No Nice Girl Swears

by Alice-Leone Moats

Offers tips on etiquette, problems of fashion, mores, and manners, and other important facets of high society

Genres: Humor

185 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1933

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an amusing and witty guide on the etiquette of past times where women's behaviour was far more regimented and vital to their advancement in society. Moats has written what on the surface appears to be a serious and instructive guide on how one should behave in polite society but in reality it is a cutting and witty look at the stupidity and ridiculousness of the standards and expectations applied in years past, and to some extent today. I think we can safely say that I've broken pretty much every 'rule' in the book...ah well.

[BookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. This book is such a charming and sassy etiquette guide. The tips are from a 1930s debutant and "it girl," and cover style, dating, travel, and more. I love how the author gives advice for putting others in their place when they step out of bounds and also how her advice for classiness--in all aspects of life--still holds true. It's an escape, but also still relevant. Also note, the book is beautiful--a Tiffany's colored jacket with gold foil. It was a good read and is now decoration : )

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice-Leone Moats has written a fun read in No Nice Girl Swears. It gives advice and tips on how to act in society from the past. I honestly got a little tickled at few of them. Some of them includes what to do and not to do while on a date. And many other do’s and don’t’s what is expected from a young lady.
I thought No Nice Girl Swears to be a delightful read and recommend it. I am giving it four stars.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Katrina E · Rating 3 out of 5]

HA! I am still going to cuss life it too short.

[Jena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, Rockstar Book Tours is back at it. This time with a surprising time capsule, taking us all the way back to the Roaring 20’s.

Before we get into the book, we need some definitions. First, let’s define swears. Second. Define nice. Then remember that this book was printed 90 years ago, so it is NOT a modern guide to swearing, nice, or even girls for that matter. But it is a fascinating glimpse into our past, even if the definitions are a bit… old-fashioned.

The book when first written was aimed at the young, progressive women of the time. Forget what you think you know of debutantes and how good girls behave. No Nice Girl Swears may be almost 100 years old, but this was for girls coming of age at the end of prohibition, where speakeasies and Gatsby(esque) parties reigned supreme.

I love diving into our past. And No Nice Girl Swears does not disappoint. This is not intended to be relevant to today, but still, it’s a fascinating glimpse into what life was like at the end of the Jazz Age. Even though most of the tips and advice are very outdated, some of it is still good advice. I mean, it’s always a good idea to dress for success and we should know how to be a good houseguest.

It does require the reader to pull apart gendered commentary, and the audience of the day was definitely aimed up the upper crust of society, so readers should be aware that this may be distracting and/or irritating. I’d hate for someone to sprain their eyes from too many rolls, and to be honest, there were quite a few of those for me. But I still found a few nuggets that made up for the downfalls. The chapter on divorce was hilarious and eye-opening. It’s fascinating reading about what was considered progressive at the time, and some of the attitudes were surprisingly ahead of their time. Maybe even ours.

In all, this book is a fun read, and anyone who enjoys exploring history will have a fabulous time reading it. It’s surprising, cheeky, and entertaining from beginning to end.

Thank you Rockstar Book Tours and Apollo Publishing for including me on this tour!

[georgie_porgie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing little guide. I was pleasantly surprised by the attitudes expressed in these notes - where I would've expected condescension or disapproval towards women, the author would take an approach of disregarding men's antics. Sort of like when you are entertaining a small child and you act astonished at minor accomplishments, or let them try to explain concepts to you that you already understand. One message that quite clearly stood out was, sure, be as smart as you like, but don't let men catch on. And as much as this notion is ridiculous - one shouldn't have to censor their intellect to make someone else feel more comfortable - it does still happen, and it's often easier to let someone think they have the upper hand 100% of the time rather than endanger their superiority complex by bringing it out into the open.

The funny thing is, although lots of the dinner-party/hostess/dating advice for the "modern woman" is now very much outdated, many of these attitudes have withstood the test of time. Many notes on rejecting advances safely, being wary to set boundaries in the workplace and among friends, etc., all in the name of staying safe and staying respected were alarmingly familiar. Although the name has changed, the game really does seem to have stayed the same.

[Laianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I love the saucy, big sister energy, and the matter-of-fact explanations. Catering specifically to Jazz-Age New York debutantes, the book is full of such gems as “one man’s opinion of another is usually founded upon whether he was once able to drink the entire University of Virginia under the table (an impossible feat, we understand), or is a good football player” (so, don’t let him set you up with his friend), and, when vacationing at a dude ranch, “take rough, comfortable clothes and riding-togs and [do] not neck the chaps off the cowboys.”

I loved being transported to a world where the newly-mainstream telephone “is used for practically everything” and a coming-out tea is boring compared to a debutante dinner and dance, where “as long as you are going to give a dinner party, you might as well take some trouble over ordering the food.” Even though I consulted this guide for etiquette research, I was in awe of the extravagant parties, speakeasies, and homes. Some advice will still be useful today - how to shut down unwanted advances, blend into the backdrop of any location, or make good impressions in both personal and professional situations - but the book is a pleasure to read for its historical value alone.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

✔️Published in 1933.
🖊 My review: I found this book interesting in many respects, but the first theme I noticed is that the author presents the facts of today is not yesterday, that is, she states that – even here, in 1933 – new fads and fashions and modes put a spotlight on what already was becoming old-fashioned. Good manners never go out of "style." 🔥 The dénouement just ends without a real closing paragraph. 💫 What I like best is the encouragement this book gives for classy and elegant manners. 📌 I would read this again.
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔵 Media form: Internet Archive.

🔲 Excerpt:

🔸But, unfortunately or otherwise, custom stales, and even the best tradition may become merely an old story. Manners are growing nearly as fickle as modes, and they date you as unmistakably.

✿●▬●✿●✿●▬●✿

[Kiri Johnston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting purely from a historical perspective, and I suppose it provides some background to the books I love... but in every other sense, a BORE!

[Cydni Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a no-nonsense etiquette guide that was written in the 1930s. It gives very good advice for extremely practical things that a girl would have encountered, but that her mother might not have, like how to behave without a chaperon, what a girl should do the year she debuts, and how to turn down a date with someone a girl doesn't like. It was a changing world, and the girls coming out during this time period may have had Edwardian mothers who didn't understand the shifting social rules. My favorite part was the chapter on how to deal with a date who was very drunk. She gives detailed instructions that seem fresh enough to apply to today's social interactions. I'm glad I married a man who doesn't drink, because I wouldn't have known about any of this when we were dating. Now I do.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a delightful combination of the author's innate wit and the unintentional hilarity of very dated etiquette (e.g., the propriety of a young lady entering a speakeasy alone, or what to do if you want to take your personal maid to a house party but space is limited). It's an interesting glimpse into the world of debutantes, servants, engraved invitations, and all the "new" thrills for women: drinking, smoking, working, and driving cars.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

don't we all need a little reminding about etiquette? "Learn to dance before you come out." As a debutante, of course...what were you thinking?

[Jennifer]

So far, this book seems to be more aimed at unmarried girls, but there are still a few things to learn from it.

[Eleanor Lux · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you like this book you MUST read her book "A Violent Innocence" Don't know why it isn't listed. It's her story of growing up in Mexico City during the Mexican Revolution. Amazing!

[Becki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 30s guide to behaviour for young women and debutantes. Great fun, loved the author's tongue in cheek style.

[Aya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing period piece and it take about 20 minutes to read.