Say Please, Say Thank You

Appalled at the distressing loss of civility in American life, McCullough--Presbyterian preacher, president of San Francisco Theological Seminary, author of Waking from the American Dream--has written a sensible handbook that aims to promote the little acts of courtesy embodying the simple respect due to members of a civilized society. Writing with sprightly humor, he organizes most chapters around basic precepts of conduct that we all violate from time to time: Don't be late; Wait your turn; Keep a secret; ""Hold your wind"" (don't offend with any type of bodily grossness); Honor cross-cultural differences (""Never wear red to a Chinese funeral""); Don't tell jokes at the expense of others. Other chapters venture further afield into self-help territory, as he advises readers to do things in moderation, to respect sexual boundaries and refrain from sexual harassment, to eliminate financial debt, to make time for friends and family. Using illustrative examples from everyday life, McCullough leavens his homily with choice anecdotes featuring W.C. Fields, Edgar Allan Poe, Winston Churchill, Cecil Rhodes; with a smorgasbord of quotes from Einstein, Shaw, Graham Greene, Golda Meir, M. Scott Peck, James Baldwin; and allusions to Dostoyevski, Victor Hugo, Erich Segal. Yet the overall tone borders on the sermonizing, as he waxes indignant time and again over the discourteous behavior of the boorish in our midst. Still, this rousing, witty guide could help make the world a nicer, more civilized, more humane place. (Oct.)