How to Win Friends and Influence People

Infobox Book
name = How to Win Friends and Influence People
author = Dale Carnegie
country = USA
language = English
genre = Self-help
publisher = Simon and Schuster (1936)
release_date = October 1936

"How to Win Friends and Influence People" is one of the first bestselling self-help books ever published. Written by Dale Carnegie and first published in 1936, it has sold 15 million copies globally [ [http://www.financialpost.com/money/story.html?id=423190 The Financial Post] on Dale Carnegie: "Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, the gold standard of the genre, has sold more than 15 million copies since it was first published in 1937." (24 April 2008)] . It was a New York Times best seller for 10 yearsFact|date=February 2008.

Leon Shimkin of the publishing firm Simon & Schuster took one of the 14-week courses given by Carnegie in 1934. Shimkin persuaded Carnegie to let a stenographer take notes from the course to be revised for publication. Since its first publication the book has been revised to update the language and update anecdotes.cite news|url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E5D91738F936A3575AC0A964948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |title = Paperback Talk | date = September 5, 1982 | last = Walters | first = Ray | publisher = New York Times| accessdate = 2008-04-07]

Major sections and points

The book has four major sections. The core principles of each section are quoted below.

Fundamental Techniques in Handling People

* "Don't criticize, condemn or complain."
* "Give honest and sincere appreciation."
* "Arouse in the other person an eager want."

ix Ways to Make People Like You

* "Become genuinely interested in other people."
* "Smile."
* "Remember that a man's name is to him the sweetest and most important sound in any language."
* "Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves."
* "Talk in the terms of the other man's interest."
* "Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely."

Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking

* "Avoid arguments."
* "Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never tell someone they are wrong."
* "If you're wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically."
* "Begin in a friendly way."
* "Start with questions the other person will answer yes to."
* "Let the other person do the talking."
* "Let the other person feel the idea is his/hers."
* "Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view."
* "Sympathize with the other person."
* "Appeal to noble motives."
* "Dramatize your ideas."
* "Throw down a challenge."

Nine Ways to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

* "Begin with praise and honest appreciation."
* "Call attention to other people's mistakes indirectly."
* "Talk about your own mistakes first."
* "Ask questions instead of giving direct orders."
* "Let the other person save face."
* "Praise every improvement."
* "Give them a fine reputation to live up to."
* "Encourage them by making their faults seem easy to correct."
* "Make the other person happy about doing what you suggest."

Parody

A parody, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People was written in 1937 by Irving Tressler.

References

* "50 Self-Help Classics: 50 Inspirational Books to Transform Your Life" by Tom Butler-Bowdon (2004) - Nicholas Brealey Publishing (ISBN 1-857883-233) Chapter 14
* "How to Win Friends and Influence People for Teen Girls" by Donna Dale Carnegie (2005) - Fireside (ISBN 0-743272-773)

External links

* [http://www.notesofintelligence.com/influence/ Summary]