Miss Manners Minds Your Business
Judith Martin & Nicholas Ivor Martin
ISBN: 9780393081367
Read January 2, 2014
I've long thought that Miss Manners is getting more pert and saucy as she goes along, and this book was a major confirmation of my theory. Here, she deals with the trials and tribulations of the modern workforce, with cubicles, outdated sexist/classist "old boys" codes, and social networking snafus with wit and no small attitude of "Really? You brought this on yourself, you know, Gentle Reader. It's your own damn fault, but I'll do my best to help you out. Just this once."
She pulls no punches in skewering the nasty sides of work (really not a fan of office parties and Secret Santas) and of highlighting misplaced social attitudes (gossip circles and personal TMI revelations are both sternly rebuked) of the workers. She affirms the rights of workers to abstain from office friendships (which she considers an oxymoron) and to defend themselves from harmful or co-dependent requests from supervisors or coworkers that would have any therapist shaking their heads if originating from a loved one.
Most of all, this pointed and perfect advice is given in her trademarked (at least I hope it is) witty repartee and true knack for a devastating, yet totally innocent comment.
To avoid spoiling any of her excellent advice regarding workplaces, I'll excerpt a smidge from her introduction to the frailties of workplace friendships:
"Not all friends are friends. Unless the boyfriend and the girlfriend provide more than friendliness, they are known as "just friends" or even "former friends." But particular friends and special friends may have to be seated separately at dinner if they are to be able to follow the thread of the conversation without being distracted by what is going on under the table. This is not true of anyone characterized as "an elderly friend," a phrase sometimes used as code to mean that he lost the thread of the conversation long ago. And if you ever find yourself addressed as "my young friend," run for cover."
A perfect way to start off the New Year.
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