pt. 1. Everyday relationships for our times -- 1. Family manners -- The family, idealistically speaking -- Manners with those close to you -- Roommate etiquette -- The new family formation : adults (hopefully) living together harmoniously -- You are single but still part of a family -- Gay and lesbian couples--they are families, too -- The keepers of your house--they are family, too -- 2. The manners that make children great -- How a child learns to distinguish between right and wrong -- Basic behavior rules your child of ten or older should know -- Your role in your children's relationships -- Parents speak to their children about sex -- The e-mailing kids' generation -- Guarding your child against the perils of drugs and alcohol -- When your children become adults : keep your family together -- 3. Making friends in a busy world -- The first step : meeting people who may become friends -- Solidifying a new friendship -- Manners and friendship in the great outdoors -- Making friends at work -- Widening your horizons through volunteer work -- Words to use at difficult times -- Growing older with grace -- 4. Working smart -- Commonsense polite business behavior : good to know! -- To be a well-liked, successful executive -- When you have to let someone go for economic reasons -- Infant feeding and breast-feeding in the office -- Tasty tidbits of etiquette (for your business or social life) -- 5. The manners that make travel easier -- Ensuring a pleasurable trip -- Going on a cruise? -- Women and travel -- Some practical advice -- 6. The art of tipping -- General guidelines on tipping -- Holiday tipping -- When you are in a foreign country -- 7. Dressing appropriately -- Propriety and appropriateness -- The right thing to wear--women -- The right thing to wear-- men -- 8. Common courtesies -- Common courtesies appropriate when you are out and about -- Courtesies to observe with those you encounter during your day -- 9. Table manners that take you anywhere : the right thing to do at every kind of meal--or, how to avoid being a klutz -- Table manner basics -- Mealtime decorum -- How to handle different--and sometimes difficult--foods --
pt. 2. Answers to questions about manners you thought that no one had to ask anymore -- 10. New manners for an ever-changing society -- Dating today -- Sex--good, bad, and indifferent -- Pleasures and pitfalls of the office romance -- Sex and sexism in the office -- Cohabitation manners -- The romance is over --
pt. 3. The rights of passage -- 11. You're engaged! -- Telling the world your good news -- The engagement ring -- Celebrating the engagement -- Asking someone to marry you -- 12. Weddings -- The architecture of a beautiful first wedding -- The homosexual community's wedding and commitment ceremonies -- Your wedding invitations -- Wedding announcements -- How much will it cost and who will pay? -- Planning for a perfect wedding day -- Keep track of important details with a wedding planner -- Working with the caterer -- The food at the reception -- Flowers -- Photography requirements -- Music -- Transportation -- Wedding attendants -- The rehearsal -- The wedding day arrives! -- The wedding service -- A double wedding ceremony -- The pregnant bride -- A small or big wedding at home -- The reception -- Weddings in the Jewish tradition -- Interfaith marriages -- Wedding apparel -- The wedding ring -- Announcement in the newspaper -- Last-minute wedding disasters -- Gifts -- Thank-you notes -- Postponing the wedding -- Calling off the wedding -- Prenuptial agreements -- When you marry more than once -- 13. Pregnancy, birth, and other rites of passage that welcome a child into the world -- The happiest event of all : the birth of a baby -- The birth announcement -- Extending congratulations for the new baby -- Traditional Christian ceremonies marking the child's arrival and maturation -- Traditional Jewish ceremonies marking the child's arrival and maturation -- Special birthdays for girls -- Debutantes -- 14. The last rite of passage : funerals -- Taking charge of the arrangements -- The proprieties in connection with a funeral -- Ceremonies for or honoring the deceased -- After the funeral or memorial --
pt. 4. The art of entertaining -- 15. Entertaining today's way -- How entertaining brings friends into your life -- The kinds of entertaining people love -- Extending invitations -- When you reply to an invitation -- Get yourself organized -- The logistics of planning a large dinner -- The cocktail party -- An invitation to tea -- Making an effort : set an attractive table -- Knowing the rules for contemporary table settings -- The table accoutrements you should have for entertaining today -- The service of the seated meal--with or without help -- The art of the service of wine -- Serving memorable food -- Advice for making entertaining easy, attractive--and memorable -- Alternative party ideas -- Entertaining out and about -- Music makes the world go round -- Protocol for you, not just for royalty -- Toasting is an art and an important part of protocol -- Loving care of the weekend houseguest -- The houseguest who is always invited back -- Remember this about the entire subject of entertaining -- The most prestigious invitation of them all : dinner at the White House -- 16. Gifts that show you care -- When you send flowers -- When a wedding is in the offing -- Presents for the holidays -- Gift suggestions for other people and other occasions -- A little advice --
pt. 5. Difficult times : healing yourself and others when trouble strikes -- 17. How to help someone deal with the loss of a spouse -- Dealing with a divorce -- When you are widowed -- When you're on your own again -- 18. When someone is ill or injured -- Minding your manners in the hospital -- When a good friend develops a life-threatening disease -- What you say to the person who has just suffered a loss -- 19. Making things right : when you've really messed up. Send roses -- Making amends -- Control that temper! --
pt. 6 . The key to good communication : more than electronics
20. How to be an interesting conversationalist
The two V's : voice and vocabulary
So what are you going to talk about?
Extricating yourself from a conversational dilemma
The art of giving and receiving compliments
21. Great telephone manners at home
How you sound affects how people see you and feel toward you
Dealing with a well-mannered answering machine
22. Classic correspondence : writing good letters and notes
When an e-mail isn't appropriate
Helpful hints on letter writing
Letters that fit the occasion
Greeting cards and holiday messages
The personal stationery you use
The electronic revolution
23. Addressing people properly
How should you be addressed?
When writing letters or speaking to someone
How to address specific groups
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