Rules for Modern Life

The Financial Times agony uncle answers all the questions about society you never knew you needed to ask

The twenty-first century is an age of innumerable social conundrums. What is the correct way to deal with dinner guests who check their emails throughout the meal? Can shorts and sandals ever be acceptable attire for a gentleman? And just what is the correct etiquette if you find yourself sitting next to Julia Roberts on a plane?

In Rules for Modern Life, Sir David Tang offers a satirical masterclass in navigating the social niceties of modern life. Whether you're unsure of the correct footwear for shooting or how to look professional in a bath towel, debating the etiquette of doggy bags or installing a massage room in your second home, Sir David has the answer to all your social anxieties - and more besides.

Sir David Tang is a businessman and entrepreneur, best known as the founder of China Tang and iCorrect, as well as the luxury clothing brand Shanghai Tang. His address book has been described as 'big enough to call itself a country and join the UN' (Tatler) while The Evening Standard dubbed him 'London's best-connected man'. He is also the resident 'agony uncle' at theFinancial Times, answering readers' questions about property, interiors, architecture and gardens - although he often strays beyond his remit to debate concerns about everything from etiquette to grammar. He has homes principally in Hong Kong, mainland China, London and Essex.