Everybody and their brother it seems has read and recommended this book to me. I had an older edition years ago but lost it before I got to read it. So I requested this for Christmas last year and got it. Let's say I wished I had requested something else.

I realize it's the first so-called self-help book, and I'm amazed at Mr. Carnegie's rise from poor farm boy in Missouri to much sought after motivational speaker. I also enjoyed the then current, now historical, examples he uses to illustrate his points. I'm writing a book set in that particular time period, so it did give me some insight on the news makers of the day. But unfortunately, it is not a autobiography or a history book--it's a self-help book and it totally failed to help me in any way. I think the reason why is what worked in 1937 will not work today. People are way more distrustful and cynical now--most people can spot someone who wants to sweet talk them into something from about a mile away. Also, I think people can sense desperation more keenly now, and let me tell you, you will NOT make any friends if you are too heavy on the compliments and if you go out of your way to get approval. This will get you ignored or even hated very quickly.

Let me save you some money and time and tell you the main theme of this book. And this is it--if you're super nice to everybody, everybody will instantly like you. Now, from my own life experience, I know this isn't true. I'm a very nice person, I did everything in this book when socializing with people before I even read it (I wasn't being fake or desperate, it was just naturally part of my personality) and I have a very hard time making friends. And forget about influencing people. I'm lucky if people will even listen to me for thirty seconds before looking at their watch and saying 'I have to go'. The people I've known in my life who are extremely popular (in school and in adult life) are all stuck-up jerks. The majority of them treat their friends like garbage. They regularly make it known they are better than everybody else every thirty seconds or so. If any of those people read this book, they'd laugh and toss it in the trash. Yet, despite their behavior their many BFF's flock to them and are ever faithful. I was hoping this book would tell me why people think these individuals are so fascinating. Well, let's say it didn't and instead told me something that my mother taught me when I was two years old. And sorry to say, but it did not apply to life in the late twentieth century and applies even less now.

The book, while not hard to read, is written in what could be called an 'old-timey' tone. It felt like my great-great grandfather was talking to me. If the advice was useful, I suppose it wouldn't have been as bad, but I found the tone off-putting. I realize it was written in 1937, but I think the language should have been updated since then.

Also, since so many people have read the book, including me, I can now tell when others are trying to apply it to their life. My husband introduced me to a co-worker a few months ago and within about a minute of talking to him, I knew he had read this book. He had bought it ten years ago with the intent of finding a significant other. I felt extremely sorry for him because in all that time he couldn't even get a girl to yes to a date. Even though he is a good looking guy, I even felt turned off by his behavior and if I was single myself, I would say no to him if he asked me out too, even though he was following this book's advice to a tee. My husband told me that all the women in his workplace refer to him as 'sort of creepy' and go out of their way to avoid him.

Well, I don't what else to recommend (I'll tell you when I find it) but this book doesn't work. It should be called 'How To Turn Off Friends & Get People To Ignore You'.

I was extremely satisfied with this product. One of the best books I've read in a while. Very Helpful!

A book that should be read by everyone over 16 but even more
important follow it's advise.

I think of all of the things I learned in school and I realize that many of the books I have read include books on topics that are considered to be "common sense," but that are in reality, uncommon sense. "How to Win Friends & Influence People" is one of those books. It covers the topic of human relations, that is, how to build relationships. It has a wealth of material this is NOT taught in school but really should be. Judging from my own experiences there are many who could benefit from the wisdom between its' two covers. Each page is a gem. It is written in a timeless fashion, easy to comprehend, and can benefit most of us in both our business and personal dealings. It's an old book but such a breath of fresh air in a world of 2-second sound bites.

This book may be a few decades old, but the advice in here is timeless. I found that as I read it, I began to feel more confident and secure. If you are looking to win friends, this is a great place to start. I also liked How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships for the same reasons.

I got everything I bargained for, good book, at a good price and all delivered on time.

It's with stories that people learn, and this one not only gives you specific examples, and how to's, it also gives you in depth stories to fully understand what it's teaching you. If you are in business, sales, or really anything, you should definitely read this book, it's an oldy but definitely a goody. These are rules to live by because they still haven't changed.

Under the subheading "15,000,000 people can't be wrong," I proudly present one of the all-time business book classics. You've probably heard about this book, as it's one of those titles that have become part of the cultural lexicon (like CATCH-22). It floats around the edges of the pop-culture ether, easily recalled but little read.

Written in 1936, it is based on courses in public speaking that had been taught in adult education courses by Dale Carnegie since 1912 (and to put to rest a popular assumption, he was no relation to the magnate Andrew Carnegie). It is an unusual little book, written in a highly personalized, colloquial style that is reminiscent of a lecture.

But this is no infomercial for real estate investment with no money down or for a personal improvement guru. This book was designed with professionals in mind, and designed to help professional people do better in business by helping them make social contacts and improve their speaking skills. It was also written with a certain...earnestness in mind. Carnegie was a big believer in sincerity when it came to dealing with other people.

The core of the book accomplishes four, overarching objectives:

* THREE FUNDAMENTAL TECHNIQUES IN HANDLING PEOPLE

* THE SIX WAYS TO MAKE PEOPLE LIKE YOU

* THE TWELVE WAYS TO WIN PEOPLE TO YOUR WAY OF THINKING

* THE NINE WAYS TO CHANGE PEOPLE WITHOUT AROUSING RESENTMENT

Thoroughly entertaining by using fun and interesting examples, I don't think many readers will regret checking this one out and I like to think of this book as a kind of Human Relations 101 of sorts.

Another related book that I recommend strongly because it's outstanding and a modernized approach to people skills is Emotional Intelligence 2.0

I originally picked this book up on a lark, because I thought from the title that it would be full of the most terrible manipulative thinking and would be great fun to pick apart. Well, six years after getting the book, I'm still reading it at least twice a year. It's that good.

There are a lot of criticisms of the book that I sort of shake my head at. I can't really comment on this version of the book, seeing as how I have a pre-1981 edition; in 1981, two whole sections of this book were cut out and other edits may have been made. But I would like to address two criticisms in particular--or rather give some food for thought.

1. People say this book advocates you being a doormat.

I can see how people would have gotten this impression, to a certain extent, especially if they dropped the book halfway through (which is their right, if they feel the book is not worthwhile). If your entire set of interactions with people involves simply agreeing with everything they say, then I say you have good reason to feel like you are being treated like a doormat. However, Carnegie devoted a whole section--the last section, in the 1981 edition--to techniques for criticizing people without causing offense. It is possible and in fact entirely healthy to find ways to make your views known (even if they're not flattering views) without giving offense. The book teaches you how in the section "How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment." My advice is that if you start getting frustrated because the book is making you feel like you have to be a doormat, please skip to that section and give it a read. If you still feel as if you're required to be something you would rather not be, then by all means drop the book. I will tell you that I faithfully follow the precepts in this book and still manage to make my opinion heard in such a way that I feel like I am able to make corrections and state the truth--but I can do it without giving offense thanks to the techniques in this book.

2. This book advocates you not being honest.

I can tell you from reading the book that there are one or two anecdotes that talk about people who have lied to get their way. I don't approve of lying. However--the main thrust of the book is not about lying or manipulating, and Carnegie made it clear that if you don't practice these techniques with a sincere heart that you will meet with failure (which is correct and good, because nobody likes a flatterer). There are two anecdotes where people lie that I can think of in the book, so I'd like to address these two.

The first is that at a dinner party, someone says "Don't correct the people; they don't like that." In that context, I actually agree with this advice--but only in that context, and here's why. Carnegie (in the story) originally baldly came out and said "sir, you are wrong. This is how it is." And you should never ever ever EVER do that. INSTEAD, you should say "I thought it that this was the case, not that." So, for example, if someone quotes something as being in the Bible and you know it's from Shakespeare, you never say "You're wrong; that's from Shakespeare." You say, "I thought that was from Shakespeare; but perhaps I'm wrong."

The best part is that this is entirely right, and true. You do think it's from Shakespeare, and you could perhaps be wrong (you're not automatically right you know!). This opens the door for friendly debate instead of causing you to fruitlessly butt heads with someone! Carnegie advocates this technique in the very next chapter.

The second story involves a man who lies and says that he will say his singer has a bad cold before the singer goes onstage. Now, there are two things that I want to point out here. The first is that this is for business, not interpersonal relations. You cannot always be 100% honest in the workplace; instead of being able to tell a customer exactly what you think, you must be diplomatic and follow your company's policy. This doesn't really apply to the above because the man is high up enough that he can afford to be honest. But, it bears mentioning. The second is that if you don't like the advice given, then you don't have to follow it. Think about what you're taking in and don't follow it off a cliff! There are plenty of ways that you can be honest in most business dealings. You don't have to sacrifice your integrity.

3. This book would have you fake interest in people's hobbies and interests in order to make them like you.

I would like to quote from the book, if that's okay. Carnegie is talking here about speaking with a botanist at a party, and at his surprise at being called an excellent conversationalist when all he did was listen. He accounts for it like so:

"I had done this: I had listened intently. I had listened because I was genuinely interested. [ . . . ] I went even further than giving him rapt attention. I was 'hearty in my approbation and lavish in my praise.'

I told him I had been immensely entertained and instructed--and I had. I told him I wished that I had his knowledge--and I do. I told him I should love to wander the fields with him--and I should. I told him I must see him again--and I must.

And so I had him thinking of me as a good conversationalist when, in reality, I had been merely a good listener and encouraged him to talk."

Now, if you were expected to listen to every person with the same rapt attention, I can see how you would feel like Carnegie's advice was insincere. But--here's the thing--you aren't required to do that. You can choose your friends, and you can choose which people you listen to. If you don't want to be friends with someone, you don't have to win him as a friend. So take the advice, but don't run off a cliff with it! Don't feel like you have to be this way to everyone, because you don't!

4. Some people will still take advantage of you even if you are nice and use these techniques.

Again, don't run off the cliff with Mr. Carnegie's advice. If you have determined that someone isn't worth talking to, then by all means don't talk to him or her. There are some customers and people that aren't worth the trouble.

If you keep these things in mind while reading the book, I think you'll enjoy it very much and get a lot of help out of it. I do recommend getting the pre-1981 edition if you can (Amazon sells hardback copies of it, actually). But then, I always recommend reading books unabridged, so take this with a grain of salt.

How to Win Friends and Influence People is a more nicer version of "48 Laws of Power". It is full of helpful insights about how to get along with others and make friends (avoiding arguments, smiling, making others feel important, learning what interest others, actively listening, not criticizing others, allowing others to believe they are correct when they aren't, etc). It basically covers all of the basic skills that you learned as a child, and that your parents taught you, but over the years have chosen not to follow for whatever reason. This book is pure common sense knowledge, and yes by following these rules you may win friends, but you may also loose something as well...."Yourself", by trying too hard to please others.

In conclusion, this is a good self help book for dealing with colleagues, and new aqcuaintances.

As a manager, the material in this book helps me to better work with people. If you are not careful, you can forget many of the important concepts and skills presented, so it is good to go back and reread this book sometimes. Put it on a shelf nearby. Old but classic. Give it to those you love to help them get along.

And never forget to get and gift to others, my all time favorite book and recommendation Effortless Wellbeing: The Missing Ingredients for Authentic Wellness. Life changing and helps with overall wellness and people reading and skills too.

I am totally frustrated and have not received the book yet! I ordered it over a month ago!

My mom bought me this book along with a number of others. I graduated in May, and I haven't been able to find a job yet. I'd been feeling down, and she got me these hoping they might help.

I can certainly understand why this book is viewed as a classic. The lessons still hold up even today.

While this book was first published in 1937 (revised in 1981) it is still very relevant today. The only issue I had with the book was the dated examples. It will be difficult for most readers to relate to the stories told throughout the book.

The author also suggests that you read each chapter twice and continue to read the book until you have mastered the principles in each chapter. As someone who reads a ton of book I can say that the points come across very easily and there is no need to read the book a second time. The conversational style is easy to read and the main points are reiterated at the end of each chapter.

By reading this book you will realize what people really want to hear. This will however require you to have some interest in the people you are talking to. Most of the principles will come naturally to you if you genuinely love people and have their best interest at heart. A lot of the advice is simply about being polite and acting in a loving manner.

This book is filled with practical ideas you can put into practice immediately. It should not be difficult to smile more, say people's names, give someone your rapt attention, listen intently, make a person feel important or avoid arguments.

While the first chapter indicates that you should not criticize, condemn or complain there is a chapter on how to criticize without being hated for it. Managers will especially enjoy the fourth section of the book that talks about how to change people without being offensive.

While reading this classic book I did think of one of my friendships in which I do mostly everything right. When you love a person you will naturally do many of the things in this book. I have also been careless with friendships in the past and didn't follow some of the ideas in this book. You can easily lose a friendship by criticizing or even stating some small complaint. So by looking at your own life you can prove the ideas to be correct or incorrect in a matter of minutes.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to get ahead in business or wants to improve their relationships with people they deal with on a continual basis. The advice in this book will save you a lot of trouble and will make your life more enjoyable. After hearing about this book for years I'm glad I finally read it.

~The Rebecca Review

This book is not only for those who are aiming to climb the ladder at a company and want to build strong people skills, what you learn by reading this book is as applicable for business men/women as it is for stay at home parents. The book goes down to the basics to teach you why most of our approaches to making friends or influencing people are flawed. Mr. Carnegie makes us think about our approach to daily problems and teaches us what simple adjustments go a long way in making the other person perceive us as friendly and approachable, and make them actually want to be our friends and help us!

This book was written decades ago, and it is just as applicable in today's daily life. The techniques used by Abraham Lincoln decades ago to approach problems with other people during his life are just as powerful today, and Carnegie presents some of them in this magnificent book. I would recommend this book to anyone. Unless you feel that you have mastered how to deal with people on a daily basis, I am confident there are some valuable lessons for you to learn from this book.

I am a slow reader but I find this book very interesting. It's not teaching me anything I didn't know before, but it re-enforces a positive process. I love the examples through out the book that help you to gain deeper understanding of why these practices should be followed

Dale Carnegie's "How To Win Friends and Influence People" has great lessons for companies marketing products and services online:

1) Give honest and sincere appreciation - provide customers with incentives, coupons, freebies, and other reasons to do business with you
2) Become genuinely interested in other people - provide content based on the interests and needs of the customer, site-customization drives interest which drives sales
3) Talk in terms of the other person's interests - speak to the customer's needs, not why you think your company is so great
4) Ask questions instead of giving direct orders - what does your customer want? Have you asked? Don't assume you know.
5) People love the sound of their own name - most importantly, address customers by their name whenever possible on your site, marketing emails, phone calls, etc. to win a life-long customer

[...]

I loved this book because it doesn't tell you to play games and pretend in order to get people to like you. It gives you a lot of advice on how to be honest when trying to approach people. Everything is done in a trasparent way and at the end that gives you the best results. Great book to read and re-read!

Carnegie's book has been a bestseller for a century. The problem here is: the main argument of this book is absolutely false, wrong and incorrect!
Carnegie noticed that many people didn't like to be criticized. And erroneously concluded that all we have to do is:stop criticizing, and he thought that he made the greatest discovery of all time. So he wrote this book and saw himself get rich and famous all around the world. Ok, it wasn't his fault, he didn't have any idea that those people he uses as example were all "psychopaths", the worst class of humans. They didn't like to be criticized just because they coudn't discern they were guilt, they didn't feel anything, they didn't have feelings, they coudn't feel because they had, like all psychopaths have, a malfunction (a damage) on their brain's frontal cortex. They have never admited guilt. They have never felt any remorse, simply because they can't!
So this book is a complete apology of psychopaths!
Nowadays, with specific knowledge modern medicine developed about psychopaths, specialists like Dr. Robert Hare have written that if you have never criticized your son, you can induce a quasi-psychopath behaviour on him, and terrible consequences will be felt by you, and by people with bad luck of crossing his path in this life. Even in professional environment, specialists changed their vision completely, What they considered wrong like criticizing management policies for example , nowadays they've said that criticizing is important to correct wrong decisions on time.
I have this book as a relic of the past, but I know that it is completely dated, the main argument is completely wrong and is dangerous to society in general.
Obviously we should avoid excesses like criticizing all the time for example, but remember that, all excesses are wrong from the beginning.

There is something spiritual about using the tongue to win friends and influence people. Although the original work was written at a time of economic distress, it speaks volumes about the way we must communicate with others in a spirit of love and understanding. It tells us in its deepest context to "consider the interest of others, as we consider our own interest." (Phil 2:4)

This book has been recommended to me by numerous people and was even an optional reading for my social psychology class. However, the title always turned me away because it sounds so manipulative and disingenuous. That's just not the kind of person I want to be.

After seeing more and more recommendations I finally decided to give it a try and am very glad I did. Despite the title, the book is actually the opposite of what I imagined it would be. It's basic principle is universal and timeless, change the way people react to you by changing the way you react to them. Do to others what you would like to be done to you. It's the golden rule that has been repeated countless times by many different cultures. Carnegie goes into the nuances of how to apply this rule and talks about the difference between genuine appreciation and flattery, etc.

Don't let the title turn you away. This book really is a gem in how to treat others better and be treated better in return.

If your looking for a book you will reference for the rest of your life, look no further. This is a great book if your looking to expand your interpersonal understanding. It won't help you be a social butterfly overnight, but is a necessary step in order to see the social effectiveness.

After I graduated college, my father gave me this book to read so I wouldn't be so reticent. Wow, I read it one time and started implementing Dale Carnegie's ideas at work and became very friendly with everyone. I wish I had read this when I was much younger. It would be a great book to read in school for English class.

Dale Carnegie really teaches you that basic communication skills are all you need to win friends and influence people:

* Ask people what they are interested in and
* listen to their response

I was excited to read this book to learn insight on how to communicate with others but was disappointed by how challenging it was to follow as it was missing commas, periods, colons, and other punctuation throughout! This is ridiculous! That definitely shows me how important punctuation is in writing!! It's hard to read a work fluidly when you have to stop and go back to put together fragments and break up run-ons in someone's train of thought.

I read this book in college and loved it so much then and wanted to read it now again in my 'old age' (63) and find it is just as wonderful! I recommend it to everyone!

Even though the book was written many years ago it is still extremely practical. If you work with people in any capacity, this book is a must. We tend to interact with people and at the first sign of conflict, we either fight or flee, totally making our efforts almost powerless. Though this book you'll learn 1) How To Make People Like You. This is an invaluable tactic that we sometimes forget and more don't know how to do. In our jobs, we are stricken with the task of working with people we don't like, even if they like us (see point number 1). Carnegie teaches you 2) Fundamental Techniques for Handling People. I have used these tactics with great success. If you are as good as you think you are, you'll need to 3) Get People To Your Way of Thinking, this third point will make you a formidable figure in your interactions. 4) Be A Leader is the fourth point that many have difficulty with. In fact, you can be quite bad if it's not a natural part of your personality. Carnegie teaches you through easy steps how to be a leader. Learn all these skills and your life will improve personally and professionally.

How can Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends & Influence People" not be a five star rating? This book is a new revelation every time I read it. I don't know how many times that is now, but I'm sure I will be reading it again.

This book is so filled with quality, down to earth, common sense methods for dealing with people to be second only to the Bible. I ran a yellow highlighter dry going through this book again. It amazes me the impact these simple techniques have on our every day encounters with other people in all different situations.

This book is 249 pages, comprised of four well organized, well written sections, encompassing the presentation of 30 proven principles that will "Win Friends and Influence People."

I recommend this book as a classic in successful human interaction to the benefit of all. Well worth the investment of time and resources for information not taught in our educational system. Make a point to read this book once a year and share it with your friends and colleagues.

Craig Mattice

It is not enough justice to say this is outstanding book by Dale Carnegie. Principles described in this book are so old, yet so modern, I am amazed it's relevance in most our day today activities involvin people. Having thought about all the books that have been written, have come and gone on people skill, it's so very true that "How To Win Friends and Influence People" lives on with pride and every new "guru" on people skilla yet recommends this book. Why? Simple becuase it really works and it's worth spending time getting the nuggets from Dale Carnegie.

This book will can help anybody achieve all of your dreams and goals and sharpen your people skills that is necessary for any success one desires involving people. Highly recommended for everybody !

Very easy read... Dale's techniques are applicable to everyday work and family life. Highly recommended!

...for anyone looking for advice to enhance their communication skills. The principles in this book will enrich both your love life and your social and professional life. Keep it as a desk reference; just as the intro. suggests. I'm in management and I got more out of this book than I have gotten out of all of my professional development courses over the past two years combined!

This is a book i highly recommend to anybody and everybody. It teach great communication skills that can be used to succeed over a lifetime.

This is my first book about self help, which give me all directions which I needed.
Viva this book!

I bought this book based on the PMBA recommended reading list - [...] Dale's stories are wonderful and engaging. As other reviews have stated, he provides a wealth of tips on how to live your life and influence others. I especially like the tip on criticizing others. He succinctly describes how it is futile to criticize people and expect them to do something for you and continue to behave in a highly productive manner. He uses anecdotes of Lincoln making this mistake. I could go on about other great tips such as how people yearn to feel important and the managers should assign tasks with that in mind. Great book. I'm glad my Kindle2 allows me to highlight all the good quotes for later review.

Many ideas come and go but this book was one of the first greats. While it was relevant 70 years ago and is just as important today. Everybody has to deal with people so why not learn how to get along the best you can. Whether you are a student getting ready for the work force or a busy executive you will find something in this book that will help you.
Listening and learning how to listen is one of the most important ideas that this book has to present. In a world where people love to hear their own voice but not listen when spoken to this book rocks.
Even if only a chapter a week is read the lessons learned will impact your personal and professional life.

I have read this book twice. Coming from someone in the political realm, this book has numerous useful applications. Of course not every maxim or suggestion will work for everyone, Carnegie illustrates the fundamentals of building and maintaining relationships. I plan on reading this work yearly.

I never bought into a book or movie really influences someone's life, but with this book, I may have to make an exception. Dale Cernegie was a genius and he really understood human nature, and more importantly he knew how to teach what he learned. This book is a lesson on human nature, how to become a better person, and along the way Carnegie gives a history lesson using specific examples from real life events. It's the best book ever of its kind.

I first read this book while an undergrad at Wharton, and as I explain in "Free New Power," this was part of the foundation for all the success I've achieved in my life.

This is a book that I have read and re-read many times since college. It is always fun to go back and read the homey stories and anecdotes that explain the way to win friends and influence people.

Everyone should read this book. And reread it.

I took the Dale Carnegie course when I was just beginning a career in sales and this book was included. It was a transformational experience. The book provides a foundation for understanding what affects others' perception of you, and how you can use that understanding to your advantage in your career. It's not a manipulative mindset, but rather a way of seeing things from the other person's perspective.

While I recommend this product in the context of sales, it's really a great way to approach people interaction in general and a blueprint for happier living. The specific examples have stayed with me 15 years later and serve as a constant reminder. I was so pleased with the results of the book and the course that I later returned and volunteered as a graduate assistant for the course. A great start for building a sales library.Selling the Fuzzy Widget: Secrets of Selling Professional Services

Also read book by Keith Ferrazi (Never eat alone) and Marshall Goldsmith (What got you here won't get you there).Excellent books. ROI on this purchase is unmeasurable.

After being on my must read list for years, I finally picked up this book. I'm glad I did. Although this book was first published over seventy years ago, the advice and principles remain just as relevant today. Carnegie was a visionary and a people person who understood that making other people feel important and appreciated should be a priority for anyone who wanted to win friends or influence people. The principles in this book are not groundbreaking (although they may have been at the time), but are rather simple reminders of how any leader, professional, friend or person should act. Wouldn't it be great if we all lived in a world where Carnegie's principles were incorporated into everyone's daily life. This is a must read for everyone.

I respect Mr. Carnegie tremendously. This book is a classic. Provides a great foundation for developing people skills and positive influence. The techniques are insightful and are very practical. This book will motivate you. Provides great tips for dealing with people, such as smiling and staying away from criticism. This book will really help with your speaking skills. Highly recommend reading for any business owner or entrepreneur.

This book is a great help in assisting my husband and I with our new business.

I first heard of this book from my aunt who was telling someone that her father studied the Dale Carnegie books and was amazing at dealing with people. He could get them to do whatever he wanted. I came home and bought it on Amazon right away. This is an awesome book that was written long ago but still relevant today. I found something in the first chapter that helped me deal effectively with motivating my daughter. I finished this book quickly and plan to re-read it often so I remember all the great advice on dealing with people. I love all the real examples he uses to get his point across. It keeps you turning the pages. I would highly recommend this book to everybody. Honestly, it should be taught as a required course to all high schoolers.

Excellent book great advice, a real wake call for me, now instead of fighting and being angry at my partner or children , I find ways to enpower the situation.

Lorrie Bracaloni- happynaturalhorse.com

As someone who has worked for 25 years in the Search and Recruit Industry, I find that it is amazing that a book first published in 1936 could still be so useful. Despite its critics, this book carefully catalogues many of the simplest of things that many of us overlook on a daily basis that are the keys between success in whatever we do and total failure. This book talks about ethics, humility, and communcation skills that are all necessary to build an effective team whether in the last century or in this one. This is a five-star book all the way.

There are reasons that some books continue to sell millions of copies over several decades. Many people have heard of Dale Carnegie's most famous book - How to win friends and influence people. I read it many years ago and have just finished it for the second time; along the way I've been reminded of things forgotten or learnt things that now seem more relevant than when I ignored the principles in the first reading.

Ultimately this book is about how to be nice - and to still obtain the results you want. Some people are under the impression that being too nice can encourage the door mat feeling. Not so. This book, along with any other books on etiquette and manners, shows that thinking of the other's person point of view/feelings/loss of face, etc before leaping to conclusions/criticism/complaining is a much better course of action with a much better outcome for all. In the words of Mr Carnegie, "...the only way on earth to influence other people is to talk about what they want and show them how to get it." It may take a little bit of practice and effort but it surely does work.

I'm sure there aren't any negative reviews about this book which has been a top seller for many decades now!
The information in this book is presented in a very logical and simple fashion which makes it easy for a reader to understand the "why" as well as the "how" of communication!

I guess this is one of those books that every one should read at least once in a lifetime!
Only wish I'd read it earlier...

The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is because it tells one too many stories and doesn't suggest more ways to becoming this wonderful person. Basically it says to be nice. But I loved all the ideas.

I'm 23 and I just finished a Business and Communications degree, but this book taught me so much more about effective communication than anything else. So much of the book seems really obvious but no one really uses the techniques. After reading it I have noticed so many people violating the rules in the book and then wondering why they aren't getting results. It really shows you what you are doing wrong in your everyday interactions and the ideas stick so you remember what you should be doing when the situation arises. There was a noticeable difference almost straight away.

Without a doubt, How To Win Friends and Influence People is the #1 all time best book on human relations. Carnegie's ideas worked 70 years ago and they work today. Why? People are the same. We all have the same needs, wants, desires and dreams that we had 70 years ago. The core hasn't changed. So that makes this book even more valuable today, now than ever.

Also, take a look at what is going on in the world. If even there was a time when people needed people skills it is now. Take a look at the Democrat Party. If ever there was a group that needed people skills, it is there.

If I had to pick out just one point that is the most important in this book it is being genuinely interested in the other person. In fact, I think a lot of reviewers here on this board can take a clue from that one.

How To Win Friends and Influence People is a fantastic book---more valuable now than ever. The great Jim Rohn recommends this as three must read personal development books. The other two are Think & Grow Rich and The Richest Man in Bablyon. I would add two more; The Bible and More Wealth Without Risk. The latter by the late great Charles Givens who also solidly endorsed How To Win Friends & Influence People to everyone in his organization.

Buy it - read it - use it