The Civility Solution: What to Do When People Are Rude

by P. M. Forni

Overview

The acclaimed author of The Choosing Civility returns to the subject of common decency and thoughtful behavior.

Many of us find ourselves confronted with rudeness every day and don't know how to respond. From the intrusive cell-phone user who holds loud conversations in public to the hostile highway driver who cuts one off with a quick swerve of his car, politeness seems to be on a downward spiral, surprising us at every turn.
P.M. Forni, the author of Choosing Civility, has the answer. He knows that rudeness begets rudeness and, in The Civility Solution, shows us what to do when confronted with bad behavior by being assertive as well as civil. In more than one hundred different situations, he shows us how to break the rudeness cycle by responding to a variety of confrontations from bullying to rude internet behavior or the hurtful words of an insensitive family member. How would you respond to the following?

…A salesperson ignores your requests
…A fellow driver gives you the infamous "finger"
…Your child's playmate misbehaves
…Your boss publicly reprimands you

P. M. Forni has solutions for all of these and many more. In yet another simple and practical handbook, P. M. Forni presents logical solutions that reinforce good behavior and make our world a more civil place.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780312369644
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/01/2009
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	543,860
Product dimensions:	5.02(w) x 7.54(h) x 0.52(d)

About the Author

Dr. P.M. Forni (1951-2018) was an award-winning professor of Italian Literature at Johns Hopkins University. In 2000 he founded The Civility Initiative at Johns Hopkins and taught courses on the theory and history of manners. He is the author of Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct (2002) and The Thinking Life: How to Thrive in the Age of Distraction (2011). Reports on his work have appeared on The New York Times, The Times of London, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Los Angeles Times. He has been a on a number of radio and television shows, including ABC's World News Tonight, CBS Sunday Morning and BBC's Outlook. He lived in Baltimore, Maryland.

Editorial Reviews

It is an honor to recommend this fabulous book! P.M. Forni's thoughtful discussion of the importance of civility in today's hectic world will surely help readers find viable solutions for dealing with a variety of rude situations.” —Peggy Post, director of the Emily Post Institute and author of Emily Post Etiquette, 17th Edition

“Pier M. Forni will be remembered as one of the greatest generals in our nation's struggle for civility.” —Smithsonian Magazine

From the Publisher

According to Forni (Choosing Civility), founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project (1997-2000), rudeness begets rudeness, and the only way to break the cycle is through assertive and civil behavior. In Part 1 of his latest book, he describes some of the causes of rudeness (e.g., anger, fear, inflated self-worth) and the negative consequences of rude behavior in daily life. He suggests eight rules for a civil life, which include respecting others and paying attention to small things. In Part 2, Forni provides over 70 examples of situations in which rudeness arises and solutions for dealing with them. Readers who have been criticized in public or annoyed by a loud cell phone conversation get realistic help. Highly recommended for all libraries.
—Deborah Bigelow

Library Journal