Martin (Part 1), Miss Manners on the Role of Etiquette in a Civil Society

(Part 1 of 2) The Miss Manners column has chronicled American manners since 1978. Through her syndicated column, books, lectures, and guest appearances, Judith Martin has educated America about etiquette—the “essential currency of a civilized world,” which reduces the inevitable frictions of everyday life. Her most recent book, Miss Manners’ Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, provides standards of etiquette for our modern world, taking into account the changing nature of the family and shifting social norms. In her appearance on Policy Watch, Mrs. Martin addressed the role of etiquette in a civil society and the state of social discourse in America.