Book Discussion No.2

...opinion pieces for some of our favorite books...

A well-structured book aiming to achieve better social interactions and conversations between people. The book has sold more than ten million copies and translated into thirty-six languages.

It is remarkable to consider that although this book dates originally back to October 1936, it has stood so well the test of time and that the principles discussed are still very relevant today and so universal.

How to Win Friends and Influence People is a self-help book and one of the most successful books in American history. It is divided into four parts, and in each part's chapter, there is a specific principle that is being discussed before it is condensed into a single sentence at the end of it. This structure of the book makes it very easy to follow and memorize as you read along. At the very beginning of the book, the author explains how and why he has written this book. This provides a perspective on the need he saw for this book back in 1936. After that, the author takes us one step further before entering the main parts of the book with nine suggestions on how to read and get the most out of reading his book. He encourages the readers and specifically the ones who have a "driving desire to learn" how to deal with people to essentially become completely involved in this book, keeping notes, and studying it in detail.

Following these initial thoughts and suggestions from the author the first part of the book starts which deals with some fundamental techniques in how to handle people. There are three principles that are discussed in each chapter and summarized at the end of part one:

The second part of the book deals with techniques that can make other people like you. Here six principles are introduced in the different chapters. Those principles are:

The third part of the book deals with techniques that can be used to influence people. Here twelve principles are introduced in total in the different chapters. Those principles are:

Finally, in the last part of the book, part four, the author is introducing some principles for people leadership. Part four is divided in nine chapters and the following principles are discussed:

All the principles described are carefully explained, using life examples and experiences from people who did try to implement them. In general, some of the principles are easy to follow and can be implemented more or less right away, while some others required much more preparation, coming primarily from within. Reading through the chapters it is evident that the intent of the book can have broad use in any aspect of life that deals with human interaction. It is probably this reason, the fact that the principles can be applied so broadly, that has made this book by Dale Carnegie so widely known. If you are looking for a good book about this self - development in this field, this one is a must.