Is the phrase "mind your manners" used any more? What are good manners, and, what were they in the past? How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England: a Guide for Knaves, Fools, Harlots, Cuckolds, Drunkards, Liars, Thieves, and Braggarts, by Ruth Goodman, explains proper protocol, especially in dealing with those of a higher class. How to bow (which can vary depending on the persons involved), where to put your hands, what to do with your hat, are all explained. Failure to do so could have dire consequences. The author then goes on to explain how one might insult or put down a superior in such a way where if they were to complain, they would look bad. It could be a subtle shape to a hand, or the turn of a hat ... although be careful, some hand gestures were so rude they could end with a duel! (I found the chapter on fighting a bit dry, but mostly this was very interesting).

A book title reminded me of a class I took, and enjoyed, some years ago: The Past and Future City: How Historic Preservation is Reviving America's Communities, by Stephanie Meeks, with Kevin C. Murphy. It proved to be an amazing read! Historic preservation may have started 'from the top down' with the homes of where famous, white men lived, worked and so on, but face it, that can be, well, stuffy and pretentious, and limiting. The new preservation movement includes not just houses (often turned into museums), but all kinds of structures, including a playground, or even a handball court. It is making efforts to include those previously overlooked: Native Americans, Hispanic, African-Americans .... women. Tearing down the old to make way for the new is not always the best way to go. Turns out low rise, mixed use, re-purposed, buildings in town have many advantages over the big box stores further out. Areas where there are smaller, local businesses on the street level with housing above have revitalized many areas of large cities. Crime rate is down, and (always important) revenue for the city is generated. More pictures would have been nice.

This is a BIG book, but then, it is about a BIG subject: Bridges! It's a collection of pictures (incredible pictures) about bridges world wide. There's a nice history for each, as well as the expected stats: how long, how high, and so forth. I do suggest, though, that you read Bridges: a History of the World's Most Spectacular Spans, by Judith Dupre, at a table, it's a bit big and heavy to hold in your lap. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog