How is A Book Published in 1936 Still Relevant Today?
In 2011, How to Win Friends and Influence People was number 19 on Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential books, a full 75 years after being published. It has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling books of all time.
A pioneer of the self-improvement genre, Dale Carnegie uses this book to teach you techniques and tools to transform your conversations and relationships. The book teaches you how to win people over, making you a great leader. It’s not about making people do things your way, more so as it’s about convincing them to like you. He keeps things simple, ensuring that techniques are easily applicable and extensively explained.
Anyone can learn from this book, even if it was published almost a century ago. No matter how successful or likable you are, How to Win Friends and Influence People is an investment.
I’ve always been anxious in social situations, I can be extroverted when I need to, but inside I’m the introvert who prefers curling up on my sofa with a good book or Netflix. I’ve always been envious of people who naturally carry conversations or the ones who are the life of the party. I never feel successful in social situations. Since reading this book, I feel more prepared to engage in conversations.
Who is Dale Carnegie?
Dale Carnegie started his life on a farm in Missouri, born in 1888 to a family stricken by poverty. He began to enjoy speaking in public and joined his school’s debate team.
After college, he became a successful salesman. Flash forward a few years, and Dale Carnegie was not only a professional public speaker, but he also taught several courses and wrote books about it.
Of these books, How to Win Friends and Influence People was published for the first time in 1936 with 1,200 copies printed. And it has been continuously printed and revised since.
What Can I Learn From This Book?
I have no intentions of becoming a manager or a leader. I want to be a writer, which involves a lot of time alone, so why would I need to know how to win friends and influence people?
No matter who you are, what you do, or your personality type, you can apply the lessons from this book to any setting. I plan to use it in interactions with friends, asserting myself, and becoming a better listener. I also hope to use it in future negotiations by making myself more likable.
Here are six ways to make people like you, as listed in the book:
- Become genuinely interested in other people.
- Smile
- Remember that a person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
- Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
- Talk in terms of the other person’s interest.
- Make the other person feel important — and do it sincerely.
It may seem like obvious lessons. Maybe you read other self-help books with similar teachings? The difference lies in how Dale Carnegie explains it; he takes apparent skills and provides depth. For example, he says not to fake interest in someone, but instead, find something you consider interesting about them. Then utilize it.
When you want something from someone, never assume they should give it to you, but make them want to give it to you. It takes us back to the basics of human behavior and he explains how to use the psychology behind it.
It’s about giving others what they want and need. You are not tricking someone into liking you but making yourself genuinely worth appreciating. These small gestures are the difference between being a good leader and a successful leader.
Dale Carnegie’s teaching background shines throughout the book, as he includes countless examples from his students. He explains how they apply the techniques and use them to their advantage.
The examples show how to use the lessons in all areas of your life. He also links them to major events and public figures, using them as case studies to draw these conclusions.
Is This Book Still Relevant?
Some examples may be outdated, but the 1981 reprint did remove a lot of the traditional household and workplace sections. I believe the reason this book remains relevant today, in the plethora of technology and science surrounding us, is because human interaction is still vital.
When going for a job, you may be up against people who match your education and work experience, and that interview is the dealbreaker. And with social media, people have thousands of friends, so we must ensure a strong connection with a select few. We still need to stay connected as we move further apart from real-life relationships.
We increasingly live online, and a book that reminds us how to live offline is always helpful. We also move away from home more often in comparison to past generations. We need skills to develop new relationships where we may not know anyone.
Why Should You Read ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’?
Let’s get right to it. These are the reasons why you should read Dale Carnegie’s book:
1. It’s a short book.
2. It has a very casual and comfortable tone.
3. It is divided into a chapter per lesson, making it easy to pick up and put down.
4. You can test the lessons easily with friends or family.
5. The lessons don’t require drastic changes.
6. He’s an authority on the matter.
7. It could help with social anxiety.
8. Aren’t you the least bit curious why a book from 1936 is still so popular?
I learned a great deal from this book. If you’re looking for a self-help book, consider How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
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