How to Win Friends and Influence People Review

With more than 15 million copies sold Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends & Influence People is still a must read. Carnegie who is considered the father of self help has spent the majority of his life studying the behavior of people who are well liked and able to influence people. Carnegie explains that based on a study conducted that success in life is 15% technical knowledge and 85% people skills. This book is all about teaching “people skills”. Carnegie is insist that this book is not based on theory but personal experience. Carnegie explains this through real life explains from his life, his student’s lives, and the lives of historical leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Charles Schwab.   

One key concept that is repeated throughout the book and has had an impact in my life is the concept “Treat the other person like they are the most important person in the world”.  Basic but so true, because in their own eyes they are the most important person in the world, people will care more about a splinter in their arm then thousands of people who die in an earthquake.  Another Key concept in this book is the concept of “See Through”, which is having the ability to look through the other person’s point of view. 

Carnegie gives the fundamental techniques for handling people.  This advice is timeless and after reading I wish that I could give it to every boss that I have ever had.  His principles are 1. Don’t criticize condemn or complain 2.Give Honest Sincere Appreciation 3.Arouse in the other person and eager want.  The next section is about how to get people to like you.  Carnegie says this is done by becoming genuinely interested in other people, become a good listener, and satisfying one of the greatest human needs of feeling important. The Third section is a must read for anyone in business, marketing, or sales and is titled the twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking.  After reading this section I was able to apply these principles to my job to become a more effective fundraiser.    

This book is truly a masterpiece and should be required reading for everyhuman, the world would be a better place.  This book has had an impact on my life and is a book that I want to read and reread.  For $8 dollars this book is a must buy and must read.