Rating: 
Summary: Brittany Manns - review
Review: Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" is a handbook providing the reader with basic guidelines on how to improve one's communication with others in order to build healthy, long-lasting relationships.
The book, comprised of four sections, with each section devoted to a certain aspect of communication, provides the reader with a multitude of ways to improve both personal and work relationships. Within each section, Carnegie promotes his "principles" - guidelines by which to live and succeed. These principles, though seemingly simplified and elementary on the surface - (smile, listen to others, show respect for opinions differing from one's own, etc...) - are truly sensible and contain quite a bit of wisdom. These are the principles which we are taught as children and which we subsequently forget as adults. Although he seems to prefer good manners and etiquette over proficiency, Carnegie clearly states that his target audience is comprised of competent individuals who are lacking the personal or communication skills to succeed in the workplace. Thus, Carnegie asks us to (re)develop these skills which are often lacking by the time we reach adulthood in order to improve our communication and human relationships. Additionally, Carnegie punctuates and illlustrates his ideas with narratives and anecdotes - although somewhat dated - to provide a sense of how the principles may be applicable for a number of diverse situations. The handbook is relatively accurate, and though many of the ideas are not new, they are certainly helpful in providing one with a sense of the necessity for improving one's communication. The book enables the individual to acknowledge his or her faults and setbacks, and ultimately empowers them to strive to succeed in becmoing a better person.
Rating:
Summary: Develop a Sincere Interest in Others
Review: It's been nearly 20 years since I read this book, but think it deserves more credit than it may get. While some may dismiss the book as being manipulative, the book stresses, developing a sincere interest in others. That's a "sincere" interest in others, not a phoney, "I-want-something-from-you-so-I'm-pretending-to-be-interested" interest in others. Other basic maxims of the book, such as smiling, being "lavish in your praise and hearty in your approbation" are as timeless today as they were in 1936. Much of this book has become cliched, but that may be because there is something to these very basic principals. Again, the book stresses sincerity. A phoney will be a fraud no matter how many creases he puts in the spine of this book. Several years ago, I met some top economists from the Russian Republic visited my city, and mentioned what they learned from "Carnegie." Everyone assumed they meant Andrew, until they had to point out, they meant Dale. If Dale Carnegie is the source Russia turned to as it made its transition from communism to capitalism, doesn't it sound like something you ought to read?
Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Human Relationship Bible
Review: What a wonderful book it is! By practicing Dale's principles, I changed my life completely. My personal life becomes very happy, because I learned to appreciate, respect, and help my love ones. My job becomes more enjoyable because I learned to get along with my colleagues very well. My life is full, active and happy. I am going up in this society.I am not surprised that some people despise this book. Human relationship is so complicated that we can look at it at so many different angles. Friendship has so many definitions. Yet I believe friendship has no boundaries. People choose friends based on different purpose. So-called "true friend" changes its meaning under various circumstances. Why do we have to be so narrow-minded and angry at Dale's way of picking friends? There is no right or wrong way of thinking, but human minds make it so. It is true that this book was written in the 1930s. So what? How much do humans change? Perhaps very little regarding our nature. I call this book a classic. It lives a truth beyond time, change or caricature. I am sorry to say that when those angry readers wrote their severe criticisms, they violated "principle 1" in Dale's book: Don't criticize, condemn or complain. They are not going to convince Dale, or anyone who loves Dale's book, to think ill of "How to Win Friends & Influence People". This is only my opinion. I welcome any opposite ideas. Thank you so much for reading.
Rating:
Summary: Great book to read
Review: What a great book. I wish read this 20 years ago. Will improve social skill big time. First have is very detail and the second have getting compact. Well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: My all time favourite book.
Review: I bought this book a long time back and since have kept it with me and browsed over it many times.
I believe in it, and have used the principles to land a job, get work done, help people and have a better relationship with friedns, family and colleagues at work. I would suggest everyone read this book. It should be made compulsory reading in all schools and colleges.
I gave this book as a graduation gift to 3 friends and all of them loved it. All their copies have been heavily used and they have profited from it.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I have ever read
Review: ...Anything you read can be used for "evil" whether it be "The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People" (hope Saddam Hussein doesn't read this one, or else we'll really be in trouble) or "Built to Last" (just imagine what would have happened if John Gotti read this one). This is one of the best books I have ever read (and reread). If you read it there is no doubt you will be a better and more successful person.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect gift for teen heading to college
Review: If you don't know the title, where have you been? Just kidding. This is the standard classic that aids in building successful social skills. Today, we're picking one up as a gift for a teen, also giving him a copy of sci-fi novel by Tempesta-- Damsel In the Rough - by no means a Martha Stewart Classic. A body has to laugh sometime.
Rating:
Summary: I wish read this book 20 years ago.
Review: Very good book to read. I wish read it 20 years ago. First half of this book is really good, but second half is kind of short. Some chapters required more detail.
Rating:
Summary: Let Carnegie Influence You
Review: From an era when 'self-help' books had genuine depth, Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" influenced the world. No book in the self-help category matters more than this one. Learning to relate to people in the ways Carnegie instructs will help you personally as well as professionally. This book is a classic because Carnegie says timeless truths in timeles ways. I fully recommend "How to Win Friends and Influence People"
by Dale Carnegie. Anthony Trendl
Rating:
Summary: Amazing book....makes everything so clear and so simple.
Review: I first read Tim Sanders, "Love is the Killer App", and from that book I heard about this one. I picked it up and finished it the same day, but still go back and look at it. The book spells out how to interact with people beautifully. Many of the techniques he mentions I have already been doing (with good success), but adds so much more and clearly explains what to do, how to do it, and with vivid examples. I find his examples of how to handle a situation fascinating and it gets you sucked in. He explains how to handle working with co-workers, or interacting with management, or how to handle customers, and even how to interact with new people. My only pessimistic comment about the book, and someone mentioned this in another review, is, is he spelling out sincerity or how to make things go your way no matter what? What I mean is a lot of what he says seems very manipulative. It doesn't seem like honesty or ethics matter at all. He doesn't stress compassion for how you act with people, but rather just says do this, it works. However, I don't think he meant that at all. It is important to understand that however you act with people or handle a situation needs to be with compassion and sincerity (unless are you haggling for a $200 million dollar contract and you... on the line). I would recommend reading this, but also Tim Sanders, "Love is the Killer App". Sanders books complements this book beautifully. Nontheless, this is a must read. Enjoy
|
