A fresh and fascinating look at politeness and the important role it plays in our work, relationships and lives, from professor and pioneer of Politeness Theory, Louise Mullany'Fascinating and insightful. I'm grateful to have read it, and pleased to have learnt so much in the process. I would - politely - encourage you to do the same.' Jon McGregor'Absorbing ... you'll be left feeling empowered to use politeness to your advantage.' Psychologies***Are women really more polite than men? What is the best way to apologise? And when is it OK to swear? Politeness rules our day-to-day lives, whether it's speaking to colleagues about issues at work, dealing with difficult family members or wondering if you should eat the last piece of pie. A must-read for anyone interested in becoming a more effective communicator.' Michael Haugh, The University of Queensland