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Oops!: The Manners Guide for Girls

Girls will be happy to know what to do and how to act in different situations. No doubt this tool will help them radiate confidence even when eating gristle, meeting new people, or having tea with the Queen of England. (Ages 9 to 12)

The Art of the Table: A Complete Guide to Table Setting, Table Manners, and Tableware

Do you know how to set the table? Worry about your dinner manners? Finally, with The Art of the Table, Suzanne von Drachenfels comes to the rescue with a truly comprehensive guide to the correct use of tableware and confidence-building information about proper dining etiquette. Von Drachenfels, a former Tabletop Consultant for dinnerware makers Fitz & Floyd, defines the vocabulary of tableware and explains the selection, use, and care of dinnerware, flatware, stemware, and table linens. She expertly details the basic service techniques for all types of entertainment, and even includes advice on menu planning. Learn how to read the labels of wine bottles or how to filet a fish at the table; learn where and when to sit down and the proper way to eat finger foods.

Having Tea: Recipes & Table Settings

by Tricia Foley, Trish Foley, Keith S. Morton (Photographer), Catherine Calvert -- American style of tea drinking originated in England, Having Tea goes to the source to show two classic English tea rooms, tea at the Savoy Hotel in London, and a tea dance at London's Waldorf. In addition, there are special sections on the history and different varieties of teas, selections of teapots and tea services, and directions for brewing the perfect pot of tea. A final section, the "Tea Larder," offers ideas for tea trimmings from honey to mint or ginger, tea sandwiches, and a directory of mail-order sources for tea.

A Guide to the Manners, Etiquette, and Deportment of the Most Refined Society

Americans have always been obsessed with self-improvement, so it is no surprise that this guide on how we should deport ourselves was a runaway best-seller when first published in 1879. Within, John Young showed readers how to address a senator, how to propose or decline a marriage, how to console a friend on the death of a loved one, and even how to attend to one's toilette.On "Speaking One's Mind," Young writes that "certain honest but unthinking people often commit the grievous mistake of 'speaking their mind' on all occasions and under all circumstances, and oftentimes to the great mortification of their hearers...a little reflection ought to show how cruel and unjust this is."

Do What I Say": Ms. Behavior's Guide to Gay and Lesbian Etiquette

by Meryl Cohn -- I'm just wrapping up "Do What I Say" and I've enjoyed it tremendously. Though I wasn't familiar with Cohn's newspaper columns, I came across this book and thought it might be worth a laugh. That it certainly is, but "Do What I Say" is also one of those rare books that manages to be hilarious, insightful, and hugely entertaining all at once.

Bowing to Necessities: A History of Manners in America, 1620-1860

Americans ritual solutions to central cultural problems by allowing them to act out--and thus reinforce--certain power relations at a time when such relations saw drastic change. Analyzing the many sermons, child-rearing guides, advice books, and etiquette manuals that taught our first citizens how to behave, this book connects these instructions to individual practices and personal concerns found in contemporary diaries and letters

Regency Etiquette: The Mirror of Graces, 1811

by Lady of Distinction -- This book was not a comical portrayal of its day, it was read for the good advice it rendered and indeed it is very revealing on the fashion dictates of the day - washing, exercise, diet, dancing, dress and general deportment. There are even a stack of cosmetic recipes in the back which you can have a go at trying for yourself - including Eau de Veau, a face tonic, which is made by boiling up a calves foot! From the chapter "On Deportment": "Their is scarcely an observer of manners and their effects who will not maintain that the most beautiful and well-dressed woman will soon cease to please unless her charms are accompanied with the ineffable enchantment of a graceful demeanour."

Tea Ceremony: Asian arts & crafts for creative kids

I own and use this book.
I know what you are thinking: "Hey, this is a children's book!" It is — but it is also the best place to start. Most of the books that I have read about the tea ceremony describe the subject in such a way that you are more confused at the end of the book than you were at the beginning. Sato's book, however, is filled with pictures and you don't have to know a lot of Japanese to understand what is going on. Plus, this book puts aside alot of the zen terminology that other books like to include — which means that you don't have to know a lot about other subjects to read and understand this book. If you want to have a solid entry point into the subject, this is the best book to start with.

Emily Post's Etiquette, 17th Edition

I own and use this book.
Looking for the user’s manual that should have come with your life? This compendium of socially acceptable responses to every conceivable opportunity for personal embarrassment or inadvertent insult is as close as you’re likely to get. The original book was considered revolutionary in its time because it recast manners from rigid Victorian rules into behavior that was based on ethics, values and common sense. This latest version isn’t revolutionary, but it is definitely one of the most useful reference books published — comparable only to a dictionary, a thesaurus, or a world atlas. This integration of new material with old follows the same basic principle that underlays Emily Post’s original version — show respect and consideration for others while placing a premium on honesty, graciousness and deference.

Emily Post's Entertaining

I own and use this book.
From simple dinners and casual parties to formal business functions and catered events, Emily Post's Entertaining shows you how to be the perfect host. With Peggy Post's guidance, you can breeze through toasting your guest of honor and managing sticky social situations (such as unanswered invitations and surprise guests) with ease. This is the place to learn how to entertain with elegance, making every get-together a memorable event.

Better than Beauty: A Guide to Charm

I own and use this book.
First published in 1938, this handbook is overflowing with timeless advice to guide readers through a maze of social interactions with wit and grace. More than an etiquette or personal grooming book, Better than Beauty tackles complicated social situations with delicacy: How to be kind to atrocious people, how to avoid the gossip mill, how many drinks are too many, how to deflect unwanted advances from married men, how much to tip — and much, much more. With good humor, authors Helen Valentine and Alice Thompson offer straightforward charm counsel, making it a cinch to win the admiration of friends, family and suitors. Featuring original artwork, Better than Beauty proves that charm never, ever goes out of style.

Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House

I own and use this book.
This well-researched book includes meticulous sections on various topics, such as food (which foods belong in the fridge versus the pantry, food storage times, picking the freshest fruits and vegetables, and keeping your kitchen and food sanitary) as well as laundry (caring for various fabrics, how to read — and read between the lines of — clothing care labels, and removing stains). Mendelson covers a lot of ground, and as she herself points out, readers shouldn't feel required to do everything mentioned in the book — simply pick the activities that are appropriate, needed or wanted for your home. This comprehensive reference book would serve any homemaker well and induces a greater appreciation for the effort and specialized knowledge that goes into keeping house.

The Bride Wore Black Leather...And He Looked Fabulous!: An Etiquette Guide for the Rest of Us

I own and use this book.
The book presents, in question-and-answer format, five simple principles for mannerly behavior, focusing on real-life etiquette quandaries. Culled from the experiences of hundreds of altsexers, The Bride Wore Black Leather is a guide to the questions that you just won't find answered in Emily Post or Amy Vanderbilt. If you're looking for information on fish knives and audiences with the pope, consult the time-honored words of those venerable ladies. But if your social circle includes more divas than dukes and you spend more time in sex clubs than at state dinners, "The Bride Wore Black Leather" speaks your language.

Etiquette for Outlaws

"Never mind the salad fork, this is Etiquette for Outlaws." Brought to you by the editors of the Los Angeles magazine "Caffeine", Rob Cohen and David Wollock, this book offers a wide range of advice, including how to act in body piercing salons, fetish clubs or biker bars. Learn how to act properly around rock stars, porn stars, pro-Dommes and gang-bangers. In a delightful blend of irony and humor, Cohen and Wollock reveal the seemingly secret recipe and ingredients for worlds outside the standard realm of etiquette.

How to Be a Gentleman: A Contemporary Guide to Common Courtesy

Should you take a business call on your cellular phone during a dinner date? How do you act at a funeral? What is the best way to accept a compliment? When do you say "I'm sorry"? John Bridges answers these questions and more in a book for men that combines Emily Post and Miss Manners without being snobbish, boring, or intimidating. Become comfortable with traditional etiquette, from writing thank-you notes to selecting a bottle of wine, and learn the more modern points of etiquette as well, such as how to respond to voice mail and how to deal with e-mail in a courteous manner. Good manners are simply a matter of common sense and courtesy, and this book makes it easy to be a gentleman. This book is an indispensable guide for men of all ages.

Sexual Etiquette 101 & More

Our sexuality is exciting, but at the same time, it's nerve wracking. Most of us have been taught to be discreet about out sexuality and, as a result, it is often difficult to have an open, constructive discussion about sexual matters. In other words: While sexuality is often a topic for jokes, when it comes to real talking, no one wants to get near it. This book takes into account that sexuality encompasses more than just a physical act between two partners; it is being aware of our own bodies and what we do when we're aroused, it is protecting ourselves against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. It is, also, being able to communicate and discuss these matters intelligently with facts.

Training With Miss Abernathy: A Workbook for Erotic Slaves and Their Owners

This manual contains fifty lessons designed to help the reader explore various elements of BSDM service. It begins with assessment exercises that help to establish basic views and expectations of service. The next two sections contain lessons geared to ensure that a slave has basic personal and household management skills necessary to function effectively. The most extensive section has a series of lessons which are organized around specific types of service: sex, maids/valets, house servants and escorts. The final section, advanced lessons, deals with the practical realities of the tricky issues associated with full-time relationships. Because it covers a wide range of service, it does not dwell at any length upon a particular specialty. However, the book's delicate, precise prose and interesting exercises make an excellent source book for aspiring dominants and/or would-be slaves.

To Love, to Obey, to Serve: Diary of an Old Guard Slave

I have a personal bias to this Author
This book, while a diary, speaks a lot about etiquette in the leather lifestyle and how it has changed over the 10 years of the book's duration. Vi's book moves a lot of people to a deeper understanding of Leather. This is not a how-to guide; as she says in the beginning of her book, she finds several situations in her day-to-day requirements that most people would find abusive, addictive and not very safe. It is rare to get a real, un-hyped view into the hardcore S&M scene, which makes this book interesting. However, just like many things, real life isn't always as exciting as fantasy — be prepared for the fact that a slave's journal is not intended to be literary masterpiece. That said, the book is an insightful look into one person's real-life experience.

The Tea Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide

I own and use this book.
For tea lovers everywhere, The Tea Companion is the authoritative guide to the subject. This full-color book is filled with everything you'll ever need to know about tea, including a history of tea cultivation and consumption around the world and discussions of growing, processing, tasting and blending tea. The book also includes tips on making and serving tea at home. Additionally, there's a country-by-country chapter covering tea-growing regions including maps and flavor profiles. The final chapters discuss herbal and fruit infusions and include recipes for tea accompaniments. Currently, tea is enjoying a tremendous boom in popularity, including non-caffeinated herbal teas and healing teas made from ingredients like ginger and ginseng. Filled with color photographs and illustrations, The Tea Companion is a perfect gift for food and drink lovers.

The Tea Ceremony (Origami Classroom)

I own and use this book.
I've found that an understanding of the tea ceremony leads to a better understanding of so many Japanese cultural treasures that I now recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about Japanese subjects, ranging from gardening to ceramics. Interested in Raku pottery? Study the tea ceremony. Want to know more about Japanese gardens? Study the tea ceremony. A fan of Zen Buddhism? Learn the way of Tea. Want to know more about Japanese architecture? Learn about sukiya style by studying the tea ceremony. Are you interested in Japanese woodworking and joinery? Learn about Tea. This book talks a lot more about the Japanese culture than just about tea, and it is a great second book about the subject of Tea Ceremony.

Chado the Way of Tea: A Japanese Tea Master's Almanac

I own and use this book.
This book is very informative but only when you have a complete understanding of the Tea Ceremony. It really is an almanac and describes what a tea ceremony should be like in each month of the year. It is a resource for someone who really does more than one or two tea ceremonies a year. It really has no entry point and assumes that the reader has a large background in the basics of the tea ceremony. But with that being said, it is a huge resource, some 725 pages of poetry, tea types, art work and recipes. It is one of those books that you may never need but has all of the fine finishing points for putting on a great tea ceremony.

Way of Tea: The Sublime Art of Oriental Tea Drinking

The Way of Tea is a journey back in time to the origins of tea cultivation and Oriental tea ceremonies. It is also a book of advice, describing how to get full pleasure and benefit from tea today. The ways in which we store tea leaves, then prepare and serve the exquisite brew, influence tea's properties and affect its taste and aroma. The book includes a section on the making of teas and varieties available. Learn about the preparation of types of teas — that is, how they're made before they get to you. There's also a lengthy discussion on the proper preparation of teas, and how to serve them. This includes a discussion and series of photos on the gongfu method of tea preparation and serving. This scholarly work first examines the discovery and establishment of tea and tea culture in China, in particular the profound influence of Lu Yu in developing a Chinese tea tradition. The remainder of the book is devoted to explaining the development of the peculiarly Japanese tea culture which grew from Chinese beginnings. The book follows tea's introduction to Japan from China during the Tang Dynasty. The book is well-illustrated with some superb full-color plates, and a number of black and white photographs.

The Ethical Slut: A Guide to Infinite Sexual Possibilities

I own and use this book.
Beyond the often unrealistic ideal of lifetime monogamy lies an uncharted jungle of delightful options — friendly sex, casual sex, group sex and more. In this groundbreaking volume, therapist Dossie Easton and sex educator/author Catherine A. Liszt provide a road map for exploring the sometimes difficult, often rewarding territory of non-traditional relationships. The Ethical Slut provides warm, informative details about how to get your needs met, manage your jealousy, make agreements that work for all concerned, talk to your friends and relatives, and build a life full of all the sex and love you want.

Having Tea: Recipes & Table Settings

A cookbook and style book, Having Tea includes a range of stunning locations with recipes, menus, table settings, and serving ideas for tea. There are formal and elegant teas that ring in the winter holidays with rich dark fruitcake, shortbread, brandy snaps, and sherried English trifle; a tea for one in the study with spicy ginger Bundt cake and a plate of cookies; and tea for two in a loft, with slow-scrambled eggs, cornmeal muffins and apple butter, and pan-fried tomatoes sprinkled with fresh tarragon. Each menu provides suggestions for the ideal tea to suit the meal. Since the American style of tea drinking originated in England, Having Tea goes to the source to show two classic English tea rooms, tea at the Savoy Hotel in London, and a tea dance at London's Waldorf. A final section, the "Tea Larder," offers ideas for tea trimmings from honey to mint or ginger, tea sandwiches, and a directory of mail-order sources for tea. With approximately fifty recipes for tea sandwiches, crumpets, scones, cookies, and cakes as well as hearty tea-time meals, Having Tea will make you want to make having tea a part of your day.

Pleasures of Tea: Recipes & Rituals

Victoria magazine's feature editor Kim Waller lavishes readers with a beautifully illustrated tribute to the world's most traditional beverage. The Pleasures of Tea is brimming with recipes, accoutrements, interviews, gorgeous pictorials of tea services from around the world, and suggestions for how to combine tea time with reading time. The book also contains information on the business of tea and includes a resource section listing salons and sources for tea goodies. I wouldn't suggest this as a first book for a novice, although its gorgeous photos and design would make it a lovely gift.

Bound to Be Free: The Sm Experience

I own and use this book.
Of the vast array of human sexual behaviors and practices, sadomasochism (SM) is probably the least understood and, thus, the most feared among the general public. Moser, a practicing psychotherapist and counselor, and Madeson provide perhaps the first intelligent, fully informed, fact-based discussion of what SM is, what it means to its practitioners, how it is practiced, and the structure of its subculture in contemporary American society.

SM 101: A Realistic Introduction

It goes by many names: bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and more. In Jay Wiseman's SM 101, the long-taboo subject of consensual sadomasochism is accurately and insightfully presented in the context of adult human sexuality, experience and tradition for the interested non-specialist general reader. SM 101 surveys the entire spectrum of consensual sadomasochistic practices from from bondage to spanking, erotic role-playing and more. Now in an expanded second edition, SM 101 includes a new chapter on starting and running sadomasochistic organizations and events for consenting adults.

When Someone You Love Is Kinky

One of the hardest things about being "kinky" is trying to find a way to tell your friends, relatives and lovers about your "alternative lifestyle." Some choose not to, because of the fear they will be ridiculed or ostracized by those close to them. As a result, some who are into "kink" end up choosing to keep it a secret. When Someone You Love Is Kinky is a wonderful book to give to a friend or lover to explain to them some of the reasons why you enjoy this lifestyle. The authors take a calm and understanding approach in this book, perfect for non-kinky readers who might wonder why their otherwise "normal-looking" relative takes such delight in activities they themselves may be uncomfortable with.

Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns: The Romance and Sexual Sorcery of Sadomasochism

This book includes clear explanations and detailed tutorials for beginners. The content ranges from information as general as "safe, sane, and consensual" to as specific as "you will be swinging the whip with your arm pivoting at the shoulder." There is also solid advice, safety measures, steamy suggestions, plenty of black-and-white photographs, useful and humorous drawings, an extensive glossary, and over 900 entries of S/M clothing and equipment vendors, publications, computer bulletin boards, and organizations worldwide. Since sadomasochism is a practice that is still taboo for many people, the chapter on finding partners and sharing fantasies with existing partners could prove to be invaluable.

Different Loving: The World of Sexual Dominance and Submission

All D&S, the authors explain, involves a "power exchange'' in which one partner "tops,'' or dominates, and the other "bottoms,'' or submits — whether through bondage, wrestling, whipping, body-piercing, etc. After running through the history of D&S scholarship — with expected nods to Krafft-Ebbing and Havelock Ellis — Brames and Jacob present an overview of the practices themselves, which range from infantilism (the bottom often wears a diaper and sucks on a bottle) and depersonalization (the bottom may act like an object, perhaps a footstool, or an animal, most often a pony) to spanking, cross-dressing, foot fetishes, enemas, branding, and more.

A Hand in the Bush: The Fine Art of Vaginal Fisting

We all fist at one point in our lives. This book breaks through the barriers and it brings it IN YOUR FACE, and leaves no questions asked. Fisting can be a fun and pleasurable past time if you know how to do it right. Although this book gives you step-by-step instructions to fisting, it is advisable to have someone who you feel you can trust either read it to you as you are doing it, or have someone perform it for you and tell you step-by-step what they are doing. This enhances the experience and makes it almost more pleasurable. I am glad that Deborah Addington has chosen to break the taboos of fisting. It is time that this particular sexual experience be brought forth to the public in all its glory.

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