Treating People Well: The Extraordinary Power of Civility at Work and in Life

Berman and Bernard winningly call on their experiences as White House social secretaries under, respectively, George W. Bush and Barack Obama to make a case that manners and civility can be the basis for success in work and life. The authors weave practical guidance, such as maintaining good posture and eye contact and steering clear of email after a glass of wine, into entertaining behind-the-scenes moments from their careers. The rarely seen inner workings of White House events, such as state dinners and celebrity musical performances, on offer here are highlights and include such incidents as Berman being called on to literally pull the seat out from under a foreign delegate attempting to disrupt a sensitive seating plan to Bernard dealing with a demanding White House honoree who, tired of waiting for a delayed president, threatened to walk out on his own award ceremony. The authors complement their own experiences with the humorously hair-raising stories shared with them by past White House social secretaries. The advice given throughout is sound, if not overly original, but the look behind the curtain at the rarely featured individuals who make the White House run smoothly provides a unique and rewarding insider’s view. Agent: Todd Shuster, Zachary Shuster Harmsworth Literary Agency. (Jan.)