Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct

"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."
~ Written on 2008-06-06

"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! "
~ Written on 2008-05-25

"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."
~ Written on 2008-01-26

"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."
~ Written on 2007-09-24

"While this book might identify behaviors you have been using since childhood, it may open your eyes to some of the more inconsiderate conduct that goes on in your life. It not only explains how one should act, it discusses how you can deal with the conduct of others, and how to encourage civility all around you. "
~ Written on 2007-03-08