How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (revised edition)

Has anyone read this? What do you make of it?

I am only about half way through this book at the moment, and so far i am finding it to be one of the most inspirational things i have ever read. It is one of those books which might just make you a better person by the end of it.

The most useful part of it so far for me, is its explanation of the futility of criticism in others. It has made me realise how much i do critise others and is making me realise how wrong and ineffective this is. I hope to put into practice many of the ideas in this book, and im fairly certain it is going to improve me as a person and my life in general. I have never felt this so much about a book before.

Everybody should read this. Kids should be made to read it in school.

While we are here, what is the most inspirational book you have ever read?

I have 2 books that have influenced me. The Catcher in the Rye and The Alchemist. I haven't read that book.....

The Imitation of Christ
By Thomas a Kempis

I own this book.Man's Search For Meaning by Victor Frankel is the most inspirational book I've ever read.

I often wondered if that book ever worked. Maybe it will then :)

Can't figure out why anyone would want to "Win Friends"



“Youth is wasted on the young.”
George Bernard Shaw

I can't remember the name of the book that influenced me, but i remember it had diary entries in it. I'm just glad to see some people not quote Star Wars for a change. lol.

Maybe it gives advice. Who knows? lol.

I suppose you could be right.

Anyone read How to become a Millionaire/Billionaire/Trillionaire and then Became one????????????????

Do not flood the thread with replies now..

Frank Skinner Autobiography.
Forget You Had a Daughter (Hardcover)
Sandra Gregory.
Morfiy / Morfine by Mikhail Bulgakov.

"Who are you calling scruffy lookin!"

The title of the book doesn't really indicate the true ideas in the book. It is more geared towards how to be liked, rather than how to win friends. It is also more related to how to be liked by and win the trust of people in a business setting, although some of the ideas do apply to all kinds of relationships.

I know it's very Machiavellian,but if people think they're your friend they're easier to manipulate.

For most of my life I had a negative attitude toward this book. Dale Carnegie was a salesman and I am very mistrustful of salesmen. I don't think I ever read it when I was a kid, but if I did it still would have put me off. Part of it was the word "Influence" in the title, which I interpreted as "Manipulate."

HOWEVER, within the last year I did read it from cover to cover, and I was very impressed. The methods he talks about in there will work. It is actually a terrific guide to improving your social skills. It's a little bit dated now, but not nearly as much as you might expect for a book of its age.

Optomistic, he uses the term "win" friends in the sense that you have to earn people's friendship. Like winning their trust and respect.

You are correct, although the book stresses the need to be sincere, and that if you are not sincere that people will see through it.

I cant stand salesmen, or being sold to. Mainly because you know what the salesman is doing and saying is trying to manipulate you into something for their own benefit. But as you know the teachings in the book are more towards techniques of advising people for THIER own benefit. I'm not a salesman in any shape of form, i look at the books advice from a different angle, like more towards just being more friendly and honest to people in general, this might have an outcome beneficial to myself, but it is more directly beneficial to other people.

The book is definately dated in terms of many of the examples it gives, but the general ideas are timeless because they are based on underlying aspects of human nature which don't really change.

Its a wonderful book and I loved reading it. I especially like the part of how to give a genuine compliment. Now wonder Dale got so rich.

Sincerity can be faked

Never needed a book to tell me how to do that, or how to be nice to people.

If you read the book you would find things in there that you dont know, which would help you to be able to do things even better than you already can. I can see why people are quick to dismiss this book, and not see how it could be useful or relevant to them, but it is in fact relevant to everybody in one way or another. Anyone who thinks they know everything about anything, is always going to be wrong.