Each month, I am reading or rereading a book. This month is a classic by Dale Carnegie: How To Win Friends And Influence People.
I happen to have copy 3236178 of this book which was originally produced in 1936 with my edition printed in 1945.
I found an old business card with my book from a gentleman that worked for Allison Transmissions. I wonder if he left the card in the book as a way to generate business or make friends? So I called the number, but it was no longer in service.
So, is Mr. Carnegie's ideas still valid? I read this book every couple of years and while it is only 225 pages, it takes me a month or more to read it. That's because the book's lessons are best read then reread each week.
In general, I find the title of the book slightly misleading. The book isn't about winning friends, the book is about becoming a friend. And the book isn't about influencing people, but instead learning how to work with people to achieve mutual goals.
What makes the book valid today is that it is a study of human behavior. By nature, or by early instruction, most people develop a self-awareness and live a life that is mostly self-centered. Simply put, most people feel that they do not revolve around the sun, but the sun revolves around them.
Understanding this basic idea is upmost in learning how to interact with others. Carnegie outlines what each of us can do with this basic knowledge to help us have more friends and persuade others to our point of view. In those areas, the book is sound and well worth reading.
I will add a note of caution to new readers though. The book is from 1936. There are antidotes that have a racial overtone. There are comments that come across as sexist. And there is a true ignorance of mental illness displayed in the book.
I encourage to you read this book and keep a copy to reread every few years. There are millions of them printed. And I think the true goal of the book is for each person to realize that he/she must first improve himself/herself before attempting to garner new friends.
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