Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck

By: Amy Alkon

Narrated by: Carrington MacDuffie

We live in a world that's very different from the one in which Emily Post came of age. Many of us who are nice (but who also sometimes say "f*ck") are frequently at a loss for guidelines about how to be a good person who deals effectively with the onslaught of rudeness we all encounter. To lead us through this this miasma of modern manners, syndicated columnist Amy Alkon - The Advice Goddess - gives us a new set of manners for our 21st-century lives. In chapters titled "The Telephone", "The Internet", "The Apology", and "Communicating", among others, Alkon maps out new rules that go beyond what fork to use to answer real questions we all have:

• When is it okay to phone somebody instead of emailing or texting? When is it rude?
• Why shouldn't you tweet about a guest at a private dinner party? Everybody knows privacy is dead, right?
• How do you shut the guy up in the pharmacy line with his cellphone on speaker?
• When is it right to approach somebody who's crying in public and when is it right to leave him alone?
• When should you unfriend somebody on Facebook and what do you say when she calls you on it?
• If you have an STD, when do you tell people, what do you say, and do you have to contact everyone you've ever had sex with?

Real advice for today with more than a touch of humor, Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck is destined to give good old Emily a shove off the etiquette shelf (if that's not too rude to say).

©2014 Amy Alkon (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Interesting Insights

Although much of these insights are common sense, they are presented as a fresh way to view situations. My only problem is grabbing the correct insight as the situation presents itself.

Should be required reading.

The first thing I will say is that THIS BOOK SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING. Okay, I got that out of my system. But seriously, this book does an excellent example of pointing out the "culture of crass self-absorption" that we have allowed to overtake society. The thing is, if we keep waiting for the other person to make a change, we will just continue to spiral down the toilet. There is a lot in here about some very interesting and creative (as well as SAFE) ways to confront societal rudeness.

I stand by my statement that this should become a text for high school and/or college classes to be built upon. Maybe, one person at a time, we can bring some sense of civility back to our little neck of the woods.

love the many analogies and new words.

I very much enjoyed the expansion of my vocabulary and great examples in this book! The only thing i have to disagree with in taking off shoes as here in MN where we have snow from October to May its often customery to take off shoes.

Interesting guide for modern manners

Would you listen to Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck again? Why?

Yes. Overall, I felt that the advice given was very relevant for today's society. While a lot of it was pretty self-explanatory, having it compiled in sections and all in one place is really helpful. There were also a lot of good reminders about when it is okay to not be conventially "polite" as we shouldn't live tiptoeing around when people aren't very nice.

What three words best describe Carrington MacDuffie’s performance?

Nice voice, but not the right one for this book.

Any additional comments?

I found it an interesting balance of very good advice, though occasionally, the author's approach went a little too far in my opinion (all the note writing and flier posting she mentioned). Nevertheless, I found it a good listen.

I have nothing against the narrator of this book, but she was the wrong person for a book with this kind of comedic material. I felt it lacked a bit of personality and kinda sounded like a mom reading this book, which made the slightly inappropriate, but funny sections or packages almost awkward. I would have loved to have it with someone a bit sillier sounding... (If that makes any sense)...

Hilarious and a Direct Hit - Must Listen

Okay, I didn't know what to expect. Within 20 minutes I was hooked. I was listening while BBQ'ing outside.When I came in my wife said, "you look crazy out there laughing to yourself while your flipping our burgers. Good thing I know you." It's not that this book is so side splitting, it's that Alkon can turn a phase and pick a perfect analogy. MacDuffie does a fabulous job on the narration.

If you want to know how to handle you pesky neighbors, get those people at work to stop asking when you are getting engaged, or just how to say 'no,' then this book is for you. This is definitely for a person who does not mind strong language and suggestive analogies -- so if these things bother you, you should avoid this book. That said, Alkon goes on to be funny without being vulgar -- a neat trick. She also backs up her advice with reference to the latest psychology ; but, that part of the book is very scant so don''t get too nervous.

I recommend that you listen to this -- it is well worth you time. I bought a print copy for my daughter to read -- she is going to love it.

Smart behavior and response in today's world

Author Amy Alkon has done her homework by reading and referencing a number of books or studies on human behavior, the brain, social studies and psychology and that makes this book an intelligent observation on human beings today.

We live in a very different society than a generation ago, and thus there is need for a re-frame of what is considered to be considerate or inconsiderate behavior. With humor, directness, and great examples this book covers behaviors we experience today and some optional responses.

Amy Alkon covers many relevant topics, from what is to be done about cell phones, tipping, parking, or how to respond to invitations by email. That was expected and I learned more than I thought I would. What I didn't expect, and found helpful were when Amy wrote about how to best help people. How to respond when a someone says they have cancer. How friends can network to help a friend. How even though we can not give a homeless person "three hots and a cot" we can still do something small to make their day better.

Funny throughout, this is a guidebook for life where big cities and technology have both brought people together and isolated them. Compassion, respect, intelligence, and at times courage to do what it takes to correct selfish and inconsiderate behavior are illustrated throughout.

This would be an excellent book to be assigned reading in school to help young people have better life skills. And for people who remember phones that had a spinning disk on front to dial numbers, this book is a great way to keep up.

Wish everybody had to read this before adulthood.

Really good narration and information. Would be good for every college business student. Or any student.

Yes! Now, if they would only teach this in school.

Amy put common sense manners into perspective for the good of all. Now, if they would only teach this in school...

A must read / listen

Sound advice with good reasoning for all humans included within this book. Some of the advice sounds initially counter-intuitive but with sound explanations, it all makes sense. Make the world better, listen to or read this book.

F*** Awesome Surpirse

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, absolutely.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck?

The whole book was a revelation and a surprise for me. I expected laugh out loud humor and for sure, I got that. But I also received honest, practical, advice on how to be kind to people and how to be a better neighbor. I shared this with the president of my HOA . I think it's a great guide for creating healthy, happy, communities.

Have you listened to any of Carrington MacDuffie’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I howled with laughter often and actually ended up crying several times. I realized that I tend to be a jerk as a neighbor.

Any additional comments?

Thank you Amy!!