Talk to the Hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home ...
Talk to the hand, cause the face aint listening, the saying goes.
When did the world stop wanting to hear? When did society become so thoug... read full description
reviews
Jul 21, 2008
Emily
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I loved Truss's first book. Her outrage at the misuse of apostrophes was appealing but also beguiling because it was so over-the-top with tongue placed firmly in cheek. This book, however, was validating (though not funny) when it was right, but worrisome when it became too far-sweeping and crotchety about social classes.
Everyone loves to feel justified in their outrage after feeling disrespected by strangers or the general public, but attacking entire classes of people (the work More...
Everyone loves to feel justified in their outrage after feeling disrespected by strangers or the general public, but attacking entire classes of people (the work More...
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Nov 26, 2010
Alicia
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After witnessing a congressman shout out "You lie" to a sitting US president on the news, a rapper rudely interrupt another singer's acceptance award, various sports figures acting childishly, this book is a breath of fresh air. It confirms that not all of us in today's society accept the common rudeness so commonly displayed in this day and age.
This book is also a fun read, much like Ms. Truss' "Eats, Shoots & Leaves". It's a fast read and not easily put down! More...
This book is also a fun read, much like Ms. Truss' "Eats, Shoots & Leaves". It's a fast read and not easily put down! More...
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Aug 17, 2011
Benjamin
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Wow, I can't remember being this disappointed with a book...well, I was going to say "in a long time," but I might more accurately say "ever." In terms of disparity between my expectations and the reality, this is the most disappointing book I've ever read. I give it one star, and a glance over my reviews will demonstrate that I almost never do that.
I read, and loved, Truss's previous work, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. I More...
I read, and loved, Truss's previous work, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. I More...
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Oct 12, 2010
Purplycookie
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I liked Truss' first book about grammar "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" which was hilarious. So when I saw this book at the bookstore selling for a discounted price, I snatched it up. It's a plea to show some consideration to others, especially in certain areas: (1) "Was That So Hard to Say?" ("thank you"); (2) "Why am I the One Doing This?" (e.g., punching doggedly through the automated switchboard); (3) "My Bubble, My Rules" (forcing others to listen
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May 31, 2011
You know, it's very easy to read Lynne Truss--she writes smooth and amusing prose, and you're halfway through the book before you realize that it isn't going ANYWHERE.
If this woman hadn't already written a bestseller that actually gives reasonable advice I don't *really* think any editor would have considered publishing this grouchy and extended rant about nothing. Half of it doesn't even have to do with politeness (her supposed topic), or lack thereof, but about the author's person More...
If this woman hadn't already written a bestseller that actually gives reasonable advice I don't *really* think any editor would have considered publishing this grouchy and extended rant about nothing. Half of it doesn't even have to do with politeness (her supposed topic), or lack thereof, but about the author's person More...
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Apr 16, 2008
Roxanne
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Nov 22, 2007
Kathy
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From a blog post I wrote in 2005:
I adored Lynn Truss' first book, Eat, Shoots & Leaves. It was a great rant against the deterioration of our grammar skills. As someone who cringes every time she sees people use 'loose' instead of 'lose', 'you're' instead of 'your' or 'irregardless' in any fashion I found myself agreeing with every word of that text.
Truss' new book, Talk to the Hand - The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt t More...
I adored Lynn Truss' first book, Eat, Shoots & Leaves. It was a great rant against the deterioration of our grammar skills. As someone who cringes every time she sees people use 'loose' instead of 'lose', 'you're' instead of 'your' or 'irregardless' in any fashion I found myself agreeing with every word of that text.
Truss' new book, Talk to the Hand - The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt t More...
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Dec 16, 2009
Jafar
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The Queen of Apostrophe turns into Ms. Manners, even though she swears that this book is not a manners manual. She also swears that she’s not some grumpy old woman. She just wants to rant about how eff-ing rude everyone has become. For a book that complains about rudeness, there’s plenty of F-word for you in this book.
Turss attempts at some humor in this book, but to be fair to her, I don’t think her main point was being funny. A lot of people seem to be disappointed that this book i More...
Turss attempts at some humor in this book, but to be fair to her, I don’t think her main point was being funny. A lot of people seem to be disappointed that this book i More...
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Mar 23, 2009
Angie
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Author Truss brought us "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" and now brings us "Talk to the Hand.." Respect, courtesy, kindness, and consideration are discussed here. Current society all over the world is generally rude, impatient, lax, condescending, and disrespectful (I think we are all aware of this, but if we we are, then why is this problem still so prevalent?). My favorite lines include:
- "...the individual personality wastes no time bolstering its defenses"
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- "...the individual personality wastes no time bolstering its defenses"
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Feb 22, 2009
Sasha
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Best buck I ever spent! Literally, this book cost me a dollar at Family Dollar in Providence (hurry and get a copy!). As I was flipping through it out of curiosity, a few things caught my eye so I figured that for a dollar I couldn't really go wrong.
This book has it all. It is hilarious, laugh out loud funny--mainly, I believe, because the author is British and Brits have such a way with words. It's also insightful, revealing, and thought-provoking. I found myself at once relieve More...
This book has it all. It is hilarious, laugh out loud funny--mainly, I believe, because the author is British and Brits have such a way with words. It's also insightful, revealing, and thought-provoking. I found myself at once relieve More...
Jul 30, 2011
It was OK. Nowhere near as good as "Eats, Shoots & Leaves", though. In fact, in parts it came across as positively fuddy-duddy, old-fashioned and technophobic to boot. The rants about the internet seemed a little ill-conceived; Personally, I've never considered that the internet is there for my convenience or that it somehow owes it to me to be user-friendly. Nor do I have a problem with people using expressions such as "No problem!" instead of "You're welcome!" or
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Jun 12, 2010
Sarah
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Talk to the Hand. Lynne Truss. 2005. Gotham Books. 202 pages. ISBN 1592401716.
Talk to the Hand's subtitle is "The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door". Author Lynne Truss (who wrote bestselling Eats, Shoots & Leaves about grammar gripes) presents a formal rant about rudeness in today's society.
This book was given to me as a gift from a fellow bookcrosser after I was rudely bashed in a forum on a website I More...
Talk to the Hand's subtitle is "The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today, or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door". Author Lynne Truss (who wrote bestselling Eats, Shoots & Leaves about grammar gripes) presents a formal rant about rudeness in today's society.
This book was given to me as a gift from a fellow bookcrosser after I was rudely bashed in a forum on a website I More...
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Sep 11, 2010
Joe
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A very humorous look at rudeness in society today. From the rudeness of sales clerks & people being rude to sales clerks to cell phone usage in public. A very laugh out loud look at how our society is changing. Truss is English and her book has a very British tone to it. What is funny is that she feels that Britain is ruder than America, especially when it comes to the service industry. I get such rare excellent service that I make a point of telling people whenever it happens. I find it h
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Nov 24, 2009
Tom
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This is a 200 page rant (the author acknowledges this) against the death of courtesy in our society. And she's right She talks about such discourtesies as talking on cell phones in restaurants, movie theaters, etc. She talks about having conversations interrupted when the other participant in the conversation takes a call on her cell. She talks about the overall rude behavior of clerks, waiters, cashiers, etc. Other subjects include the modern trend of companies to foist their work off onto the
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Jun 12, 2011
Ryandake
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i don't think i'll be staying home to bolt the door.
are people that much ruder in britain than in america? i am trying to figure what sent ms. truss into such a tirade.
it is a funny tirade at times, i have to admit. but there's ultimately no there there. ms. truss never quite seems to pull together a useful or insightful critique of modern manners (or lack thereof). neither does she offer much insight into why people are ruder these days. i'd try to offer you, dear reader, a More...
are people that much ruder in britain than in america? i am trying to figure what sent ms. truss into such a tirade.
it is a funny tirade at times, i have to admit. but there's ultimately no there there. ms. truss never quite seems to pull together a useful or insightful critique of modern manners (or lack thereof). neither does she offer much insight into why people are ruder these days. i'd try to offer you, dear reader, a More...
Dec 19, 2010
Justin
rated it:
This was a quick read that elicited a lot of sympathetic head-nodding and a few wry grins, but didn't really ignite a whole lot of deep thought. I mean, that wasn't really the point of the book, I guess. It follows the same curmudgeonly formula as Truss's previous book, this time tackling our society's ubiquitous rudeness instead of the misuse of punctuation. This one doesn't quite hit the same right notes, though.
Truss admits right off the bat that she is writing a "moral homil More...
Truss admits right off the bat that she is writing a "moral homil More...
Feb 12, 2012
Michelle
rated it:
Truss goes on a snarky and somewhat crude rant about our lack of civility. Ironic, I guess. But she blames it on elbow skin... which I get entirely.
"It does, however, have to be admitted that the outrage reflex ("Oh, that's so RUDE!") presents itself in most people at just about the same time as their elbow skin starts to give out. Check out your own elbow skin. If it snaps back into position after bending, you probably shouldn't be reading this book. If, on the o More...
"It does, however, have to be admitted that the outrage reflex ("Oh, that's so RUDE!") presents itself in most people at just about the same time as their elbow skin starts to give out. Check out your own elbow skin. If it snaps back into position after bending, you probably shouldn't be reading this book. If, on the o More...
Apr 22, 2010
Brent
rated it:
I suppose I could have given this book 2.5 stars, but that's about it. The book discusses how society is becoming increasingly impolite, rude, etc, but it should also make clear that the society in question seems to primarily be British society. I don't mind that the author is British and used most examples from her own society, but throughout the book I kept having this feeling that I was learning more about British society than I was about social rudeness, or at least in ways that such ruden
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Jan 23, 2012
Lily
rated it:
Love Lynne Truss. As usual, her writing here is hysterically funny and yet profound. She is a self-proclaimed fuddy duddy who here thoughtfully and introspectively reflects on the place of manners in our society. Although people have been bemoaning the decline of human civility since the 15th century (and probably before), Truss explains the value in examining our moment in time and how it shapes our interactions with each other. While historically some manners have been used to separate the sno
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Aug 02, 2011
Ruth
rated it:
c 2005. My first thought when trying to review this book (for my own pleasure and reminder) is that it did not live up to the glowing reviews mentioned in the blurb (both inside and outside). It was interesting in parts but did not seem "so lively, so witty, so exhilaratingly splenetic" as gushed by Craig Brown of the Mail on Sunday. Iowa got a mention towards the end of the book under the chapter heading of "Someone Else will clean it up". Ms Truss was ruminating on the remo
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Mar 31, 2008
Primadonna
rated it:
3.5 stars. I have mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed reading the first part. So much fun! Suitable for sticklers like me. (And a snob too, haha) But when I got to the second part, it became quite boring and repetitive.
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Sep 05, 2009
Chip
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I'm glad to know I'm not the only one feeling this way! After reading this book I began my own campaign to passive-aggressively remind clueless clods that I have as much right to exist on this planet as they do. Favorite example: faking a coughing fit while captured in an elevator or waiting room with someone who's talking on a cell phone. Second favorite example: gunning my car and attempting to t-bone fools who turn left on red in front of me - I find the enormous size of their eyeballs as
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Aug 01, 2011
Karen
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I don't know why I didn't enjoy this as much as 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves'. Maybe because punctuation rage is more of a niche concern thus making it more of a curiosity; who, on the other hand, would admit to being blissfully unaware of observing common courtesy? Maybe it's because politeness doesn't lend itself easily to categorisation, as opposed to neat chapters on the hyphen, etc. Or maybe it's just that Truss' publisher demanded a sequel, sat her down in front of a box set of Grumpy Old M
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Aug 26, 2009
Phyllis
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There were a few UK terms I had to guess at, but for the most part Truss has again written a highly entertaining book. This is an especially good read for anyone who's already read 'Eats, Shoots, and Leaves.'
While manners may not be quite as dead as Talk to the Hand would lead us to believe, there are a good many points to consider...one of my favorites being the current lack of respect often seen in children. Acknowledging the problem may be the first step but laughing at it can lead More...
While manners may not be quite as dead as Talk to the Hand would lead us to believe, there are a good many points to consider...one of my favorites being the current lack of respect often seen in children. Acknowledging the problem may be the first step but laughing at it can lead More...
Oct 19, 2011
Any
rated it:
A well written book about the lack of courtesy in today's world. I could well relate and felt understood in some of my own gripes about the discourtesy so prevalent among people now. I especially related to the unwillingness of parents to tell their children off about bad behaviour. "Spare the rod, spoil the child" it says so in the Bible and there is a lot of truth to that. Never mind having to "spare the little darlings fragile self-esteem", you don't get good self esteem f
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Feb 06, 2010
Merrill
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By the author of the surprise bestseller on punctuation, this entry skewers people with bad manners, which is to say, everyone. She takes issue with those who can't muster a simple "please" or "thank you," those who have full-blown private cell phone conversations on public transit, and people who simply drop their trash where they stand and move on. I agreed with much of what she said, finding myself nodding along and chuckling, though I still can't fathom why she has a prob
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Dec 30, 2008
Maureen
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This is an amusing, straight-up rant from the woman who has zero tolerance of punctuation gaffes. Three of her six reasons include: the dearth of basic manners (including saying, "please and thank you") in modern society; the invasion of personal space by everything from annoyingly oblivious cell phone talkers to actual physical intrusions;and one chapter entitled, "The Universal Eff-Off Reflex." No earth-shattering revelations here, just some funny, well-written pieces by
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Aug 18, 2011
Dolly
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I really enjoyed Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, so when I saw that Lynne Truss had another book out about manners, I thought I'd give it a try. It's a short and interesting read that challenges the status quo in today's society and analyzes why we behave how we do. I must admit that I wasn't nearly as engaged or entertained with this book as I was with her previous efforts, but it was worth a read.
interesting quote:
"If we looke More...
interesting quote:
"If we looke More...
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Sep 04, 2011
Mirabelle
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I adored Eats, Shoots, and Leaves (I may or may not own a copy in paperback and hardcover), so I very much wanted to read Talk to the Hand.
The writing was impeccable. I loooove how Lynn Truss writes. It was hilarious and witty. The punctuation was perfect, of course.
Thing is, I don't completely agree with the subject. Sure, there are a lot of rude people out there, but there are also a lot of very polite and likable people. It has always been like this. Although I have to More...
The writing was impeccable. I loooove how Lynn Truss writes. It was hilarious and witty. The punctuation was perfect, of course.
Thing is, I don't completely agree with the subject. Sure, there are a lot of rude people out there, but there are also a lot of very polite and likable people. It has always been like this. Although I have to More...
Feb 17, 2011
Miss Clark
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