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Gracious  By  cover art

Gracious

By: Kelly Williams Brown
Narrated by: Kelly Williams Brown
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Publisher's summary

From New York Times best-selling author of Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps comes a funny, charming guide to modern civility in these - yes, we'll say it - rather uncivil times.

Graciousness is practicing the arts of kindness, thoughtfulness, good manners, humanity, and basic decency. As a bonus, it makes your life and even the world (or at least the room you're in) much lovelier.

It's not about memorizing every rule of traditional etiquette to a T (though there is so much there to explore!) or spending all your time maintaining a spotless house. It's about approaching the world with compassion, conviction, self-confidence, and wholeheartedness, whether you're at the Met Gala or saying good morning to a convenience store clerk.

From chatting easily with anyone to mastering the subtleties of social media etiquette (hint: block early, block often), Brown has talked to gracious women and men all over the country to give you easy ways to embody your own graciousness.

Throughout the book, she provides tips on how to deal with the people and circumstances that challenge even the most socially graceful among us, advice on how to practice graciousness in everyday life, and thoughtful discussions on being kind to those around you without ever losing your sense of self.

With the wisdom of gracious folk ranging from celebrities to the author's mother-in-law, this book explains the perspective, actions - and, sometimes, inaction - that help us move smoothly and effectively through whatever life tosses at us.

©2017 Kelly Williams Brown (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Gracious

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Wow! Don't miss it!

I liked this so much, I bought the hard copy, Kindle and emailed friends to listen/read. It's that good. Has sensible and practical advice for the many situations of life. I listened straight through. Ordinarily I genuinely dislike narrators who add all sort of emphasis and pauses and end sentences with a question mark when the author wrote a period. However, the author narrated, so she has the authority to do this. No matter your gender or age, listen to this book. If you have a few irritating situations in your life, or you need to tighten up your life in some parameter, listen to this book. Zero preachy or religious, just plain useful information for handling life with a modicum of dignity and ease.

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17 people found this helpful

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Very juvenile

This book was written for a very young audience. Mature audience will be annoyed by the tone and content

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15 people found this helpful

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Profanity

Most people don't care about profanity but I do. In a book about graciousness and etiquette I was hoping for something more clean to use as an inspiration for self improvement. I'm returning this after 1 chapter. I'm sure the author probably has several good points but this book is not for me.

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10 people found this helpful

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Should be called internet etiquette

Soooooo much babble about what to and not to say on the internet. This book has nothing (from what I got through) to do with being gracious. I’m sorry but I had to stop because I was so bored, and her baby talk was too annoying.

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9 people found this helpful

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Foul language

I only made it a few minutes into the book. I turned it off after hearing several curse words.

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Don't BUY Audible version of this book!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The file dowloaded in a manner that when imported into iTunes did not show any chapters -- just one large file all bunched together. So good luck trying to skip to a certain chapter, or return to a specific point later on. Really - the CDs I used 20 years ago were better an easier than this download! This is not the way it was advertised on the website at all.

Would you ever listen to anything by Kelly Williams Brown again?

I may never buy another AUDIBLE product again, if this is how they do all their downloads. I am considering filling an BBB complaint for false advertisement...and placing a copy on YELP.

Would you be willing to try another one of Kelly Williams Brown’s performances?

I may never buy another AUDIBLE product again, if this is how they do all their downloads. I am considering filling an BBB complaint for false advertisement...and placing a copy on YELP. I will also place this comment on the main AMAZON website.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was irritated and angered at the poor structure and controllability of the download...and I haven't even gotten to the content of the book....

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5 people found this helpful

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Graciousness is Bigger than I Thought

Loved all of it! Already started to listen again. Kelly presents a holistic concept for living with a very, funny, light hearted way. Lots of great suggestions on how to live a happier life and be good to myself and everyone I come in contact with. I've already start to change my mind and practice graciousness in every interaction. Her suggestions give me confidence to go into the scariest situations. Thank you for this book! : )

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Loved it

I bought this book in hopes it would help improve my manners. It was amazing so many things I didn’t even think about. This book is great weather you are young or old.

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So Worthy!!

I absolutely LOVED listening to this book!❤️
I have often referred to the many, meaningful snippets of information that were refreshed in my mind through the author’s terrific point of view!!

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Good and funny read presented delightfully.

I really enjoyed this she did her homework. I laughed, I cried, I wrote a thank you note.
Her small and great insights into common decency are definitely doable acts and she has a way of delivering this in a manner resembling a close friend.

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2 people found this helpful