256 p. : 19 cm

Includes bibliographical references (p. 253-256)

Introduction / Pamela Fiori -- [pt. 1]. Everyday courtesies. ch. 1. Try a little tenderness. The return of gallantry / Jill Kargman ; Win some, lose some / Charles Osgood ; One hundred thousand welcomes / Frank McCourt -- ch. 2. Peaceful co-existence. Have a little patience / M.J. Ryan ; Elevator ups and downs / Patricia Marx ; Don't do this in public / Patricia Volk ; When bad things happen to bad people / Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez -- ch. 3. The genuine article. Keeping your word / Pat Beard ; Insincerely yours / John Sedgwick ; Presume nothing / Jim Brosseau ; Material whirl / Jane Hammerslough -- [pt. 2]. Domestic tranquility. ch. 4. Marriage matters. The subject is money / Eileen Livers ; Matrimonial manners / Stacey Okun ; Stepping down the aisle / Martha Woodham -- ch. 5. Ever after. To love and to cherish? / Janet Carlson Freed ; Penny-wise, meet Pound-foolish / David Brown -- ch. 6. Motherhood. So what do you expect? / Jill Kargman ; Going public / Stacey Okun ; How to treat your nanny / Janet Carlson Freed ; Teach your daughters well / Sonya Friedman -- ch. 7. You must be kidding. Kindergarten madness / Christine Pittel ; Way too familiar? / Joan Caragnis Jakobson ; It's grand and great / Hugh Downs -- ch. 8. Home is where the heart is. Respectful renting / Stacey Okun ; In the company of friends / Karen Duffy ; Guess who's coming to dinner? / Jamie Lee Curtis -- ch. 9. Holiday cheer. Let's make a meal / Francine Maroukian ; Playing our cards right / Andy Rooney ; Thank you for not sharing / Andy Borowitz ; Gifts that go on giving / Tom Connor -- [pt. 3]. Face of the nation. ch. 10. History lessons. Speaking presidential : witty words from the White House ; Minding Miss Manners : an interview with Judith Martin ; Patriotic pride / Ted Sorensen -- ch. 11. The mother tongue. Protecting our language / Anne H. Soukhanov ; Fighting words / Geoffrey Nunberg ; "Whatever" do you mean? / Anne Taylor Fleming -- ch. 12. September 11, 2001. Civility as our greatest defense / David Brown ; What's really important : a collection of insights ; What I've learned / Peggy Noonan -- [pt. 4]. Going guietly. ch. 13. Can you hear me now? Celling out / Thomas P. Farley ; The art of listening / Letitia Baldrige ; What I should have said / Philip Herrera ; The proliferation of pretension / Joe Queenan -- ch.14. Farewells. Good-bye, old friend / Reverend Erik Kolbell ; Saying good-bye gracefully / Phyllis Theroux

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