Book Review: How to Win Friends & Influence People

Having heard from achievers and high performers, for once and all, let me say that: Mastering the subject of interpersonal relationships is the key driver of success in any human endeavour.

Dale Carnegie has laid out a timeless masterpiece. This book it is. A fine collection of pages of wisdom. I feel it must be taught in schools and universities across the world, or maybe not, because of how common it would become and lose value.

We often think of miraculous ways to solve a problem but forget the simplest things that could do miracles. This book emphasizes changes you can make to such simple acts that have a ripple effect, causing miracles.

It teaches you principles of how to better handle people in simple conversations that occur in daily human behaviour, to win and positively influence them.

Small lessons from this book, if applied, bring out immediate results for you. I have practiced and observed them on my own. If not in every situation, you will at least get the best of the situations the majority of the time.

Alright, jumping straight, here are a couple of things I would like to highlight as part of what I specifically loved about the book:

• It is a clear ‘How to’ book. It shows practical principles and how anyone, literally anybody can apply them in their daily dealings with again, anybody. They are universal and fundamental instructions which, for sure bring outstanding results. The book surely lives up to its title: How to Win Friends & Influence People

• The pages progressively take you into improving your conduct, right from fundamental techniques in handling people to becoming an influential leader.

• A basket of examples is mentioned alongside these principles to prove points. Some of them featured a few of the greatest personalities of mankind like Abraham Lincoln, Franklin De Roosevelt and more.

• It does change lives. I have come across such people. More than that, I have experienced it first-hand. I’m introduced to a new way of living and it has enlightened me on how the wise, gentle and adroit behave.

That was it. I completely appreciate the book and what it is getting out of me slowly. Though that was the case, by thinking like a critic, I humbly felt that the following could have been improved:

• The language is not completely in layman’s terms. By that, I mean any simple man whose native language isn’t English, will often have to look up the dictionary to catch new vocabulary.

• A couple of principles appear like they are duplicated of sorts. When explained, it might seem like they have just been slightly tweaked from the others. So, the book could have been shortened by a bit.

• Coming to the subjective aspect of it, most people tend to find it extremely hard to implement the principles in all scenarios. I experience the same difficulty a number of times. So, some might call it impractical and too agreeable.

That was a bit of praise and criticism.

Before summing up, I’d say this book is a timeless classic. Dale Carnegie’s teachings are being revised and handed over to salesmen, speakers, hosts and businessmen all over the world. And they work.

It is why they continue to apply them.

I did come across Patrick Bet-David, entrepreneur and host of Valuetainment, speaking about this book. He suggested it for anyone who wants to be a better communicator, get things done, win people, lead and change perceptions.

While I was typing this, I was thinking of how can I best urge you to read the book. How do I frame the words that show the importance of this book exactly the way it is in my mind?

Dale Carnegie himself did it better. So I shall quote from the book:

“If by the time you have finished reading the first three chapters of this book — if you aren't then a little better equipped to meet life’s situations, then I shall consider this book to be a total failure so far as you are concerned.”

Perfect.

To sum up my story short, I was always hesitant to make first conversations with people. I was not a bold man on stage. It was not natural for me. I was a leader by nature but not effective. Now I can tell you that this book has changed the whole game.

Although I am still climbing steps one at a time, I am more confident than before in dealing with people and I now trust my ability to lead them to achieve a certain goal.

It doesn’t matter what field you are into. You will have to deal with people every single day. Simply consider this book as a pocket tool to do it better.

Let me tell it again, this book will introduce you to a new way of living. It does not make you a trickster. It makes you humane.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars.