A lighthearted and indispensable guide to gracefully side-stepping anyone, by the author of The Art of Mingling Whether you're dodging an overbearing boss, the chatty guy next to you on an overcrowded flight, your least favorite client, your least favorite parent, or anyone else, this lighthearted, indispensable guide will show you how to make a seamless, effective escape. The perfect guide for our over-committed, hectic times, Artful Dodging puts an end to all those feeble excuses no one ever believes. It banishes, once and for all, the notion of an invitation you can't refuse. In an almost Kryptonite-like fashion, it helps to break the vice of social obligation that has so many of us in its grip. Yes, it's true: Artful Dodging can set you free. Topics include: the pros and cons of using a Classic Excuse * mastering the Duck and Cover * using voice mail, Call Waiting, and other telephone techniques * emergency escape tactics * flattery, melodrama, and other dodging diversions * vanishing into thin air * and much more. For everyone who's mastered the art of making friends and now needs to improve at shaking them, Artful Dodging comes to the rescue, with humor, smarts, and a great exit line.