Better Than Beauty: A Guide to Charm

There is nothing in here that my mother didn't teach me or that I didn't learn on my own as a young adult. Wat a waste of time and money on this.

I'm so happy to see this is back in print! When I saw an original copy of this book at a library sale I picked it up more for its kitsch/coffee table value than potential insights. But not only was flipping through this a lot of fun, there is actually a lot of timeless wisdom in the "charm" advice -- basically, treat the people around you with respect and kindness, and they will reciprocate. There's a lot in here that does NOT fall into the timeless wisdom category, of course, but this material is priceless for its entertainment and historic value. This book helped me understand where my grandma got some of her ideas. All in all, I recommend it to anyone with passing interests in social culture, womens studies, the 1930s, and in generally being a nice person.

At a young age I found a beauty and lifestyles manual from the 1930s/1940s in my local public library. Sadly that title is no longer in the stacks. "Better Than Beauty: A Guide to Charm" is a wonderful substitute. To the modern eye, the advice on fashion and exercise may seem out of date. But some basic facts will never change. A well groomed lady is always a welcome creature.

Even though some of the wisdom in this book is out of date (like washing hair once a week), there is still plenty of great advice. I loved reading this and have even put some of the advice to work (with great results). If you want to learn how to be a lady of class and charm this is a must read! Not only will you learn a lot, you will laugh at the authors' subtle wit. Definately a great book!