Review of Emily Post's Etiquette, 17th Edition

In "Emily Post's Etiquette, 17th Edition," Post offers advice for handling modern situations such as online dating,"blended" families and breastfeeding or pumping at the office. Guidelines are given for using high-tech devices like cell phones, e-mail, and instant messaging. There is even a discussion on the inappropriateness of displaying body piercings at a job interview.

Fortunately, when updating the book to address modern advances and changes, Post did not disregard the situations and concerns that have remained important through the years. "Emily Post's Etiquette, 17th Edition" is packed with timeless advice on matters such as table manners, introductions, displaying the flag and responding to invitations. Entertaining, planning and attending weddings and communication are covered in detail. Most people will find the guidelines in the chapter titled "The Finer Points of Tipping" very useful. There's even a section on Official Protocol, so you'll know how to behave if you are ever invited to the White House.

"Emily Post's Etiquette, 17th Edition" is well-written and well-organized. That is of key importance considering this book is 896 pages long. Post's style is easy and conversational, keeping you from feeling like you're getting bogged down and welcoming you to continue reading. If you have a specific etiquette question, you will be able to find the answer quickly and easily due to the attention paid to the book's structure. The table of contents and index are intuitive. The chapters are broken up and easy to navigate through the effective use of headings and subheadings. Indexed tabs are even thoughtfully included.

Peggy Post has done an excellent job with "Emily Post's Etiquette, 17th Edition." She has provided a guide that allows for the more casual nature of modern society while honoring the simple courtesy and civility that will never be out of style.