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Sandi Toksvig
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Peas & Queues: The Minefield of Modern Manners Kindle Edition

by Sandi Toksvig (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 966 ratings

How do you get rid of unwanted guests? What do you do if there's a racket in the quiet carriage? How should you eat peas, and behave in queues? How to behave, like how to punctuate, is an aspect of life that many are no longer taught - and getting it wrong is the stuff of comedy at best and humiliation at worst. Thankfully, Sandi Toksvig has come to the rescue with her entertaining guide to modern manners,with tips on what to do whether you're talking to a bore, or forgot their name in the first place. (Just call them 'darling'.)

The award-winning Radio 4 broadcaster and writer offers guidance on the social pitfalls of every phase of life, from christenings to condolence letters. With characteristic wit and perceptiveness, and revealing the trickiest of her encounters along the way, she highlights decency rather than convention and provides an essential guide to twenty-first century behaviour.

Now this down-to-earth, hilarious guide is available in perfect pocket-sized paperback size.

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  1. Print length
    273 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Profile Books
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    3 Oct. 2013
  6. File size
    2.7 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

Review

'The most unpretentious, sensible and genuinely helpful etiquette book I've ever read - and by far the funniest' Kate Fox, author of Watching the English


'This little book will change your life - and that of your loved (and unloved) ones. For the better. And make you laugh' John Humphrys

'An entertaining guide to modern manners, which also uncovers some fascinating details about how our manners have changed through time' --Bookseller

'The tone is chatty and there are plenty of etiquette-related nuggets here to enhance a reader's own conversational repertoire' --Spectator

'Jolly, upbeat' --Sunday Times

About the Author

Sandi Toksvig is a well known broadcaster for both television and radio, hosts The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4 and 1001 Things You Should Know on Channel 4. She presented Excess Baggage on Radio 4 untill 2012. She has written more than twenty books including fiction and non-fiction for both adults and children, most recently Valentine Grey, and is a regular columnist for Good Housekeeping magazine and in September 2012 her latest play 'Bully Boy' was the opening production for London's first new theatre in thirty years, the St James. Sandi is the new Chancellor of Portsmouth University.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00FDWNZIO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Profile Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 3 Oct. 2013
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Main
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.7 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 273 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1847658661
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 966 ratings

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Sandi Toksvig

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
966 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book entertaining and informative, particularly appreciating its highly amusing anecdotes from history. Moreover, the book is suitable for all ages, and one customer notes it's packed with useful information on etiquette. Additionally, customers describe the book as heartwarming.

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78 customers mention ‘Enjoyment’72 positive6 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, with highly amusing anecdotes from history and life lessons told with humor.

"...As is to be expected it is written with humour and is very easily readable, without sounding too superior as some books on the subject might." Read more

"...Sandi relates many interesting, highly amusing anecdotes from history, (some from her own, personal history) to illustrate her various points...." Read more

"...Having said that I like Sandi's humour and I did find it amusing and the historical facts interesting, but a useful book for some nonetheless." Read more

"...It is well thought out and as an added twist to the usual reference theme, it written more as a series of letters rather than an instructional piece..." Read more

34 customers mention ‘Advice’28 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the book's advice, with one customer noting it's packed with useful information on etiquette, while another mentions it combines common sense with practical guidance.

"...As is to be expected it is written with humour and is very easily readable, without sounding too superior as some books on the subject might." Read more

"...it amusing and the historical facts interesting, but a useful book for some nonetheless." Read more

"...exploration of the dos and don't s of daily life, well explained in clear terms that everyone should be able to understand...." Read more

"...It is well written and seems pretty comprehensive (I'm half way through it), and contains a lot of good tips. However, I am disappointed...." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Age range’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suitable for all ages, with one mentioning it's particularly good for children to learn from.

"...surprising facts about correct behaviour through the ages, for all ages and sexes...." Read more

"...n't give to under 18's personally, but generally I think it is suitable for all ages. No worse than some 'Channel 4 comedians'." Read more

"Correct punctuation is very important, especially for children to learn." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Heartwarming’3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming, with one describing it as very touching.

"...It's funny & heartwarming - which, I assume, is exactly what she intended...." Read more

"...Ps, i bet Mary loves all the little notes to her from Sandi, very touching." Read more

"...Only got it Christmas Day. What I have read is a light hearted, wonderfully written (typical Sandi) view on how to handle 'situations' with aplomb." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Karia..
    5.0 out of 5 stars gentle humour and sound advice
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 February 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Sandi never disappoints. An excellent book for the unwary foreigner as well as the occasional native. I bought this for a friend who comes from Brazil to guide her through all those unforeseen situations where one can accidentally get things wrong. When one is born in a country one just accepts the way things are, but when coming from another country life is full of pitfalls. "Which fork do I use?" or "do I serve the cheese before or after the pudding" were questions she often asked me. Also, when bringing up her son, what is considered good or bad manners? Having been brought up by immigrant parents I too had had to face these dilemmas and only wish this book had been in print then. As is to be expected it is written with humour and is very easily readable, without sounding too superior as some books on the subject might.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Brenda Young
    4.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing, amusing asnd informative.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Although this purports to be a book on manners, addressed to a young girl called Mary, in fact it is not specific to the young, but includes some surprising facts about correct behaviour through the ages, for all ages and sexes. Sandi relates many interesting, highly amusing anecdotes from history, (some from her own, personal history) to illustrate her various points. If you are sometimes uncomfortable about just what is and is not acceptable, this will certainly help you, as well as being entertaining.

    Written with the familiar Toksvig wit and charm, it gave me many a laugh as well as several eye-openers you could not possibly make up.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Jillywizzthatwoz
    3.0 out of 5 stars Manners maketh man (& woman)
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 August 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I hadn't realized that this book was mainly aimed at young people, and I found it a little lost on someone in their seventies! I like to think I had a reasonable upbringing and a smattering of manners but a lot of Sandi's book is common sense to me anyway. Having said that I like Sandi's humour and I did find it amusing and the historical facts interesting, but a useful book for some nonetheless.
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  • @slytherinshare
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ladies of Letters....the 4 Cs of Social Etiquette...Context, Consideration, Comfort and Commonsense.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 August 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this (and its audiobook version) because I loved Sandi Toksvig and it came up on my recommended list from Amazon.

    I thought this would be a satirical look at manners in various cultures but is fact the reverse, rather than making fun of manners, it is Sandi trying to educate an 8 year old child on what is considerate at various occasions in life but with funny anecdotes to help explain it in a less formal way.

    There were times when instead of hearing Sandi Toksvig, I could see and hear Patricia Routledge (when she plays Hyacinth Bucket ~ pronounced Bouquet, from Keeping Up Appearances) so it got a little confusing on whom I was meant to concentrating on, Sandi in my ears or Hyacinth in my mind.

    It is well thought out and as an added twist to the usual reference theme, it written more as a series of letters rather than an instructional piece with a "Dear Mary" at the start and a "Yours, Sandi" at the end.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars How to get along with your fellow human beings
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 July 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book is an enjoyable exploration of the dos and don't s of daily life, well explained in clear terms that everyone should be able to understand. The trick is to remember them and put them into practice. This book is well worth reading and learning from.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Paul Barton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sandi at her best
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 February 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A lovely book covering all you need to know for life and all outlined with her superb light touch. Enthralling
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  • AJW
    5.0 out of 5 stars I liked this a lot
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 July 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This was a very enjoyable read, the sort of book that not only makes me want to read more books by the author, but to hope to have the chance to meet her some day ( and I'm sure she has excellent manners ;o)). She tells a lot of interesting stories and anecdotes and goes into the origin of words (a subject I find fascinating), showing how well-educated she is. If I were to be picky, I did find she slipped (inadvertently, I'm sure) into being patronising (see section on travel - nowadays, very few people have not flown, I think everyone is aware how much space they're entitled to use onboard), but still give it 5 stars!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Aitchbee
    2.0 out of 5 stars Why did Sandi choose to write about manners, and why didn't she make it funny? (Sorry Sandi)
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I thought that Sandi was a comedian, or at least a humourist. This is a very straight down the line handbook of modern manners, and as such lacks any "usp" from having been written by Ms Toksvig. Her views are wittily presented on radio, but have little special relevance (apart from quotes about what happened to her in Denmark or the USA). It's a pleasant enough read, but I couldn't help but wonder why she chose this subject to write about. Perhaps try Debrett's "Etiquette & Modern Manners" for a definitive (and occasionally witty) view, or check out other writers who do observational comedy rather better - Peter Kay, for example (who's so successfully mined this seam that he's sneered at by intellectuals but still packs out every show he performs.)
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Suz
    5.0 out of 5 stars It's written by Sandi Toksvig, so naturally it's brilliant.
    Reviewed in Australia on 21 February 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Very entertaining and a joy to read.
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  • Mal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sandi Toksvig tells young adults what they won't hear from me ;-)
    Reviewed in the United States on 28 September 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Not Sandi Toksvig's best (most fun for adults) book, but still wonderful. Easy read. Great gift for young adults. Giggles & good guidance.
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  • UK Bookworm
    3.0 out of 5 stars An aid to civilised living<...
    Reviewed in France on 23 February 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Not quite as humorous as its title and what Sandy Toksvig's programmes on BBC4 had let me to expect but nevertheless an easy read through the minefield of manners without lapsing into a tedious treatise on etiquette. Would make an excellent gift for the young adult leaving home, a reminder of what his parents thought they had instilled in him and which he had considered unnecessarily old-fashioned..
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  • Christina Doherty
    4.0 out of 5 stars How to avoid some very Human Hiccups in Life (and have a serious laugh at the same time)
    Reviewed in the United States on 5 June 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed the detail, history and humour. The emphasis on caring for those around us is delivered in a warm non-judgemental, non-preachy tone that recognises our very human ability to stuff things up royally while drawing attention to the safe guards we can attempt to put in place to maintain friendships and not die lonely in our old age.
    One person found this helpful
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  • jacqueline moss
    3.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read.
    Reviewed in Australia on 8 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyed this book and could almost hear Sandi Toksvic's voice as the letters were written.
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