If you do it right, being a grown-up is just like being a kid . . . but without people telling you off. No one learns etiquette anymore (except by embarrassing trial and error). But manners are more than a dusty tradition: Done right, they make life easier for everyone That s why Sandi Toksvig highlights decency rather than convention in this entertaining guide, with:

• Spot-On Advice: Remember you don t have to answer the phone, so don t do it if you don t have time to be polite.
• Fascinating Trivia: It is very rude to clear the plate of someone who hasn t finished. In fact, the Romans believed doing so would bring about the diner s sudden death.
• And Her Characteristic Wit: Focusing on the people you share a meal with is both a pleasure and a necessity. Get to know your family members; you might even like them.

Be the most decently behaved person in the room, "and" the most interesting: Master "The Tricky Art of Co-Existing" "