Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door

Embittered albeit bemused finger-wagging appears to be author Lynne Truss' specialty, and I have to say I find her newest little tome on the global lack of respect and good manners even more cutting than her bad grammar colonic, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. Both books reflect her British sense of civility with lacerating wit and shrewd observation, but this one feels more like a rant than a how-to manual on how to improve upon such social breeches. However, she does a clear-eyed job in analyzing the origins of such barbaric behavior. In her previous book, Truss saw the decline of punctuation as indicative of the increasing spread of illiteracy. Here she suggests that the collapse of manners is the tip of what she calls a "social immorality iceberg", i.e., a decreasing competency in building community and using manners as a sign of mutual respect. In fact, there will definitely many who view her definition of what used to be considered basic good manners as elitist. For example, she may be a member of a shrinking populace who bristle when there is the absence of a simple "Thank you," and "You're welcome" when a door is held open. I happen to be in her camp, so I am quite amenable to her observations. Inevitably, there will be the impolite thinkers who demand quantitative data to back up her arguments. However, because so little data is available on long-term trends, Truss doesn't bother with statistics, and instead devotes six short chapters to examples of how behavior that was unthinkable a generation ago has become normal. The weakness of the book is that she offers no actionable solutions. Her examples are entertaining but beyond hoping that someone will recognize the problem, she doesn't anticipate that things will improve. In fact, it seems like a missed opportunity to lay out a plan for how people really ought to behave in social situations with tangible steps for her readers (or more appropriately, the rude friends of her readers) to follow. Her reason for this omission is that she doesn't want to be held up to such constant scrutiny which seems like an unnecessary concession. Yet, Truss's concern for the morality of our everyday interactions is thorough and affecting, and to her credit, she never tries to simplify the subject given its political and moral dimensions. She celebrates intolerance and does attempt to set out a manifesto toward the end of the book. Just like the basis of the rising Labor movement in her homeland, Truss believes that manners are connected to the common good, and I have to agree that acts of kindness ennoble the world in which we live.

I laughed myself silly listening to this. I like it even better than reading it. Wonderful. And of course I am slowly givng it to all my friends--the nice and the rude, friends all.

Talk to the Hand By Lynne Truss Nonfiction The title explains it all. Why are we so rude to our fellow humans? Are we just to good for them? Or in a constant bad mood? The bottom line is, each and every person is not treating others with the respect that they deserve. The book, "Talk to the Hand", puts modern day society into perspective. Lynne Truss gives the reader her ideas about why people are acting the way they are. In a bad mood? You can virtualy dial out of world using ipods. Or talk to your friends through text messaging with a cell phone. These products have interferred with a good old face to face chat with a friend. I saw this happen the other day. Two friends, only 100 yards apart, and instead of making the quick walk over, they simply whip out the trusty cell phone and made a call. Where is society heading? It's anybodys guess at this point. It's as simple as saying hi to the dorky kid at school. Or giving aid to a person in need. Or donating to charity. But it needs to happen now or the future is not looking good. I really liked how Lynne Truss Wrote this book. I was hooked the whole time and wanted to read more! This nonfiction book is great for the person looking for a quick, entrancing read!

If memory serves, I described Lynn Truss's first audio book, "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" as great good fun and the author as having an unstoppable, irresistible wit. I'll gleefully use the same description for "Talk to the Hand," the indefatigable author/observer's take on modern manners - more accurately the lack thereof. Yes, Truss is highly amusing. Perhaps more importantly she's on target. Granted, Emily Post most certainly wouldn't have discussed etiquette in Truss's manner, but Ms. Post was a bit tedious. That adjective can never be applied to Truss as she sets out six reasons for today's rampant rudeness. First of all, are the simple words "thank you" and "please" difficult to pronounce? Truss believes their lack of use is due to our self absorption. Next she tackles the multiplicity of choices indicating that they are a source of befuddlement for us. Thus, we create our own small universes which leads to alienation. Our use of personal space is also on her no-holds-barred agenda noting those who talk during movies or share their personal lives with the world via in public cell phone conversations. Truss continues by positing that for many criticism is totally unacceptable. Instead we blame others for whatever has or has not occurred. This she calls the "Universal Eff-off Reflex." The older I get the more I appreciate her decrying the lack of respect - whether for elders, officials, professions or property. Finally, she mentions the loss of feeling that we are a part of something larger than ourselves - a city, a church, a state, our world. It's a special treat to hear Truss deliver her whacks at the inconsiderate in her very British voice, totally in charge and direct. Don't miss this one! - Gail Cooke

I really enjoyed this book -- in between my laughs, and nodding my head over very appalling behavior, this is a book that should be read. You'll be left thinking "Oh I -don't- act like that!", or seeing yourself. Truss's style is fast, witty, thought provoking and just might help to restore that marker of civilization, courtesous behavior. Along the way, there's the hassle of not being able to speak to a breathing person, lousy customer service, the scourge of modern commuting - the cell-phone, and the general ugliness of things. But there just might be hope. At least I hope so.