Book Review from one of the Top Interior Design Firms Los Angeles
Time, I am convinced, has become the ultimate luxury. To have time; to make time; to find the time; all carry a risky richness born of a scarce commodity and demand which far outpaces the supply. Often I move through my day only conscious of the fast disappearing minutes before my next commitment commences.
When the unforeseen occurs and a dose of this rare elixir offers itself, you’re a fool if you don’t make the most of the moment. Recently I leveraged the unexpected as best I could by roaming through my little collection of books. Blessed is the person who finds what they are looking for.
Surprised is the person who finds something wonderful while just ambling along. I fall squarely into the later category having come across a book I have not opened in over ten years. Time has been good to both of us. The book is still delightful and I’m still standing without visible means of support.
Of great interest to me are manners, which are trotted around in public these days with the implication attached that all is well in the world. Whether this is the case or not, we will discuss at another time. For the precious moment at hand I would suggest to you a book titled Rituals of Dinner: The Origins, Evolution, Eccentricities, and Meaning of Table Manners by Margaret Visser.
The author turns an intelligent and witty eye toward the table and delivers a delightful exploration of the nuances found when we gather for a meal. The Rituals of Dinner explores every aspect of our eating rituals and, in doing so, helps us understand the possibilities for pleasure and the dangers, which at times, these exchanges imply.
Throughout the history of humankind, table manners have been one way of keeping the peace and of domesticating some of the wilder aspects of human behavior. It offers us a window through which we observe not just how, but why we act as we do. Worth reading from beginning to end, the author saves a postscript for those still interested titled “How Rude Are We?” You may be surprised but you will not be disappointed.
