How to Win Friends & Influence People

I read this book decades ago and it changed my life. It's unbelievable and every human being should read it. As I was surfing Amazon looking for another book, I happen to notice it and had to write a review. I have to tell everybody how great this book is. I couldn't just not tell everyone. The author is brilliant! This book is so motivational that it truly changed my life and made me a better human being. There's a section in there about a father and a son, that I'll never forget - it really moved me. Every father should read that section.

This book is chock full of practical, common sense advice. Want people to like you? Show you like THEM, smile, be honestly happy to see them, remember their names, be interested in them, listen to them, etc. Want to influence them? Don't argue or tell them they are wrong (even if they are), but honestly emphasize where they are right, compliment them, and start with your areas of agreement. Want to be a leader? Ecourage people, praise them, listen to them, ask them questions. Of course, the examples in this book require us to apply honesty and common sense, and if so, this book is quite helpful. Sadly, too many of us fail to heed the advice in these pages. We can all do better, and this book can help us do so.

Everyone should read this book. There is nothing bad that can come from it. The stories contained are interesting and the concepts are completely simple. In fact, nothing taught here was ever mind blowing or surprising. The surprising part was the self reflection it brought and the desire it created in me to want to adapt concepts from this book I previously felt needless. This is the kind of reading I wish I was forced to read growing up and not books about a bunch of stupid kids on an island that go crazy and fight each other.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie is a must-read for anyone who desires to put the Golden Rule into everyday use. Through numerous stories and examples, Mr. Carnegie shows how we can truly accomplish the impossible---just by putting others' interests before our own. The book bogs down a little if you try to read through it all at once, so I would recommend breaking it up and just reading a chapter or two at a time. Definitely push through to the end--it's very worth it!

The folks that reviewed this book as a "1 star" might have missed the point of this book. In order for these techniques to work, you must use a common sense approach to each situation.

For instance, one of the techinques described in the book deals with finding a common interest in someone you have just met. Unfortunately, if you use the book without using common sense translation it would go something like this:
"Hi! I like the shirt you are wearing. It's got an image of a racing car on it. I like racecars, too! Now that we have racing cars in common, will you help me with my homework?"
Without a common sense approach, this technique fails.

Another technique decribes how to speak to a shy person. If you are shy, would this approach stated below work on you? I would doubt it.
"Hi. You seem shy so I'm going to converse with you so you can overcome your shyness. So, what's up?"

The techniques in this book will require you to use your head, your common sense and your own personality to be effective.

The overall message is the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you, personally, would want to be treated".

Also, this is not an "all or nothing" way of life. If you use a few of these techniques the way you see fitting within your personality, they will work wonders for you.

I've used these techniques and have had considerable success. I believe it was a worthy investment.