Customer Reviews: Read 29 more reviews...
 A great guy for anyone, not just the perplexed October 20, 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 and 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, recalling people's names, developing a sincere interest in others and making them feel important), how to win people to your way of thinking (lots of great ways of phrasing, paraphrasing and rephrasing dialogue to get a win-win situation) and finally 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 all along but never been that conscious or deliberate about it before.
Whether you intend to put it all 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 and 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, and it is, however I'd also say its a great book for professionals, I've read lots of other books on communication and interpersonal skills, including psychological, therapist and motivational texts and this remains among the best. Although I doubt you'll find it on any university reading list.
Who Else Wants to Change Their Life? September 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 and 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 and MP3 course I naturally stopped and 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 and kids to amuse ;-) ) Wow!...no...WOW! this is THE book. I've read a lot of self help books: this is the one that really changed my life. And not in weird unmeasurable ways, the advice in this book has been of practical help in almost all aspect of my life, personal, professional and social. Forget the myths around this book, buy it, read it and reap the rewards.
Essential Reading September 20, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
For years, I'd tended to avoid this book, partly because of its cheesy title. However, I eventually decided to give it a try and I'm glad I did. Carnegie's great skill is in identifying how we can grow ourselves by interacting in a correct, responsible, ethical and 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 and I guarantee you will feel small but perceptible positive differences, and with the rise of the web and email, we are probably more in need of this advice than ever before. Give this book a try and I believe you won't be disappointed.
The Greatest Self-Help Book September 5, 2008
This is the daddy of all self-help books. Many others are based on its teachings but few can match it for the clarity of its wonderful advice. It will build your self-confidence and help you to understand, relate to and influence other people. Highly recommended.
 Mixed Feelings July 31, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a good book, no doubt about it. It was written a long time ago, but much of the advice contained within its pages is timeless and pertinent no matter what era we live in.
There is some advice in this book, though, that is a little dated. I feel just some of the tips for dealing with people would not work out the same way in today's world with current attitudes.
How To Win Friends And Influence People is definitely worth reading, but I think the reader really needs to analyze all the advice and adjust and tweak things a little to be useful in today's society.
Overall an excellent book.
How To Keep Your Man: And Keep Him For Good
Real Life Dramas - Volume One: 1
Darren G. Burton
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