Conduct books are a genre of books that attempt to educate the reader on social norms. As a genre, they began in the mid-to-late Middle Ages, although antecedents such as The Maxims of Ptahhotep (ca. 2350 BC) are among the earliest surviving works. Conduct books remained popular through the 18th century, although they gradually declined with the advent of the novel.
Famous quotes containing the words conduct and/or book:
“It has become the custom in our country to expect all Chief Executives, from the President down, to conduct activities analogous to an entertainment bureau. No occasion is too trivial for its promoters to invite them to attend and deliver an address.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)
“What was really horrifying about jail is that it really isn’t horrifying. You adjust very easily.”
—Roberta Victor, U.S. prostitute. As quoted in Working, book 2, by Studs Terkel (1973)