How Not to Be a Dick: An Everyday Etiquette Guide

Designed to resemble an old book of manners that a kid in the 1950s may have read, this book is more of a humor book, although it does have some pretty good tips on manners that I'm quite certain everyone would benefit from. Despite the illustrations of children on the cover and throughout the book, and despite it being classified as a "young adult/YA" book, I would *not* consider this a book for kids. There is foul language throughout (hello, look at the title!). It is a great gag gift, though, for your favorite dickish friend, sibling, or co-worker in their college years or 20s. It's also a great gift for that secret someone that you despise seeing every day. Just wrap it up and leave it where they'll find it with no trace back to you.

There are some pretty handy, common sense tips for clueless people. Included are tips for relationships, being at home, being at school, the work environment, out and about having fun (parties, restaurants, clubs, etc.), driving/riding public transportation, and using the Internet. While humorous at times, there is also a lot of good information included, everything from bathroom etiquette to how to be kind to your waiter to the consequences of sexting.

Why did I buy this book? As a Christmas present for one of my best friends. Who also happens to be a dick.

The world would be more mellow, more joyful, more productive without so many dicks ruining the calm and the fun for the rest of us.
Sadly, most of the dicks won't read "How Not To Be A Dick", but I take comfort that this book could be a preventive measure, in some small way.

How Not To Be A Dick reads like a holistic The No A**hole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't, aimed at younger folks who aren't yet, or are just joining the workforce. Their are tips on how to get ready for work as well as tips on how to handle it when you didn't do your homework. It has applicable tips and skills and rules for most folks, but I think this is a fantastic match for 10-22 year olds (as a gift, perhaps?)...

My only negative thought is the use of the word "Dick". "Dick" would make me hesitate giving this to most kids under 18 or so. I think Jerk would have been less attention grabbing, but more appropriate considering the age range of the material within.

"How Not To Be A Dick: An Everyday Etiquette Guide" takes most of the practical advice on functioning in the world, that my son needs most (he's 10), and lays it out so cleanly and simply that this will be replacing "The Asperkid's (Secret) Book of Social Rules" on our "quick reference" shelf near our kitchen table.

Fantastic book. Now if they offered a version with an alternate word choice, I'd be 100% over the moon. This still gets an A in my book.

Not at all what I expected, which was something hilarious and crude, a satire. It is just a simple guide to etiquette, albeit with more mentions of "dick" and "dickishness" than most Emily Post titles. The advice is great and if someone did bother to read it, they would learn some very good behaviors. But it is really more of a gift book than a goofy book.

This book is probably a good gift for a college graduate since it covers topics such as workplace behavior, parties, sex, and sharing apartments.

I actually mostly really like this book. Having heard teacher friends and relations mention the slide in the most basic of social skills I don't think this book is too elementary.

It has the most basic points of etiquette but also some more advanced thoughts. Everything you want is definitely in there. And the book it cute and fun. The title made sure this book got picked up and read by all the teens in my home.

The mentions of alcohol use in this book make some conversations a must. I felt like the author assumed that drunken revelry was a forgone conclusion. There were a few flippant comments about behavior that I would find troubling.

Other than that- yes! Let's teach manners.

Like many other reviewers, I expected this book to be funny. The title's funny, for sure, but the book itself is far too earnest to be funny. It's just a straightforward etiquette book with sometimes naughty language ("boobs," "dick," etc.) If you want funny etiquette commentary, go to Miss Manners. This is just boring.

The book is a humorous review of standard courtesy and etiquette for a variety of social and professional situations (living with someone, being at work, at a party, etc). In spite of the title, it is not off-color,
and would be a great book of lessons to learn, even for a child, if not for the word in the title.

Lessons about respecting personal space, cleaning up after yourself, being polite with introductions, not bragging, the list is very long and very useful. I bet most people would find things they ought not to be doing in this book.

The illustrations and casual style make for a funny, very quick read. I read the whole book in less than 2 hours. It was time well spent.

This book is awesome but not sure who really would read it and get something out of it. I give it four stars because it's awesome, it really is, the vibe, the humor, the look of it is all something very funny, and when you're getting people to laugh you can sneak in some lessons about etiquette. But for teens? I doubt they'll get the joke. This seems like something I would give one of my friends as a joke, or as an indirect way of saying "You suck sometimes, and here's why."

I actually mostly really like this book. Having heard teacher friends and relations mention the slide in the most basic of social skills I don't think this book is too elementary.

It has the most basic points of etiquette but also some more advanced thoughts. Everything you want is definitely in there. And the book it cute and fun. The title made sure this book got picked up and read by all the teens in my home.

The mentions of alcohol use in this book make some conversations a must. I felt like the author assumed that drunken revelry was a forgone conclusion. There were a few flippant comments about behavior that I would find troubling.

Other than that- yes! Let's teach manners.

Like many other reviewers, I expected this book to be funny. The title's funny, for sure, but the book itself is far too earnest to be funny. It's just a straightforward etiquette book with sometimes naughty language ("boobs," "dick," etc.) If you want funny etiquette commentary, go to Miss Manners. This is just boring.

The book is a humorous review of standard courtesy and etiquette for a variety of social and professional situations (living with someone, being at work, at a party, etc). In spite of the title, it is not off-color,
and would be a great book of lessons to learn, even for a child, if not for the word in the title.

Lessons about respecting personal space, cleaning up after yourself, being polite with introductions, not bragging, the list is very long and very useful. I bet most people would find things they ought not to be doing in this book.

The illustrations and casual style make for a funny, very quick read. I read the whole book in less than 2 hours. It was time well spent.

First things first - in case the title isn't clear enough, this isn't a book for kids. However, this would be an excellent graduation present for someone heading off to college. It's all the things your mom and dad told you, that went in one ear and out the other, but stated is clear, simple and definitely not preachy language. The lighthearted tone makes the subject matter really approachable, and I loved the common sense approach. For example, in the section about living with other people (roommates) under "In the Bathroom" it very succinctly covers why you shouldn't pee in the shower - you don't want your shower to smell like urine.

Other highlights, the book speaks to the myriad of social situations an older teen/young adult would find themselves in such at school, work, home, social situations with friends, interacting with the larger world and plenty about the use of social media. I loved the section on airplanes - it should be on the emergency procedures card you are asked to read before the plane takes off - it would make air travel a little less uncivilized. All-in-all the message is simply about the Golden Rule, but ah what a truly wonderful world it would be if we all truly behaved accordingly.

This book is awesome but not sure who really would read it and get something out of it. I give it four stars because it's awesome, it really is, the vibe, the humor, the look of it is all something very funny, and when you're getting people to laugh you can sneak in some lessons about etiquette. But for teens? I doubt they'll get the joke. This seems like something I would give one of my friends as a joke, or as an indirect way of saying "You suck sometimes, and here's why."

Fantastic gift item. When this arrived my 14 year old swept it up and read it cover to cover, taking screen shots to text her friends. They've been talking about it all week. This breezy and entertaining guide offers some very useful tips in addition to the obvious basics. From getting drunk on "soda" at a party to asking the boss for a raise, the fake-serious tone quickly imparts useful information. I asked 14 if she learned anything she didn't know. "No, I already knew everything in this book but I can think of like, eight friends that seriously need to read it!" (Ah, the problem is never us, is it?) Delightful, tactful, and truthful this guide could be the best passive aggressive gift your grandmother ever gave you.

im going to deliver divorce papers to my husband enclosed in this book. its probably to late, I don't think you can teach an old dick new tricks, but if all else fails, maybe the next wife can hit him with it.

How Not to Be a Dick presents everything you wish everyone already knew and apparently was never taught in the form of a grade school reader. The content is for adults though. It's light tone might be the best way to tell the dick in your life that they need to shape up. The problem is that dicks tend not to care, so the book would be wasted on them.

Quite a funny book, marketed towards young adults I feel it could also be geared towards obnoxious adults. From dealing with others in social situations to receiving criticism from an "authority figure" ... the advice does help one think before they open their mouth.

The important thing is to learn from one's mistakes and try not to continue being a dick!

This book is a very practical, real life, no nonsense guide to getting along with others, particularly in a roommate setting. It's best target group would be young adults living with a roommate for the first time or young adults still living at home who want to act more like adult roommates and less like "children".