In Choosing Civility, civility expert P. M. Forni identifies and briefly explains the twenty-five rules that are most essential in con-nect-ing effectively and happily with others, including: -Think before asking favors -Give thoughtful criticism and advice (when requested) -Refrain from idle complaining -Consider that you might be wrong. Forni provides examples of how to put each rule into practice and so make your life-and the lives of others-more enjoyable, companionable, and rewarding.

Customer Rating:
Summary: A Tonic for Our Times
Comment: Professor Forni's concise, readable book addresses the topic of how people behave toward each other in daily life. It considers "manners," but goes well beyond Emily Post etiquette about which fork to use at a dinner party. If the "25 rules of considerate conduct" were adopted by us all, the world would be a much more civilized place.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A good book for our times
Comment: After discussing why we don't treat each other as well as we should and why we should treat each other better, Massimo offers 25 rules to help us implement his advice. He gets very specific about the ways we can treat each other better, every day.

I like this book for two reasons. One, because it puts the accountability where it belongs: on me. I can't improve my relations with other people by expecting them to change. I can't do it by labeling them, criticizing them or judging them. All I can do is change what I do and how I do it.

Two because it offer specific suggestions on how to be more civil. It's useful and can be implemented right now.

The better we treat each other, the better our world becomes. This book is a step to helping us all get there.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful writing
Comment: I love this book of tenderly nuanced advice written in beautiful prose and will reread it often to remind myself how absolutely necessary civility is in our lives. Professor Forni does Johns Hopkins proud!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Great reminder of what it takes to get along in a crowded world
Comment: I read *Choosing Civility* because I found that the pressure of living in a crowded city was beginning to make me a bit misanthropic towards my fellow humankind, which led to me becoming a bit less civil in my behavior in this crowded world. I wanted a refresher on how to treat my fellow man in a manner that I wished to be treated myself. I also read this book because I saw that the pressures and pace of the modern world was beginning to break down our civilization.

*Choosing Civility* definitely delivered on my first need, it made me more conscious of the little things that lead to better interactions with people; little things like ensuring that I respect the personal space of others in a conversation, being inclusive of everyone in a group such as my coworkers, refraining from idle complaining, and respecting other people's time. After reading this book, I found myself noticing moments where I was being uncivil in small ways and allowing me the opportunity to correct these behaviors.

Where the book falls short, at least for my needs, but not necessarily for everyone, is in how to deal with and accept the uncivil behavior of others. Before reading this book, I was aware of a general incivility in our everyday lives; but, after reading this book, I became painfully aware of how bad the problem was and the book didn't prepare me properly for those times when I felt the victim of uncivil actions and how to remain civil myself at the moments.

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A Guide to my Book Rating System:

1 star = The wood pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper.
2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead.
3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted.
4 stars = Good book, but not life altering.
5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent book on increasing civility
Comment: This is an excellent book on courtesy in our everyday interactions. I think if everyone practiced Forni's 25 suggestions, both public and private life would go more smoothly.

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