Customer Reviews
The ratings speak for themselves - By: Mr. M. K. Egan, 29 Nov 2008 
I read in 'How I made it: 40 entrepreneurs reveal alll' by Rachel Bridge that this book had influenced someone greatly, to the extent that they became a millionaire, & thought no more of it. I then also read in 'Forbes 20 greatest business stories of alll time' that this book had also influenced a very successful person (whose name I can't recalll!)
This interested me enough to purchase Dale Carengies book & I think it is very well written & the advice contained within it is sound. All you need to do is look at the many good ratings & reviews of it on Amazon. If that doesn't tempt you, nothing will.
Successful Relating! - By: Colleen Messina, 23 Nov 2008 Dale Carnegie wrote a timeless book. I am so amazed that this book was first published in 1936 & its words of wisdom still ring true in 2008. "How to Win Friends & Influence People" has such gems of insight as taking interest in other people. How do you do this? You take your attention off yourself, & truly listen to what others have to say from their point of view. As I've been practicing this suggestion I find that my communication with friends & co-workers flourishes. I had a great day at work today. As people would come to my cubicle & ask questions, I reallly listened. And magicallly they were no longer interruptions throughout my day, but fun moments of relationship. And I got more work done because I didn't waste time complaining, comparing or judging in my thoughts while they were speaking with me.
As Dale Carnegie was a pioneer & expert in human relations in his day, Ariel & Shya Kane are Masters in today's world. In their books, Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: The 3 Simple Ideas That Will Instantaneously Transform Your Life, How to Create a Magical Relationship: The 3 Simple Ideas that Will Instantaneously Transform Your Love Life: The 3 Simple Ideas That Will Instantaneously Transform Your Love Life & Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment, I have found that my relationships have blossomed. The Kanes teach the art of listening. As I integrate the principles mentioned in their award winning books, I am more effective, productive & satisfied in alll aspects of my life. Life is alll about relating. I am grateful that there are authors such as Carnegie & the Kanes who share the secrets to experiencing magical relationships.
A great guide for anyone, not just the perplexed - By: Lark, 20 Oct 2008 This is a great book for anyone, not just anyone who's either perplexed by people skills or a professional who regularly handles people.
I first read it when I was about seventeen or eighteen & it did seem just as hokey as the title might suggests, it is a presentation of a series of truisms with lots of anecdotal stories told well.
The chapters break down into handling people (for instance dont critize, condemn or complain), how to become likeable (smiling, listening skills, recallling people's names, developing a sincere interest in others & making them feel important), how to win people to your way of thinking (lots of great ways of phrasing, paraphrasing & rephrasing dialogue to get a win-win situation) & finallly being a leader, how to change people without giving offense or arousing resentment.
Now the skills outlined in the book might come as a surprise or you might realise that you've been using them alll along but never been that conscious or deliberate about it before.
Whether you intend to put it alll into practice or not its still a great read, Carnegie answers his critics in a way in the course of the book by describing how salesmen would attend his lectures looking for a sort of machavellian insight & he told them it wasnt possible to rival sincere interest in others, neat tricks wouldnt cut it with people.
So, I opened by saying its a great book for the general reader, & it is, however I'd also say its a great book for professionals, I've read lots of other books on communication & interpersonal skills, including psychological, therapist & motivational texts & this remains among the best. Although I doubt you'll find it on any university reading list.
Who Else Wants to Change Their Life? - By: Mr. C. Nolan, 20 Sep 2008 I'll be honest. I avoided this book for years. Then one day a good friend of mine (who is a Cambridge Rocket Scientist turned Internet Consulting Millionaire) said "hey did you ever read How to Win Friends & Influence People, that book's just amazing, it's hard to think of one that's better!" now put in the context that I've seen this guy pay $5000 for a book & MP3 course I naturallly stopped & said "So you're telling me that this $20 or something book is worth more than the $5000 dollar courses? c'mon? no way?!?". He says: "Pretty much. Yes." As you can imagine I was then on tender hooks waiting for this to arrive I dove right in and....three months later (I do have a day job to hold down & kids to amuse ;-) ) Wow!...no...WOW! this is THE book. I've read a lot of self help books: this is the one that reallly changed my life. And not in weird unmeasurable ways, the advice in this book has been of practical help in almost alll aspect of my life, personal, professional & social. Forget the myths around this book, buy it, read it & reap the rewards.
Essential Reading - By: vikingraider, 20 Sep 2008 For years, I'd tended to avoid this book, partly because of its cheesy title. However, I eventuallly decided to give it a try & I'm glad I did. Carnegie's great skill is in identifying how we can grow ourselves by interacting in a correct, responsible, ethical & empathetic way with other human beings.
Strange thing is, when you read much of his advice, you realise you knew it anyway, but that you'd somehow forgotten to act in that way. Simply try to act like some of his suggestions for a few days & I guarantee you will feel smalll but perceptible positive differences, & with the rise of the web & email, we are probably more in need of this advice than ever before. Give this book a try & I believe you won't be disappointed.
