The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette - by Nancy Tuckerman & Nancy Dunnan (Hardcover)

About the Book

When may cellular phones be used in public? When, if ever, is it correct to leave an invitation on an answering macnhine? Taking into account the fact the society has changed radically since the 1978 revision of this book, the authors have completely updated it to reflect changes in every area.

Book Synopsis

Filled with practical advice for every occasion, business and pleasure, this updated and revised edition is the most complete and authoritative guide to living well.

First published in 1952, this classic guide has been fully updated to reflect the concerns of the modern reader. The advice that has made Amy Vanderbilt the first name in etiquette remains pertinent today. Here is the final word on buying and using stationery, responding to dinner invitations, hosting a party, and attending religious ceremonies. The chapter of the most enduring popularity is, of course, the one on weddings. From addressing invitations to sending thank you notes, everything a bride needs to plan the perfect wedding is easily accessible.

In addition to the time-honored guidance that has made this book a treasured reference, this updated edition contains information that addresses modern concerns of every kind. Here is advice on answering cellular phone calls in public, behaving courteously at the gym, and speaking at business meetings.

Whether you need to compose an invitation, write a letter of condolence, address your senator, set a dinner table, or buy a gift for a foreign business associate, you will find The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette practical, down-to-earth, and always reliable.

From the Back Cover

The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette, which was first published in 1952 and last revised in 1978, is as much a guide to contemporary living as it is an etiquette book. In earlier times, an etiquette book could easily distinguish between "proper" and "improper" behavior. The task is no longer so simple, given the wide diversity of cultures in contemporary America. Today more than ever, in our rapidly changing world, it is important to know how to conduct oneself with confidence and grace. Time-honored traditions - christenings, weddings, and bar mitzvahs - still play important parts in our lives. Authors Tuckerman and Dunnan provide steady guidance on these and other social matters, advising readers where old expectations still apply and where customs have changed. In the business world, now that women hold high-ranking positions, men and women must look beyond the old rules that governed relations between the sexes. The new rules for the workplace are discussed in this book. Also new to The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette are such topics as planning and running a benefit, the human side of money, and the role of the guest at a wedding and at a formal dinner party. Whether you need to compose an invitation, write a letter of condolence, address your senator, set a dinner table, or find an appropriate gift for a foreign business associate, you will find The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette practical, accessible, and always correct in its advice.

Review Quotes

"Manners are the happy way of doing things, each one a stroke of genius or of love."--Ralph Waldo Emerson

About the Author

NANCY TUCKERMAN worked at the White House as Staff Coordinator to Mrs. Kennedy, arranging all aspects of state dinners, state entertainment, ordering state gifts, and coordinating President Kennedy's receptions on his state visits abroad. In addition to authoring In the Tiffany Style: Gift-Giving for All Occasions, she contributed to the 1978 edition of The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette.

NANCY DUNNAN is the author of numerous books, including The Dunn & Bradstreet Guide to Your Investments. She also has regular columns in Your Money and Married Women magazines and contributes to many others. Since 1989, she has had a regular one-hour call-in program on WNYC Public Radio. Both authors live in New York City.