How to Win Friends and Influence People
8th March 2006 by Sean
| Author: Dale Carnegie |   |
It’s crazy to think that this book was first published nearly 70 years ago, yet is still on nearly every list I’ve seen of must-read business books. To be honest, How to Win Friends and Influence People has always rubbed me the wrong way, so I have never read it (almost out of spite), but its staying power has been so strong that it is now on my list of books to read. It was a NY Times bestseller for 10 years.
It’s split into 4 sections, each of which deal with a different aspect of human interaction and persuasion. Here are the four main sections.
- Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
- Six Ways to Make People Like You
- Win People to Your Way of Thinking
- Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment
What a reader says.
Truth be told, a little “old-fashioned” courtesy, consideration, diligence, honesty, trustworthiness, neatness, and fairness are not just “Gomer Pyle” values, but values that would be a breath of fresh air in most corporate offices. These values–rooted out of a sincere desire to successfully serve others–will also catapult the practitioner to a level of success and prosperity. Not to mention the satisfaction and joy of a job well-done.
What Wikipedia says.
This book appeals to people who want to change their life and gives tips and strategies for communicating with people. Offering a stunning contrast from a current emphasis in psychology on autonomy, self-expression and assertiveness, it echoes Lord Chesterfield’s view that pleasing others is both a duty and a paradoxical route to personal success.
March 22nd, 2006 at 9:17 am
I enjoy interacting with and meeting new people but often feel insecure. I read this book in high school and still use the ideas and principals from it. The points that stick out most are remembering people’s names and focusing on others, not yourself, in a conversation.