Will I love How to Win Friends and Influence People?

When I finished this book, I finally felt like a grown-up. It felt like I had just read a business classic—and I had. This book taught me more than any other about the vital role communication plays in relationships and the profound impact it can have.

It was the first time I truly understood how to build rapport and cultivate meaningful connections. I learned that it’s not about manipulating people but about influencing them, resolving conflicts, and earning their trust through kindness, respect, and integrity.

You can’t talk about personal growth without this classic. Carnegie's principles of communication and persuasion are timeless. When I was taking my coursework to become a supervisor, this book was part of the training, and it completely changed the way I practiced.

This book is like the grandparent you didn't know you needed: wise, encouraging, and surprisingly relevant.  

This book first appeared about 70 years ago. It is a play-by-play strategy for behaviors that will guarantee the reader a successful and fulfilled life. Carnegie’s wisdom is timeless and should be required reading for all high school seniors. 

If we all followed that advice in the book, the world would definitely be a better place.

Originally published in 1937, this was the original self-improvement book. Carnegie described it as a “practical, working handbook on human relations”.

After reading it, you might think that none of his tips are earth-shatteringly surprising, but you may not have thought of them before reading the book. This is indeed the mark of a great book – something that makes lots of sense after you read it (and so you’re most likely to put it into practice) but you wouldn’t have guessed yourself; and certainly would not have framed it in as clear and convincing manner as Carnegie.

This book focuses on building rapport more than any structured sales close. If people trust us, believe us, and feel we care, this turns out to be more important than a power close.

Each chapter focuses on one rule or tool that we can use immediately to connect and bond with our prospects. There is a reason this is the best-selling book of all time. The lessons are timeless. It makes for easy reading because of the story format.

Dale Carnegie was not a social psychologist, but he was an astute observer of human behavior.

He gives readers 30 tips from his observation of some of the most successful people of his day so you can be more influential and build strong relationships.

Carnegie’s tips are broken down as follows: Fundamental Techniques in Handling People, Six Ways to Make People Like You, How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking, and How to Encourage People to Change without Giving Offense.

While the book is not based on research, the proof of its efficacy is 30 million copies sold… show more.

What can be said about this book that hasn't already been said and repeated so many times?

First published in 1937 with a host of doubters predicting it would not sell, this book has gone on to be published in nearly 50 languages and has sold tens of millions of copies.

The title is somewhat misleading. The suggestion of ‘influencing’ people can prompt one to think it is manipulative. But it is about how we should conduct ourselves, not get others to behave.

As Forbes once wrote about this book – Carnegie’s principles are classic and stood the test of… show more.

When my cousin was visiting from Korea, he told me that reading this book changed his life.

Years later, my youngest son discovered this book in high school and it quickly became a must-read for our entire family. Dale Carnegie started the first American leadership development movement, and his book continues to serve as the vehicle for success.

Since it was originally published in 1936, it has sold over 30 million copies in more than thirty languages. This is an enduring testament to its value for all readers who believe in lifelong learning. To quote John F. Kennedy, “Leadership… show more.

Smile. Be interested in the other person. Make the other person feel important.

This book helped me navigate through the difficult world of social interactions—basically allowing me to be myself rather than try to be somebody else. It contains many profound principles on how to treat and not treat people and if no matter your area of expertise, you’ll benefit greatly from reading and studying these timeless principles.

So much of your career depends on building allies and deflecting enemies.

Even though this book is almost 90 years old(!), it has so many basic ideas that are still true today. As its title says, it will help you win friends and influence people!

But don’t just read it. Practice it!