Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct

Front Cover
St. Martin's Publishing Group, Apr 1, 2010 - Reference - 208 pages

Most people would agree that thoughtful behavior and common decency are in short supply, or simply forgotten in hurried lives of emails, cellphones, and multi-tasking. In Choosing Civility, P. M. Forni identifies the twenty-five rules that are most essential in connecting effectively and happily with others. In clear, witty, and, well...civilized language, Forni covers topics that include:

* Think Twice Before Asking Favors
* Give Constructive Criticism
* Refrain from Idle Complaints
* Respect Others' Opinions
* Don't Shift Responsibility and Blame
* Care for Your Guests
* Accept and Give Praise

Finally, Forni provides examples of how to put each rule into practice and so make life-and the lives of others-more enjoyable, companionable, and rewarding.

Choosing Civility is a simple, practical, perfectly measured, and quietly magical handbook on the lost art of civility and compassion.

“Insightful meditation on how changing the way we think can improve our daily lives. ... A deft exploration that urges us to think before speaking.” —Kirkus, Starred Review

 

Selected pages

Contents

How Do We Learn to Love?
18
About the Rules
31
Accept and Give Praise
69
Respect Even a Subtle No
74
Respect Others Opinions
77
Mind Your Body
81
Be Agreeable
87
Keep It Down and Rediscover Silence
93
Think Twice Before Asking for Favors
131
Refrain from Idle Complaints
136
Accept and Give Constructive Criticism
141
Respect the Environment and Be Gentle to Animals
146
Dont Shift Responsibility and Blame
152
PART THREE
159
Culture Shock
161
Striking Through the Form to the Substance
163

Respect Other Peoples Time
97
Respect Other Peoples Space
100
Apologize Earnestly
106
Assert Yourself
110
Avoid Personal Questions
116
Care for Your Guests
122
Be a Considerate Guest
126
It My Way
165
Authority on the Wane
167
The Age of the Self
169
Living Among Strangers
171
The Drive to Achieve
173
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct
P. M. Forni
Limited preview - 2002
Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct
P. M. Forni
No preview available - 2003

Common terms and phrases

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About the author (2010)

Dr. P.M. Forni (1951-2018) was an award-winning professor of Italian Literature at Johns Hopkins University. In 2000 he founded The Civility Initiative at Johns Hopkins and taught courses on the theory and history of manners. He is the author of The Civility Solution: What to Do When People Are Rude (2008) and The Thinking Life: How to Thrive in the Age of Distraction (2011). Reports on his work have appeared on The New York Times, The Times of London, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Los Angeles Times. He has been a on a number of radio and television shows, including ABC's World News Tonight, CBS Sunday Morning and BBC's Outlook. He lived in Baltimore, Maryland.

Bibliographic information

TitleChoosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct
AuthorP. M. Forni
PublisherSt. Martin's Publishing Group, 2010
ISBN1429973986, 9781429973984
Length208 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Body, Mind & Spirit / Mindfulness & Meditation
Reference / Etiquette
Self-Help / Personal Growth / Success
  
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