LIBRARY NOTES


APRIL 2, 2012

Lynn Denison



Isn’t it refreshing to know that the word “civility” is still a word found in our dictionaries and is still practiced? The word is defined as a noun which means “respectful and considerate behavior that enables us to live and work together—locally and globally—embracing our shared humanity and interpersonal connections.”

Our newest book at Rowan Public Library on the subject is Saving Civility: 52 Ways to Tame Rude, Crude & Attitude for a Polite Planet by Sara Hacala. Ms. Hacala is a certified etiquette and protocol consultant. Her premise is that we are all part of the problem of some of the rude and crude behavior we frequently see in today’s world and we all need to be part of the solution. The book is an easy read but a very challenging one. Some of the chapter titles are “Mind Your Cyber Manners,” “Celebrate Diversity,” “Just be Nice,” “Work at Workplace Civility,” “See Yourself as Others See You,” and “Respect the Boundaries of Others.” In our day-to-day lives we see hostile and polarizing political interactions, bullying, tasteless and tactless comments delivered without discretion, disrespect for older adults, and the list goes on. Although Ms. Hacala bemoans our often modern boorishness, this is not a book of manners per se but rather one filled with practical ways for us as individuals to strive to make the world a more enriching, pleasant place to live. I felt the book was made even more meaningful by the thought provoking quotations that are liberally sprinkled throughout.

The Meaning of Nice: How Compassion and Civility Can Change Your Life (and the World) by Joan Duncan Oliver is another new book that, although light and easy to read, explores deep questions about the nature of human virtues such as honesty, kindness, empathy, loyalty, and just plain being nice. The author has been an editor for The New York Times Magazine and editor in chief of New Age Journal. She was the founding editor of People, US Weekly, and Self magazines.

Dr. P. M. Forni is an award-wining professor at Johns Hopkins University who teaches courses on the theory and history of manners. His book, The Civility Solution: What to Do When People Are Rude, is prefaced by this quote from James Katz: “If anything characterizes the twenty-first century, it’s our inability to restrain ourselves for the benefit of other people.”

For a really fun, witty read try Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door, by Lynne Truss. Ms. Truss first tackled the subject of poor grammar in her multi-million-copies-sold book Eats, Shoots, and Leaves. In this next book she takes on the serious subject of civility in a way that will have you laughing as you applaud her ability to defend the importance of maintaining such virtues as politeness, courtesy, respect for others and self control.

If you are interested in relaxing, yet enlightening reading, select one or all of the above books on your next visit to a branch of the Rowan Public Library.