In Choosing Civility, P.M. Forni established himself as a respected authority on civil behavior. In The Civility Solution, he puts his ideals to work by showing us what to do when confronted with rudeness. Rudeness begets rudeness and, in over seventy different examples, Forni shows us how to break the cycle by being assertive as well as civil. Considering situations such as a salesperson ignoring your requests, a car that cuts in front of you on the road, a neighbor's dog that soils your lawn or being reprimanded publicly by your boss, Forni presents solutions that reinforce good behavior and make our world a more civil place.

What to do about a colleague who constantly interrupts you: Interrupting others is a bad habit that does not go away by itself. You will have to be firm, yet polite, and say "I am not finished speaking yet and it is not your turn. It is mine and I am using it. I will be glad to let you know when I'm done."

What to do when your mother-in-law gives you a backhanded compliment such as "That's such a pretty dress - much nicer than the one you wore yesterday!": If you wish to "choose your battles wisely", you can simply say "Thank you, I like it, too" and wait for her next insult to deal with her directly.

What to do when a colleague collecting for a charity insults your contribution by saying "Others are giving at least twenty.": Say firmly and politely "This is the amount I'm confortable contributing. Can you use it?"

What to do when a salesperson asks for information like phone number or address: Don't angrily confront the salesperson or provide false information. Just say "I prefer not to give out that information."

What to do when a family member obsessively checks his or her Blackberry during dinner: Explain to the offending e-mailer that electronic devices are not welcome at the dinner table, that we owe one another the gift of being fully present when we eat together and that when we communicate electronically, we are only half there for those physically with us.