Author: Dale Carnegie
A Book Review by Dr E. Ramanathan
“How to Win Friends and Influence People” is a classic self-help book written by Dale Carnegie, first published in 1936. The book offers timeless advice on building positive relationships and improving social interactions.
I would recommend this book to the following persons.
- Students
- Teachers
- Employees
- Managers
- Politicians
Here are the main points and principles outlined in the book:
A – Fundamental Techniques in Handling People:
- Don’t criticize, condemn, or complain.
- Give honest and sincere appreciation.
- Arouse in the other person an eager want.
B – Six Ways to Make People Like You:
- Become genuinely interested in other people.
- Smile.
- Remember that a person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest sound in any language.
- Be a good listener, encourage others to talk about themselves.
- Talk in terms of the other person’s interest.
- Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely.
C – How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking:
- The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
- Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say, “You’re wrong.”
- If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
- Begin in a friendly way.
- Get the other person saying, “Yes, yes” immediately.
- Let the other person feel that the idea is theirs.
- Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.
- Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires.
- Appeal to the nobler motives.
- Dramatize your ideas.
- Throw down a challenge.
D – Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment:
- Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
- Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly.
- Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
- Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
- Let the other person save face.
- Praise every improvement.
- Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
- Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
- Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.
These principles essentially revolve around the idea of treating others with respect, being genuinely interested in them, and effectively communicating to create positive relationships and influence people in a constructive way, as you can meet new outside or also online in sites like chatempanada.com. While some of the terminology and examples in the book may feel dated, the core principles remain highly relevant and applicable in various aspects of life, including personal and professional interactions.
Books are available at Amazon
Available as audio books
Tamil Summary in YouTube