This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937 It was an overnight hit,
eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful
today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of
human nature that will never be outdated. Financial success, Carnegie believed, is due 15
percent to professional knowledge and 85 percent to "the ability to express ideas, to assume
leadership, and to arouse enthusiasm among people."
Carnegie says you can make someone want to do what you want them to by seeing the situation
from the other person's point of view and "arousing in the other person an eager want." You
learn how to make people like you, win people over to your way of thinking, and change people
without causing offense or arousing resentment. For instance, "let the other person feel that the
idea is his or hers," and "talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person."
Carnegie illustrates his points with anecdotes of historical figures, leaders of the business world,
and everyday folks.
This book is all about building relationships. With good relationships; personal and business
success are easy.
