For the service submissive, one who gets their pleasure from serving in some capacity it’s nice to have a section of your library reserved for books that can help you with improving and utilizing new methods to make your service more complete.
I’d love to hear your suggestions for books to include in a service library.
All links will lead you to Amazon for review and purchase unless otherwise noted.
Etiquette and Manners
- Emily Post’s Etiquette – 17th Edition published 2004 ( Free (1922 edition) on Kindle)
- Service Etiquette by Oretha D. Swartz
- “ How to be a Gentleman: A Timely Guide to Timeless Manners” by John Bridges
- “ How to be a Lady: A Contemporary Guide to Common Courtesy” by Candice Simpson-Giles
- Our Deportment: Or The Manners, Conduct And Dress Of The Most Refined Society by John H Young
- Debrett’s New Guide to Etiquette & Modern Manners by John Morgan
- Behave Yourself!: The Essential Guide to International Etiquette by Michael Powell
- Multicultural Manners: Essential Rules of Etiquette for the 21st Century by Norine Dresser
Household Management and Housekeeping
- Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management by Isabella Beeton
- Butlers & Household Managers: 21st Century Professionals by Steven M Ferry
- Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson
- The Experts’ Guide to Life at Home by Samantha Ettus
- The Experts’ Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do by Samantha Ettus
- Auto Repair For Dummies by Deanna Sclar
- Time Management is an Oxymoron by Maynard Rolston
- Talking Dirty Laundry with the Queen of Clean by Linda Cobb
- Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook: The Essential Guide to Caring for Everything in Your Home by Martha Stewart
- The Insider’s Guide to Household Staffing by David Gonzalez
- Robert’s Guide for Butlers and Other Household Staff by Robert Roberts
- Laundry: The Home Comforts Book of Caring for Clothes and Linens by Cheryl Mendelson
- A Butler’s Life by Christopher and Kimberly Burton Allen
- The Complete Servant by Samuel and Sarah Adams
- Ultimate Service – The Complete handbook to the World of the Concierge by Stiel/Collins
- Mrs. Dunwoody’s Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping by Miriam Lukken
- Packing by the Book by RK Corkum Nyks
- Dare to Repair – Do it herself guide to fixing almost anything by Julie Sussman and Stephanie Glakas-Tenet
- Good Housekeeping Complete Household Organizer
- Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley
- Service Included: Four-Star Secrets of an Eavesdropping Waiter (New York Times Notable Books) by Phoebe Damroasch
- Super Service: Seven Keys to Delivering Great Customer Service…Even When You Don’t Feel Like It!…Even When They Don’t Deserve It! by Jeff and Val Lee
- Show Me How: 500 Things You Should Know Instructions for Life From the Everyday to the Exotic by Lauren Smith
- Maidcraft-A Guide for the Art of Housekeeping by Lita Price & Harriet Bonnet
Entertaining
- Tourist information – city guidebooks, etc.
- The Bartender’s Guide by Jerry Thomas
- The Sommelier’s Guide to Wine: A Primer for Selecting, Serving, & Savoring Wine by Brian Smith
- Shanken’s Cigar Handbook by Marvin Shanken
- Dinner is Served by Arthur Inch and Arlene Hirst
- The London Ritz Book of Afternoon Tea by Helen Simpson
- Entertaining with Elegance by Genevieve Antoine Dariaux
- Mr Boston’s Official Bartenders and Party Guide by Mr. Boston
- Great Wine Made Simple by Andrea Immer
- Professional Table Service by Van Nostrand Reinhold
- What to drink with What you eat by Dornenburg and Page
- The Art of the Table by Suzanne Von Prachenfels
- The Rituals of Dinner by Margaret Visser
- The Simple Art of Napkin Folding by Linda Hetzer
Personal Care
- Complete Book Of Massage by Clare Maxwell-Hudson
- A Complete Guide to Manicure & Pedicure by Rosie Watson
- Gentleman: A Timeless Guide to Fashion
- Where There Is No Doctor by David Werner
- Leather and Latex Care: How to Keep Your Leather and Latex Looking Great by Kelly Thibault
- Bootblacking 101: A Handbook by Andrew McDiarmid
- Milady’s Standard: Professional Barbering by Milady