Warner Norcross Selects “Choosing Civility” for One Book, One Firm
Holland, Michigan, May 31, 2017 – The law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP has selected
“Choosing Civility: The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate Conduct” by P.M. Forni as the 2017
choice for its One Book, One Firm series.
The One Book, One Firm program explores diversity and inclusion issues during a summer
lunch-and-learn program. Diversity Partner Rodney Martin launched the annual event in 2008 to
model the success of community reading programs that encourage all residents of a city to read
and discuss the same book.
“Choosing Civility” confronts society’s noticeable lack of respectful behavior by detailing 25
“rules” that Forni finds essential for restoring civility. His commonsense list, delivered in clear
and often clever language, touches on a number of topics, including:
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Respect the opinions of others
Refrain from idle complaints
Care for your guests
Accept and give praise
“Recent research shows that 70 percent of American’s believe incivility has reached crisis levels.
Yet civility is a fundamental requirement of an inclusive society and an inclusive organization,”
Martin said. “Forni’s guidebook provides practical, real-life advice to improve interpersonal
relationships and makes for an enjoyable read. The rules he suggests should make for some
thought-provoking discussion.”
Forni is an award-winning professor at Johns Hopkins University, where he has taught for the
past 20 years. In 1997, he co-founded the Johns Hopkins Civility Project, which explores the
“significance of civility, manners and politeness in contemporary society.” In his lectures, he
frequently talks about the rewards of fostering a culture or civility in today’s workplace.
Previous selections for One Book, One Firm have included: “The Arrival,” by Shaun Tan,
“Some of My Best Friends Are Black: The Strange History of Integration of America,” by
Tanner Colby; “Stealing Buddha’s Dinner,” by Bich Minh Nguyen; and “The Female Vision:
Women’s Real Power at Work” by Sally Helgesen and Julie Johnson.
More information is available at http://diversity.wnj.com.
About Warner Norcross
By providing discerning and proactive legal advice, Warner Norcross & Judd LLP builds a better
partnership with its clients. Warner Norcross is a corporate law firm with 230 attorneys
practicing in eight offices throughout Michigan: Grand Rapids, Southfield, Macomb County,
Midland, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Holland and Lansing. To learn more, visit
www.wnj.com, follow us on Twitter @WNJLLP or connect on LinkedIn.
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