Key Themes:
Business, Sales Techniques, Relationships, Self-help, Communication
Summary:
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie is a self-help classic, having sold over 15 million copies in the time it has been in print. This influential book has changed behavioural psychology and reads as a blueprint on how you can be more liked by others, get them to help you and even alter their behaviour under your influence. However, this is not a book for dark arts. Carnegie achieves results based on the core concept that you can change other people’s behaviour simply by adjusting your own.
Content Overview:
Carnegie’s book provides an overview of the following key concepts and his principles for success including:
- Fundamental techniques for handling people.
- Six ways to make people like you.
- How to win people to your way of thinking.
- How to change people with giving offence or causing resentment.
Carnegie recognises that criticism (except of ourselves) is futile as most people won’t accept it. It just put them on the defensive and arouses resentment. Instead of condemning others, he asks us to try to understand them, figure out their motivations and make them feel appreciated.
He suggests that the reader make the other person in the conversation feel important and try to get them to talk about themselves. He provides his formula for diffusing an argument and the benefits of utilising positive praise.
He also addresses the important traits of an effective leader and how you can apply this learning to both your personal and business relationships.
Rating: 9/10
Don’t be put off by the age of this title. This is not a whimsical ditty but provides principles for winning friends and influencing people that are still appropriate for today. The book recognises the power we hold as individuals and how if we change our attitude, we can affect the attitudes of others
Readability: 8.5/10
Despite a slightly old-fashioned turn of phrase, this book is easy to read. Using practical examples of putting his principles into practice, he provides useful hints and tips that we can all utilise. Each chapter has a summary section that highlights the key points in the chapter which is a useful addition.
Does what it says on the tin: 9.5/10
Yes – this book does exactly what it says on the tin! No doubt, 15 million other readers would agree. A must-read classic.