I came to Wheelwright, as I suppose many do, after coming across John Ashbery's various references to him. One can only say that he should be read, while understanding that he won't be. A weird, risk-taking poet, whose best lyrics achieve a kind of negative comprehension.

The idea that we have become an uncivil society is correct. Trying to stimulate young minds to reflect on civility is also a good idea, but this book, overpriced and better suited for fund raising for local boyscout troops just didn't hit home, even with my own 13 year old son. It was more like one of those self-publishing recipe books local groups publish to sell for fund raising. The rules of George Washington really don't even often deal with larger issues of morality, but more like good table manners or conversation ethics. The best part of the book in my opinion was the illustrations which depicted George as a young boyscout type setting a good example of each rule, along side a misbehaving modern lad. The efforts of modern day boyscouts to grapple with the idea of civility is a worthwhile activity, but didn't really provide good reading material in this case.

In Rules Of Civility For The 21st Century, Henry Wheelwright has assembled a compendium of two hundred rules of civility drawn from submission by some four million Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts across the country. The rules of conduct were sent in by boys for themselves and others after reflecting on the rules that President George Washington copied out for himself as a youth of 14. Also provided for the reader is a Civility Workshop addressing modern threats to civility and keys to character building and leadership. Line illustrations enhanced Rules Of Civility For The 21st Century, which is an adamantly recommended acquisition for every school and public library in every community in America.