- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Gotham; Lrg edition (Nov 22 2005)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1592401929
- ISBN-13: 978-1592401925
- Product Dimensions: 21.5 x 16.3 x 2.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 399 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#1,252,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #48 in Books > Reference > Large Print
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Product Details |
Product Description
Book Description
This title is a hilarious rallying cry for courtesy, written and read by the bestselling author of "Eats, Shoots & Leaves". 'Talk to the hand, coz the face ain't listening', the saying goes. How did society get so rude? "Talk to the Hand" explores the boorishness of the modern world, and the sense of outrage that infects us when we discover that other people are - generally speaking - crass, selfish and inconsiderate. That man just dropped a cigarette packet on the floor. Should you do anything? You say to the shop assistant, 'Can you tell me the price of this? There doesn't appear to bea label' and she says, 'What do you think I am, psychic?'. In her follow-up to "Eats, Shoots & Leaves", Lynne Truss asks why rudeness is a universal flashpoint and examines specific sources of affront. What ever happened to 'please' and 'thank you'? Why does the customer have to do all the work? Why do people behave in public as if they are in private? Whatever happened to the idea of public-spiritedness? It's a big rant, essentially. But on the plus side, it's quite short and has virtually no hard facts to slow the argument. You are advised that there is nothing here about pandas or punctuation, and that anyone listening out for grammatical errors will be considered a bit of a bore.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Lynne Truss is a writer and journalist who started out as a literary editor with a blue pencil and then got sidetracked. The author of three novels and numerous radio comedy dramas, she spent six years as the television critic of The Times of London, followed by four (rather peculiar) years as a sports columnist for the same newspaper. She won Columnist of the Year for her work for Women’s Journal. Lynne Truss also hosted Cutting a Dash, a popular BBC Radio 4 series about punctuation. She now reviews books for the Sunday Times of London and is a familiar voice on BBC Radio 4. She lives in Brighton, England.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
If you want a short-cut to an alien culture these days, there is no quicker route than to look at a French phrase book. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
If you want a short-cut to an alien culture these days, there is no quicker route than to look at a French phrase book. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Where have all the manners gone?,
By FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (HALL OF FAME)
This review is from: Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Homeand Bolt the Door (Hardcover)
I suppose I have a problem with this book - I just cannot get past the image of Lynne Truss watching 'The Jerry Springer Show' without laughing too hard for a bit to be able to continue reading. And yet, this is her inspiration, according to her own words: ' "Talk to the hand" specifically alludes to a response of staggering rudeness best known from "The Jerry Springer Show".' This is a phrase that comes complete with a physical embodiment, an incarnational aspect if you will, of similarly off-putting rudeness - an open palm held out from an outstretched arm, much like a traffic cop directing a wayward or disobedient driver. Truss is well known for her book 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves', a book about zero-tolerance for punctuation errors (and, of course, there are some elements of this very review that she would not approve). She turns her same style of lack of tolerance to the lack of tolerance she perceives in general manners and social interactions, as Western society has become increasingly strident and ill-mannered in general aspect. This pervades all segments of society - retail salespeople who assume an attitude of superiority, if they are willing to interact with the public at all; children who have little respect for each other, and no respect for those older; the casual use of profanity in general public, once a great taboo, and now causes little consternation even among the more 'genteel' of people. She also targets those who see the use of the cell phone as a god-given, inalienable right (even in movie theatres and other such venues), and the other bane of modern existence, the computer-automated customer service helplines. Truss sees no particular culprit in the decline of modern manners, but rather a confluence of different influences - the television culture, which glories in provocation and shock value; the decline of parental authority (either by neglect or by design); finally, the absence of responsibility, personal and corporate. Suggestion of personal responsibility often gets an aggressive if not threatening response. As some may notice, the real down-side to Truss' text is the lack of solutions, even impractical ones. It is certainly her right, as it is the right of anyone, to complain and decry the downfall of manners, but it would be more helpful if, after shining the light on the problem, there might be some suggestions. I can relate to this text very well, given my Anglican and Anglophile background; the idea of manner to Truss are very English in aspect. I wonder how this would be taken by those of other cultures, whose expectations of manners differ in many ways. These minor criticisms aside, this was a fun book to read, and a quick book to read. It will make a good gift, and does give one pause and cause for pause for thought.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews) 7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
FIGHTING RAMPANT RUDENESS WITH WIT AND WRY REMARKS,
By Gail Cooke - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Talk To The Hand Unabridged Cd (Audio CD)
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
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lynn Truss is EXCELLENT!,
By Kristen Hansen Coppa "Kristen C." - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Talk To The Hand Unabridged Cd (Audio CD)
My kids and I LOVE Lynn Truss- this was so funny and perfect! I just wish there was more available by her!Kristen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Truth-Wonderful Humor,
By Gwendolyn D. Galsworth - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
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.
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