Über den Umgang mit Menschen: Eine Auswahl

by Adolph Knigge, Karl-Heinz Göttert (Editor)

Vom »Knigge« spricht jeder – und verbindet damit in der Regel falsche Vorstellungen. Für diesen Band wurden die wichtigsten Stellen aus Knigges Werk Über den Umgang mit Menschen zusammengestellt: Dem geht es nicht um steife Benimmregeln, sondern um »Personen, die wahrlich allen guten Willen und treue Rechtschaffenheit mit […] vorzüglichen Eigenschaften und dem eifrigen Bestreben, in der Welt fortzukommen« haben und »dennoch mit diesem allen verkannt, übersehn werden […]. Was ist es, das diesen fehlt und andre haben? – Kunst des Umgangs mit Menschen«.

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1788

About the author

Adolph Franz Friedrich Ludwig Knigge (1752 – 1796) was a German writer, Freemason, and a leading member of the Illuminati. He is best remembered as the author of On Human Relations.

Knigge's involvement with the Illuminati, support of the advancement of human rights, and a period of serious illness led to the loss of support of his aristocratic sponsors and finally his fortune. He found a measure of financial stability again with a position in Bremen, where he died in 1796.

Reviews

[Josh Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this book very interesting, very short, but insane to contrast 1790s etiquette with modern day, even more interesting how much of it still upholds today, with exception of the ridiculousness of the "studious women" chapter.

The Epilogue is a huge highlight in my opinion however, I knew the word "Knigge" was associated/ synonymous with Etiquette but I wasn't aware that this book and this author was the reason why, or that he is basically the forefather of all German Etiquette, and probably the reason why my granddad made me not have my elbows on the table, or made me watch a chickens head get cut of so I knew where my meat comes from...
The funniest part however, is that the woman chapter is about a specific girl he had particular problems dealing with in his life, and expressed his "revenge" in the form of this book