Talk to the Hand -- Lynne Truss

This book, in a nutshell:

Manners are good.  Be considerate.  Remember that the people you interact with (or just share space with) are human beings.  Treat them as such.

The only problem?  Do you really think that unabashedly rude people are going to read a book about why they're so horrible?  Probably not.  This book is a rant.  If you agree with her, it's fun.  For those of us on Lynne Truss' side of the fence, there are a lot of 'Sing it, Sister' moments.  It's like reading Al Franken or Rush Limbaugh.  Entertaining if you agree, annoying-to-maddening if you don't, but ultimately not very productive.

I only disagreed with her on one thing:  Cashiers.  After working no more than seventeen seconds in a busy store in Harvard Square, ANYONE would be horrified at how the general public treats the lowly cashier.  It's no wonder than they aren't always bright, chippy, friendly and cheery.  They are exposed to a constant barrage of rude people that treat them as automatons.  So give them a break.  As my fabulous (and eloquent) co-worker said, "They eat shit all day long".