Just Good Manners

A Quintessential Guide to Courtesy, Charm, Grace and Decorum

What is the correct way to queue at the bar?
Why should we care about asking for people’s pronouns?
And why exactly do the English say sorry so much?

No one makes such a fuss about manners quite as much as the UK, yet in a fast-changing world, no one can seem to agree on precisely what the ‘done thing’ is, either. William Hanson is on a mission to reclaim the British crown of good manners.

In Just Good Manners, he shares his definitive guidance on how to behave in every situation - as well as celebrating our country’s distinctively British way of doing things!

🇬🇧 Order your copy in the UK from:

What others are saying

  • 'Funny and unapologetic, here is a timely reminder that there is nothing divisive or old-fashioned about good manners. Hanson is like a poppy in the trenches of today’s cultural conflict.'

    ― Robert Hardman
    Author of ‘Charles III: The Inside Story’

  • "Etiquette experts often seem like spoofs. But Hanson runs with the joke. He's waspishly funny and actually knows stuff."

    ― The Mail on Sunday, 15.12.24

  • 'A well-researched and fascinating book that is also great fun. A must for anyone who aspires to polish up their manners.'

    ― Anne Glenconner,
    Author of ‘Lady in Waiting’

  • 'Incredibly interesting and very funny.'

    ― The Times, 7.9.24

  • 'William Hanson is doing for etiquette what Hyacinth Bucket did for candlelight suppers. This book sparkles like the cut glass of a crystal decanter. This isn't just a set of rules on how to act posh, this is a guide to treating one another with respect. Now more than ever, who wouldn’t want to learn about that?'

    ― Tom Allen, comedian

  • 'William is an etiquette genius with a stunning eye for detail - he's the only person who knows more about buffet suppers than I do.'

    Camilla Long, Sunday Times

  • 'Read this witty guide to modern manners'

    ― The Mail on Sunday, 8.9.24

  • 'It’s only polite to say I loved this witty, wonderful book. Good thing I really did!'

    ― Gary Janetti
    New York Times bestselling author of
    ‘Do You Mind If I Cancel?’

Just Good Manners
coming to the USA and Canada in May 2025

Stay tuned for the transatlantic release of my latest book.

More etiquette books by William

  • Help I S*xted My Boss

    From candlelight suppers to picky teas, first dates to flatmate dramas, Help I S*xted My Boss is full of both useful and useless advice. This is your indispensable guide to navigating the trepidation of modern life.

    Order here

  • Protocol to Manage Relationships Today

    Protocol to Manage Relationships Today explains the contemporary value of protocol, not only for monarchies or diplomatic institutes but for any non-profit or for-profit organisation.

    Order here

  • The Bluffer’s Guide To Etiquette

    Instantly acquire all the knowledge you need to pass as an expert in the world of etiquette and high society. Know what to say, what not to say, where to be seen and what and what not to wear.

    Regrettably, the book is now out of print.

    order here

  • The Bluffer’s Guide to Entertaining

    In the follow-up book to The Bluffer’s Guide to Etiquette, William reveals the necessary rules and protocols about everything from `working a room' to selecting the right food and drink for different occasions.

    Regrettably, the book is now out of print.

    order here

  • Emily Post's Etiquette

    William was asked to write the foreword for the 2017 reprint of the seminal Etiquette (originally published in 1922) by Emily Post. The book has served for generations as the premiere American guide to manners and decorum.

    Order here