooming, cell phones, drinking, dating, dining, body piercing, marriage, and other quandaries of life. Original.
- GenresNonfictionReference
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2003
2 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
The Etiquette Grrls
2 books3 followersA young man, a graduate of Deerfield Academy and Princeton University, takes his first job at a conservative publication. Within one week, this intrepid young reporter is walking around the office in cutoff shorts and bare feet.
A young couple, out on a Saturday-night date at a chic nightspot, are snappily dressed in vintage clothing, and order their martinis with aplomb. However, they chomp on their olives loudly, and make an unseemly roduction of stealing the bar's distinctive swizzle sticks.
A girl is staggering under the weight of an air conditioner. It is a very hot day, and she approaches a heavy door, which blocks her progress. A nearby boy watches with interest, as he stands idly by, enjoying a cold
beverage.
We are appalled.
Something has to be done.
We know what it is, and we know who has to do it.
This is a job for the Etiquette Grrls.
The Etiquette Grrls have compiled their wisdom in two books that every young person needs, Things You Need to Be Told: A Handbook for Polite Behavior in a Tacky, Rude World and More Things You Need to Be Told: A Guide to Proper Comportment in a Tacky, Rude World.
These are not your grandmother's etiquette books, with ample advice on how your calling cards should be engraved and how to host debutante teas. Rather, the EGs' books are guides to behaving properly in everyday situations -- in the office, on a date, at parties, at public events, even on the Internet.
The younger generation has discovered swing music and jazz, martinis, and cigars -- now there is a need to revive the manners that accompany such sophisticated tastes.
The EGs' tone is tongue-in-cheek, but their advice is timeless, timely, and sincere. Their mission: to impart chivalry and grace and to eradicate rudeness amongst young adults.
With their rapier-like wit, the Eiquette Grrls, in an arch fashion, dissect the spectre of rudeness in our society. And as said spectre lies bleeding in the streets, they repair to a swanky bar and toss back a few. They're just that sort of people.
The Etiquette Grrls in a nutshell? The wit of Christopher Buckley meets the style of Babe Paley, then puts on Doc Martens and dashes off to the Stork Club for drinks with Scott and Zelda.
Praise for TYNTBT/MTYNTBT:
- "The Etiquette Grrls are very funny, very wise, and very in your face. It's easier to learn manners when you're laughing rather than crying." -- Letitia Baldrige, author, etiquette expert, White House Social Secretary to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
- "I laughed aloud. Those girls have got something there." -- Robert Sean Leonard, actor.
- "I fell completely in love with [The Etiquette Grrls]...they devote as much energy and enthusiasm to a thrift-store place setting as [Emily] Post did to Spode china and the heirloom silver...Their advice is better than that from some of their elders." -- P.J. O'Rourke, author, humorist, satirist, The New York Times Sunday Book Review.
- "If The Girls from The Rules...had a clue, they'd...start paying attention to this ultimate how-to girl manifesto." -- Marcelle Karp, co-author of The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order and co-founder of Bust Magazine
- "Outrageous fun." -- Houston Chronicle
- "Lessons that we would all do well to learn...such good sense." -- Montreal Gazette
- "Very tongue-in-cheek but quite palatable, practical advice for those not in the know." -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A young couple, out on a Saturday-night date at a chic nightspot, are snappily dressed in vintage clothing, and order their martinis with aplomb. However, they chomp on their olives loudly, and make an unseemly roduction of stealing the bar's distinctive swizzle sticks.
A girl is staggering under the weight of an air conditioner. It is a very hot day, and she approaches a heavy door, which blocks her progress. A nearby boy watches with interest, as he stands idly by, enjoying a cold
beverage.
We are appalled.
Something has to be done.
We know what it is, and we know who has to do it.
This is a job for the Etiquette Grrls.
The Etiquette Grrls have compiled their wisdom in two books that every young person needs, Things You Need to Be Told: A Handbook for Polite Behavior in a Tacky, Rude World and More Things You Need to Be Told: A Guide to Proper Comportment in a Tacky, Rude World.
These are not your grandmother's etiquette books, with ample advice on how your calling cards should be engraved and how to host debutante teas. Rather, the EGs' books are guides to behaving properly in everyday situations -- in the office, on a date, at parties, at public events, even on the Internet.
The younger generation has discovered swing music and jazz, martinis, and cigars -- now there is a need to revive the manners that accompany such sophisticated tastes.
The EGs' tone is tongue-in-cheek, but their advice is timeless, timely, and sincere. Their mission: to impart chivalry and grace and to eradicate rudeness amongst young adults.
With their rapier-like wit, the Eiquette Grrls, in an arch fashion, dissect the spectre of rudeness in our society. And as said spectre lies bleeding in the streets, they repair to a swanky bar and toss back a few. They're just that sort of people.
The Etiquette Grrls in a nutshell? The wit of Christopher Buckley meets the style of Babe Paley, then puts on Doc Martens and dashes off to the Stork Club for drinks with Scott and Zelda.
Praise for TYNTBT/MTYNTBT:
- "The Etiquette Grrls are very funny, very wise, and very in your face. It's easier to learn manners when you're laughing rather than crying." -- Letitia Baldrige, author, etiquette expert, White House Social Secretary to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
- "I laughed aloud. Those girls have got something there." -- Robert Sean Leonard, actor.
- "I fell completely in love with [The Etiquette Grrls]...they devote as much energy and enthusiasm to a thrift-store place setting as [Emily] Post did to Spode china and the heirloom silver...Their advice is better than that from some of their elders." -- P.J. O'Rourke, author, humorist, satirist, The New York Times Sunday Book Review.
- "If The Girls from The Rules...had a clue, they'd...start paying attention to this ultimate how-to girl manifesto." -- Marcelle Karp, co-author of The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order and co-founder of Bust Magazine
- "Outrageous fun." -- Houston Chronicle
- "Lessons that we would all do well to learn...such good sense." -- Montreal Gazette
- "Very tongue-in-cheek but quite palatable, practical advice for those not in the know." -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 25, 2012
I only flipped through this for 20 minutes at the store, so I didn't read it cover to cover. But I read enough to know that this book is not for me. The advice isn't really bad, but most of it is common sense. Don't drive like a maniac. Put some thought into gift giving. Write thank-you letters. Basically, don't be an asshole.
The authors come across as snobby New Yorkers. They put down clueless tourists (what a cliche) and are constantly mentioning their superior taste in theater, movies, books, etc. I don't need them to tell me that Shakespeare is worthwhile. They think they're authorities just because they spent time in Europe and went to boarding school?! Get over yourselves!!
Oh, and they think Tiffany and Co. is the epitome of sophistication and good taste. Yawn. Nothing against Tiffany, I'm not a reverse snob, but anyone can be a label whore.
The most annoying thing about it is the writing. The authors use French words multiple times per page, I guess to come off as "classy"... Actually, it's more than un peu annoying, and I have a real problem avec this kind of idiotic pretentiousness. Oh and the Annoying, Constant Capitalization! And the overuse of Dear Reader in Every Second Line. The Whole Book reads like this, Dear Reader! Annoying, non? Mais oui!
Ugh, just no. I'm all for a funny, tongue-in-cheek girlfriend advice kind of book (for example, I loved He's Just Not That Into You), which is why I picked this up, but this was really awful.
The authors come across as snobby New Yorkers. They put down clueless tourists (what a cliche) and are constantly mentioning their superior taste in theater, movies, books, etc. I don't need them to tell me that Shakespeare is worthwhile. They think they're authorities just because they spent time in Europe and went to boarding school?! Get over yourselves!!
Oh, and they think Tiffany and Co. is the epitome of sophistication and good taste. Yawn. Nothing against Tiffany, I'm not a reverse snob, but anyone can be a label whore.
The most annoying thing about it is the writing. The authors use French words multiple times per page, I guess to come off as "classy"... Actually, it's more than un peu annoying, and I have a real problem avec this kind of idiotic pretentiousness. Oh and the Annoying, Constant Capitalization! And the overuse of Dear Reader in Every Second Line. The Whole Book reads like this, Dear Reader! Annoying, non? Mais oui!
Ugh, just no. I'm all for a funny, tongue-in-cheek girlfriend advice kind of book (for example, I loved He's Just Not That Into You), which is why I picked this up, but this was really awful.
May 14, 2008
This book was okay as a sequel. I cannot recall if it is true of the first book, but I found this book dripping with condescension and a bit over opinionated on certain topics. Insulting my very reliable Honda Civic, which I am very attached to, in favor of the cult car lover's Volvo, is not a way to win fans. The lists were rather long winded and something more favorable to be put on a website, where they can be updated and changed easily, rather than waste pages on publishing. The gift buying section was nice, but I was hoping to find a section on "How to buy gifts for people who by themselves everything." Aside from this, the rest of the book was little bits of this and that, and nothing stands out now that upset me or pleased me a great deal.
December 22, 2018
It took me 12 years to get to and to read this book. I’m afraid it was not worth it. Not even close. If you were raised with good manners and are not some kind of hellion child, you already know 85% of this book.
July 27, 2008
"More Things You Need to be Told" focuses on a few specific etiquette topics, including gifts, etiquette for men (and for interactions between men and women, such as dating), and travel via car. In addition, the Etiquette Grrls provide recommendations for movies, music, authors, and other forms of entertainment that they consider classic. This list includes the expected Shakespeare, Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant films, and classic composers. In addition, the Grrls recommend a few rock bands (Cake, U2, the Clash), modern or recently made movies ("The Dead Poets Society", "Pulp Fiction") and current authors (David Sedaris, and, despite her focus on cookbooks, Julia Child). A final chapter includes miscellaneous thoughts, including posing for photos, and manners regarding electronics.
June 26, 2007
just as witty and funny as the original. these new england girls know what they want out of people nowadays and it's manners. there are just proper ways to do everything and they know what it's about.
September 6, 2007
Rather amusing...moderately helpful...although I do disagree with some of the opinions expressed by the Etiquette Grrls.
January 15, 2008
Very entertaining. Funny & true with great advice. A recommended classic!
June 8, 2009
Pretty decent read. Some parts were all out hilarious. LOL!
August 8, 2009
I ordered this book from Amazon on a whim and thought it was not only totally hilarious, but chock-full of important tidbits that you do, indeed, need to be told.
September 24, 2019
Wow a lot of people took these books way too seriously. This book reminds me of the Official Preppy Handbook. I really enjoyed these in high school.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews