The Jerk with the Cell Phone: A Survival Guide for the Rest of Us

by Barbara Pachter, Susan Magee

Who hasn't overheard a twit on a cell phone, talking loudly about one inanity or another? Or just missed getting sideswiped by someone gabbing on a phone while driving? Or found someone chatting away in the restroom at work? We've all complained enough about the jerks whose cell phones ring during a movie, at concerts, and even in church. Now it's time to take action—and communications and etiquette expert Barbara Pachter offers just what we all A Survival Guide for the Rest of Us. Pachter offers the smartest—and funniest—ways to deal with all the jerks out there without becoming one yourself. Included are the world's most unbelievable but true cell phone horror stories, hilarious revenge stories, ways to jerk-proof your own cell phone use, and cartoons highlighting just how brainless we've all become about the technology we love to hate. This very funny and very useful guide will help to channel the rage we all feel toward the jerk on the cell phone—and show the rest of us how to stop the madness and reclaim some peace and quiet.

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2004

About the author

Barbara Pachter is president of Pachter & Associates. She is an internationally renowned business etiquette and communications speaker and coach who has delivered more than 2,100 seminars throughout the world.

Pachter’s client list boasts many notable organizations, including Bayer, Campbell Soup, Cleveland Clinic, Moody’s, Novartis, Pfizer, and Wawa.

“The Essentials of Business Etiquette: How to Greet, Eat, and Tweet your Way to Success” (McGraw-Hill, 2013) is her 10th book.

She is also the author of "The Power of Positive Confrontation," second edition to be released June 2014, "New Rules@Work," and "When the Little Count...And They Always Count."

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humorous collection of believe-it-or-not vignettes, all purportedly true, about the outlandish things people do with and on their cell phones, and how to respond to cell phone 'jerks'. The book comes complete with CPEG (cell phone etiquette guideline) cards. Not great literature, for sure, but it would make a fun gift or addition to any waiting room, due to its universal appeal and readability.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had some good points about how to handle people that use their cell phones in a rude manner. Some of the stories were funny and some were irritating. It made me wonder if I, too, do some of these things, and from now on I will be more observant of myself as well.

I am not sure that I would actually SAY the things she's recommended, but, put in a situation where someone on their cell phone is being rude (say talking during a movie, or in a restaurant, or some other place where it is obvious that they shouldn't be) I might now be tempted to ask them to take it outside, or to lower their voice or to put their phone on vibrate to keep the ringing from disturbing the rest of us in the place.

She has cards in the back of the book which I would NEVER use. She calls them CPEG cards and the theory is to hand out one of these cards to a person that is being rude on their cell phone. I'm figuring that things like this just will not go over very well, and could very well start a confrontation I don't want. But, others reading this book may want to try it.

[Kit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Useful, even funny at first, but after awhile, it became insanely repetitive and indulgent. I don't agree that a frank or sassy approach isn't the way to go. The author seems to think it is the 1950s and Emily Post is on the minds of everyone when, in the cold light of reality, people these days couldn't care less about each other. I think it is a bit naive of her to think that sitting up with good posture and a prim tone is going to get through to any of the self-obsessed types here. We're a "me" culture now. Everyone else comes second to our personal convienence.

Kinda like ice cream for dinner: enjoyable, fun in parts, but ultimately, rich in fat and low in valuable nutrients.

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand, the book's stories can be funny at times, often outrageous. They may live you wondering WTF with some people's manners. On the other hand, the book provides advice on dealing with the inconsiderate cell phone users, and there it fails. Because even though the authors believe most people will behave when confronted, or that overall people are decent, there is still that 20% of not so nice people. While they consider that good odds, I happen to disagree since all it takes is one mofo from that 20% pile to ruin your day. So, read it with a grain of salt.

[SC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh-out-loud funny, and bound to reanimate memories of people using cellphones inappropriately in a public setting.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up from the new non-fiction section at the library because it looked funny. It had humorous moments but for the most part was kind of preachy.

[C.W. Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was really funny. I have run into a few cellphone jerks and I have been one a time or two. The stories in the book are funny and cute. Great quick little read.

[Jody]

When you have left your book at home I find this a good little book to keep in your glove box for when you find yourself at a place waiting and need something to pass the time with.

[Lynne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very fast read, but also very outdated. Yet still some good advice can be gleaned from this etiquette expert.

[Terri · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't really find this very witty