I did the whole cotillion thing growing up. I took the classes and ignored every thing I was taught. This book has a lot of bias in it for sure. It is helpful if you want to know how to assimilate into the expected ways to act within a white supremacist and sexist society.

I am grateful for this earc from the publisher and net galley! As a very socially awkward and clumsy person, I found it helpful to read this and gained a lot of pointers on social etiquette and leadership I can use in my everyday life.

I have not watched Sara Jane's Netflix series, but I was interested in the book because who doesn't need to mind their manners? The book did teach me a few things I did not know. However the book included a LOT of what I already know. And that's probably because I'm middle-aged. Perhaps I'm not the target audience for the book...

I enjoyed a the tips on traveling, hotel stay and dealing with difficult family. But the chapters on relationship advice, dating, social media usage and basic job etiquette ... well, I'm sad to say, I'm too old for.

I think this book is perfect for those Gen Z kids who are about to embark on their life without adult supervision.

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchette Books for an e-copy of MIND YOUR MANNERS to review.

I rate MIND YOUR MANNERS three out of five stars.

Unfortunately this was a ‘do not finish’ for me. I noticed some ableist and size biased comments as well as classist bias. I stopped reading at 30%.

A fast, enjoyable read that I can see helping people wanting to improve themselves, as well as those wanting to polish their etiquette. Ms Ho’s voice was confident, friendly and reassuring. A must read.

This is a godsend. One step up from Emily Post because the author has really stepped up her game due to the shifting weirdness of social life post pandemic. I found the advice invaluable and now I am ready to pretend to be a normal human.

A wonderful book from start to finish! If you're into etiquette, this one's for you! "Mind Your Manners" by Sara Jane Ho is a beautifully written guide to modern etiquette, helping us navigate social situations with grace. It's packed with practical advice for anyone looking to polish their social skills or start from scratch. You'll find yourself coming back to it again and again for its valuable insights. The writing style is friendly and easy to follow, making it a joy to read. I walked away with some great tips that made me smile. This book fully supports the idea of presenting your best self in any situation.

Mind Your Manners
by Sara Jane Ho
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Founder of a global etiquette school and star of her own Netflix series Sara Jane Ho teaches readers how to thrive socially in a variety of situations, in person and online.
I have not seen the Netflix series but I think we all would like to gain knowledge of how to put our best foot forward. Sara Jane Ho is the modern version of Emily Post with tips including dining etiquette; social graces like hostessing; proper conversation skills to be a charming guest; and introduction methods to always impress. Her handbook of social skills and style, “Mind Your Manners—How to be Your Best Self in Any Situation,” is treasure-trove of insightful information for modern women (and men) everywhere.
4 stars

There is some really good info in this book! I was mostly looking for table manners kind of stuff, as I am with more people for meals now, but there were so many situations about networking, family, relationships all very interesting to read about. I will definitely be implementing things from this book and referring back to it, especially for work related topics. Recommend for anybody looking to be their best out there!

As a Baby Boomer Southerner, I was well-instructed in manners by my mother, Emily Post and sixth grade manners classes. I tried to pass similar manners instruction to my own children, but I recognize that many of those younger than 40 have not had that same advantage. Mind Your Manners could serve a similar purpose for the younger generation. I enjoyed Ho's Netflix series and this book serves as an extension for those who also enjoyed it.
Ho gives the reader good insight into "social fluency" in a multi-cultural, international world. Her goal is to help readers be better able to "read people and situations with accuracy and speed" and "interact with others in a smooth, effective, and confident way". I believe this book achieves those two purposes while also giving a good explanation of Asian cultures.
This book would be a good gift for a recent college graduate or anyone in the business world who wants more confidence in social settings. I received an advanced digital copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I think putting your best foot forward and always looking ahead not behind is such an important trait for any human being to have. Now, this is easier said than done, but something that we can all work on. Working and redefining ourselves is the epitome of being human. I think that sometimes we become so caught up on the hype and trying to please others before we please ourselves is so detrimental.

This author was able to bring out those lessons that we need to hear and learn in order to become our best selves!

Human beings are social creatures. Even for the most individualistic person, one cannot avoid interacting with another person, unless one lives as a hermit in some secluded part of the world. In general, we all need to learn some forms of social behavior and etiquette. This is necessary for society to function well, and it is applicable for both children and adults. Unfortunately, schools do not often teach such stuff. Those that do often cover them at a superficial level. Etiquette is about connection, says author Sara Jane Ho, a vocal advocate for meaningful social communications in various settings. It is also contextual, meaning we need to adapt our understanding and practice of etiquette based on the geographical locations. In our globalized interconnected world, we also need to expand that to cultural settings. Popularized by a Netflix series with the same name as the book's title, this book is a print version of the streaming platform. In meaningful etiquette, we need "social fluency" which is essentially about reading people quickly and accurately as well as interacting with them confidently and effectively. Mindful of the growing mental health concerns globally, she helps us remember that therapy alone cannot solve issues related to social awkwardness. In a post-pandemic world, some might even need to relearn "social fluency" to help us relate to people. She guides us through five major categories of everyday life:

1) Social Life & Friendships
2) Work
3) Dating & Relationships
4) Family
5) Food & Travel

She teaches us about conversational starters, making a first impression, continuing or courteous breakaways, and even various forms of "non-sexual flirting." She shares advice about getting a job, what to do in a job interview, how to write resumes, and growing in career-building soft skills. On Dating and Relationships, she shares witty tips on communication, observing boundaries, and a list of FAQs on dating and love. On Family, she stresses the importance of cultivating ties, dealing with sibling rivalries, managing money requests, parenting, learning how to say no graciously, and also dealing with in-laws, especially mother-in-laws. Finally, she shows us some valuable lessons on table manners and cultural awareness. For those who enjoy traveling, the chapter on traveling etiquette is a must-read.

My Thoughts
==============
I remember a popular book back in the 80s entitled: "What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School." It describes some of the necessary entrepreneurial life skills that even famous schools like Harvard do not teach. This book continues that tradition to teach us some essential social etiquette for life. In fact, there are five separate categories of etiquette that readers can learn of. These five categories comprise the majority of daily activities during our waking hours. I call it the five essential stones of social etiquette. Not afraid to use her own life experiences to illustrate her points, Ho comes across as an authentic guide to encourage us to do the same. After all, if we want honest interactions, we need to be honest as well. Let me share three thoughts about this book.

First, it contains lots of wise and witty tips for life. What we often call common sense might not be so common for some people. For many, it takes a lot of years and embarrassing mistakes to learn these things. Thankfully, Ho has not only described for us some basic etiquette to observe, she shows us why we need them. Soft skills are often learned the hard way or through the school of hard knocks. Some of the things Ho writes about can easily stir up memories of any of our clumsy efforts in the past. One of the most useful parts of this book is the interaction between East and West. Though Ho's background is from the East, she has decent experiences in the West which makes her a pretty credible etiquette mentor. Those who share her background would nod frequently with many of her observations about Asian culture. Those who are non-Asians might struggle a little to understand where she is coming from. As long as such readers maintain an open mind, this book could be a useful cultural eye opener.

Second, I appreciate the way Ho infuses the need for digital awareness. As more people spend their lives online on a daily basis, we need guidance on how to interact in a digital world. New realities require new paradigms for engagement. One example is how to deal with interviewers who ask us whether we have any questions. In the past, most questions about the company can only be found by asking those who worked there. Nowadays, with so much information freely shared on the Internet, we need to do extra homework to find out what is obvious and what is not. Every category has a section on digital engagement. From using social media to digital work-from-home etiquette, actual dating to online matching, Ho has it well covered. Some other useful tips include food photographs, travel moments, and also dealing with conspiracy theories!

Finally, I want to caution readers about wearing any premature sense of confidence after reading this book. Even though many of the things talked about in this book are practical stuff, it takes practice in order to live them out. More importantly, humility must remain in the forefront of any etiquette. With humility, things done right lead to appreciation while any fumbles could more easily be forgiven. One of the most important reminders in this book is that etiquette is not just about us. It is about putting others at ease. Humility could ease us into that.

How do I find this book? Useful and highly appropriate for building first impressions. Everyone should read this book. Even if one does not agree with Ho's point of view, at least, the topic can become interesting discussions.

Sara Jane Ho is the founder of China's first etiquette school Institute Sarita and host of the Daytime Emmy-nominated Netflix series Mind Your Manners. A cultural polyglot who speaks German, French, Mandarin, and Cantonese in addition to English, she lived in Papua New Guinea, the UK, and Hong Kong before moving to the US to attend Phillips Exeter, Georgetown, and Harvard Business School. Her surprisingly down-to-earth demeanor and genuine passion and gift for helping others transform their lives cemented the success of her feel-good makeover show, and her book carries her deeper, more expansive definition of etiquette to a global audience. Sara Jane divides her time between Shanghai, Hong Kong, New York, and London.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Hachette Books via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

BOOK REVIEW! 📚📚📚📚📚

"Mind Your Manners: How To Be Your Best Self in Any Situation" by Sara Jane Ho.

A delightful read from beginning to end!

Hello, seeker of etiquette!!! This is definitely a terrific read for you!

“Mind Your Manners” by Sara Jane Ho is a beautifully written book offering advice/tips on proper etiquette in the modern era, and putting our best foot forward in any situation. Times have changed since Emily Post’s version of proper etiquette, and this book is a fantastic plethora of information for anyone wishing to brush up on their social skills or to learn them from scratch. It’s a practical book you will keep coming back to time and again to reference the knowledge it contains. The tone is light and conversational, and I am impressed with the overall writing as whole as the sentence structure flows seamlessly. It is high quality writing I can appreciate. I walked away with some enlightening moments that made me smile.

I am a firm believer of putting your best foot forward in a variety of situations and this book generously supports me in that endeavour.

May thanks to Sara Jane Ho, NetGalley and Hachette for an ARC of this wonderful book in exchange for my honest review.

Anticipated publication date: April 9, 2024.

5/5

(Kindly note this review was posted on my Goodreads and Instagram pages.)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a page turner for me and I highly recommending reading it. This book gives an empathetic view on etiquette, showing that it is about making other and yourself not only more comfortable around others, but more versed in social situations. A very good read.

Harvard MBA, Beijing Finishing School and Netflix broadcasting phenom, Sara Jane Ho is the modern version of Emily Post with tips including dining etiquette; social graces like hostessing; proper conversation skills to be a charming guest; and introduction methods to always impress. Her handbook of social skills and style, “Mind Your Manner—How to be Your Best Self in Any Situation,” is treasure-trove of insightful information for modern women (and men) everywhere.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Sara Jane Ho, and Publisher Hachette Books for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

I was introduced to Mind Your Manners on Netflix and was riveted. Sara Jane has a style that is uniquely her own and it rejuvenated my interest in etiquette. When I saw she wrote a book, I knew I wanted to read it.

As engaging as the show, this book is a fast paced fun read that allows you to get to know Sara Jane better as well as learn some helpful tips on etiquette in the process.

I’m always looking for the answer to the question: who is this book written to? And this book seems like it has something for everyone though it does seem to be written for women specifically. I think if I were to recommend it, it might be to a college age women as it touches on etiquette in the workforce, in dating, in marriage, in friendships and in general, it seems like young professionals and college age women might stand the most to benefit from all the content found in the book. That being said, there does seem to be something here for everyone.

If I had one critique, it would be that Sara Jane occasionally strayed outside the boundaries of nonjudgmental etiquette and gave instructions on how to live in areas she doesn’t have expertise in; which I noted her advice seemed to be slightly wishy washy on. Parenting between the tiger parent and the panda parent was one area- and instruction on whether or not a person might regret cutting their toxic relatives out of their life. These seemed to be areas where she was unsure as she seemed to waffle between the two camps. Personally, I think both in parenting children and the question of what to do about toxic relations is an area outside of the scope of etiquette and is better left out of the book. Without knowing all situations everywhere, her advice can seem unnecessarily confining.

Aside from that, I really enjoyed reading this book and getting to know her better outside the Netflix show. I enjoyed her appreciation and approach to all cultures in both the book and the show.

I’d like to thank Hatchette and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A valuable to look to for guidance.So much wonderful excellent advice.A book for those just starting out in their careers and those who need some help in a particular situation..A book to keep on your desk to dip into.#netgalley #hatchettebooks.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
I am so excited to use the advice and teachings in this book in my life. Especially as a young professional in the legal field from a lower middle class background, I often feel like certain elements of social etiquete are beyond me because I just didn’t grow up with them. This book is something I needed years ago!
It’ll also help me in my goal of planning a fancy dinner party.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Mind Your Manners.

I wasn't familiar with the author or aware she had her own show on Netflix.

The title and summary is what caught my eye.

I'm an introvert and I'm looking for methods in how to improve my social skills interacting in a professional or unfamiliar setting.

The author splits the book into five main microcultures in our lives and provides FAQs and social and digital etiquette tips in each category.

I personally enjoyed the authors personal stories and anecdotes on how to apply these skills to everyday life, accounting for social and cultural cues and contexts.

The writing is comfortable, the tone not preachy, but honest and straight forward.

Being more mindful of how you speak to your friends, family, and colleagues just doesn't benefit everyone in your social circle, but you as well since it makes you more self aware of your speech, tone, and body language.

Mind Your Manners is a modern day etiquette guide. I really appreciated the chapters on digital etiquette because this is a new area of rules. Additionally, I enjoyed the sections on food and travel. Throughout the book there are several really good practical tips. I also appreciated the international perspective with examples from the US, China and Europe.

My main challenge with the book is that it is written for a very specific audience: heterosexual women between the ages of 18-35. Queer individuals are not mentioned or considered in this book. In today's culture there are so many diverse lifestyles and it is so important (and polite!) to make sure that all feel included.

Thank you to Hachette Books and Netgalley for an Advanced Reader Copy of this manuscript in exchange for an honest review.