Saturday, May 6, 2017

The Forgetful Gentleman

The Forgetful Gentleman: Thirty Ways to Turn Good Intentions Into Action by Nathan Tan.     224 pages

I had found this little book on a cart waiting for evaluation (because the book has not circulated at all) and even though it's aimed at men, I thought it would make for an interesting read.   The summary on Goodreads says: "An illustrated reference guide instructs and informs readers on the subtle art of being a contemporary gentleman by incorporating both traditional and modern practices. This book offers action-oriented guidance on a range of subjects, including advice on managing social networks, choosing the right suit silhouette, fostering the art of conversation, hosting a successful party, mixing a signature cocktail, developing creativity and much more. "

The author divides down his advice into different chapters, and that's one of the quibbles I have with this book.  It's not that they are divided into chapters, but rather that I felt the chapters didn't flow well.  For example, the chapter on how to iron a dress shirt goes to a following chapter on mentoring. Perhaps it would be better to have the chapters on clothing, shoes, ties, etc. all follow each other in a logical progression.

I did find some of the advice to be helpful, especially the information on digital and business etiquette, table manners and a chapter titled "The Courage to Encourage."  However, I felt that the book was a bit much when it came to chapters on microbrews, "The Gentlemanly Escape," and how to "Start an Honorable Gentleman's Club,"   Whether it's tongue-in-cheek or not, though, there are some interesting things to glean from this book.

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