Sam Martin is the best-selling author of How to Mow the Lawn and How to Keep House. He has traveled widely and worked as a tree planter in Canada and as a senior editor at This Old House magazine. Sam is a modern gentleman. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Denise, and two sons, Ford and Wren.
CONTENTS
Introduction: Manners matter
Why manners?
Self-confidence
Self-respect
Attitude and personal presence
Putting the gentle back into the man
Top ten qualities to nurture:
Competence, Patience, Resolve, Respect, Self-assurance, Spirit, Diplomacy,
Tact
Chapter one: Stepping Out
The first impression – establishing your presence and introducing yourself
to others
The handshake
The greeting
The hello kiss
Walking – how to carry yourself so that you make an impression
Meeting people
Small talk and conversation skills
Introducing people to others
Diction and eloquence
Speak up – speaking clearly in all situations
Cultivating vocabulary without swallowing a dictionary
Public speaking
Lessons in listening
Commanding respect through the words you use
How to speak to the authorities: what to say, what not to say
Phone, email and online etiquette
Cell phones
Call waiting
Netiquette
Beepers
Chapter two: Hygiene, Grooming, and Dress
Personal hygiene – You might not need a range of skincare products but you
do need to shower every day
How to shave: what to do if you cut yourself
How to iron: shirt, trousers
Your image – the importance of developing your own style
Dressing for respect
The perfect wardrobe for winter, spring, summer, fall
Essential stylish items that will last a lifetime
Fashion do’s and don’ts from head to toe
Chapter three: Eating and Drinking
Table manners
Elbows on or off the table
How to use a napkin
Eating and talking, do they mix?
Must you wait until everyone is serves or let your food get
cold?
Being on time
Out on the town:
How to order in a restaurant
Sending food back
Which fork?
Glassware – stem or bulb, where to hold?
Food masterclass: Sushi, soup, spaghetti
Selecting wine
Tasting wine
How to send it back if it is vinegary
How to give a toast
What to do if you’ve drunk too much
Smoking cigarettes – when it’s cool, when it isn’t
Splitting the bill, stress free
Being the perfect host:
So you’re throwing a party – what now?
Supplies to keep around – food, drink, glassware, dishes,
cookware
Cleanliness is Manliness: Home appearance – interior, hiring a maid service
How to set the table for a dinner party – styling tips
Your signature cocktail
How to open a bottle of wine/champagne
How to tie a bowtie
Sending invitations
What to do when you receive a gift you don’t like
Writing thank you notes
Being the perfect guest:
How to receive an invitation
What to take – great gift ideas for all occasions and people of
all ages
Invited to dinner – how to be the perfect dinner guest
Being a great party guest
Saying thank you: with cards, email, phone calls
Chapter four: The Fairer Sex
How to woo with flair
How to ask a woman out on a date
How to say no
How to hear no
How to pay a compliment
Door etiquette (not only for the woman you are dating)
Romantic dinners for two
When to call someone you like
When to kiss her, when not to kiss her
Birth control – a gentleman’s responsibility
How to behave (or not) in bed
The morning after
Remembering dates
Presents – when to give them and what to give
Home attire – living alone, with a woman
Getting engaged – asking her father, getting a ring
Meeting your girlfriend’s/wife’s parents
Pregnancy
How to behave when your wife tells you she’s pregnant
How to behave when your girlfriend tells you she’s pregnant
Chapter five: Men at Work
The job interview
What to wear to the office
Elevator etiquette
How to be successful at a business meeting
The holiday party – what to wear, who to talk to, what to say
Dating at the office – to do it or not to do it
Email etiquette
Business phone etiquette
Work speak and speaking at work
Giving the perfect presentation
The business lunch
Chapter six: Gentleman at Large
The bachelor party
Best Man etiquette
Good sportsmanship
How to watch sports well with others
How to know when enough beer is enough
How to drive in traffic to avoid getting road rage
What to wear on an airplane
How much luggage to bring
How to act in a foreign country
What to do on crowded subway cars
Technology – the etiquette of never switching off from the office, the
Playstation, etc.
The new etiquette
Gym etiquette and more
Conclusion
