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155. Book Review | How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

About the author, Dale Carnegie

Dale Carnegie’s life is a story of success – a true rags to riches tale. Though he shares the last name of the steel titan, Andrew Carnegie, they aren’t related. Dale Carnegie actually changed the spelling of his last name to match the industrialist’s spelling to gain clout. But, this book review is not about that. It’s a look at How to Win Friends & Influence People, a fantastic guide to dealing with people.

Why I chose to review this book:

I found this book tremendously helpful as I left college and entered the business world. It was difficult to talk to experienced professionals, and I needed a confidence boost. Before graduating college, I worked in retail and had no problem talking to customers. But, being thrust into a new world, I was out of my element and needed help. If you ask me, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to lead a successful life.

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

–Dale Carnegie

Readability of the book:

I find it easily readable. Written in a conversational tone, it’s like he’s transcribing some advice he gave a friend. The stories are intriguing, although sometimes a bit outlandish. That said, the lessons you draw from them make it feel more like a parable than a lie or hyperbole.

Grab your copy of How to Win Friends & Influence People here.

Sections of the book:

  • Twelve Things This Book Will Do For You
  • Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
  • Six Ways to Make People Like You
  • Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking
  • Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

163. Book Review | The Analects, The Doctrine Of The Mean, and The Great Learning by Confucius – Conversation of Our Generation

I wanted to review the Doctrine of the Mean and the Analects because I think they are full of amazing wisdom. Confucius is, in my opinion, on par with some of the greatest Greek philosophers. Having now read more of Plato’s work, I would compare these works to something like the Symposium or Republic. The question-and-answer style is very engaging and I think makes for a good demonstration of how to discuss ideas. The Wisdom of The Analects This is a readable, short discourse on morality, propriety, and virtue. It is an incredibly insightful work that delves into a range of topics, each one focused on making people better. Also, it has a familiar form of discourse where Confucius’ students ask him questions and he answers. To those who’ve read works by Plato or the Gospels, these techniques will be familiar and, in my opinion, inviting. “The superior man is catholic, not partisan.” -Confucius Although Confucius is from China, his ideas are incredibly similar to what we find in western philosophy. Furthermore, I believe the ideas expressed give a unique perspective since they don’t come from the West. Despite the similarity, there are differences that come out of this work in comparison to one from Aristotle or Thomas Aquinas. But, there is tremendous wisdom in this for anyone who is seeking truth. Grab your copy of The Complete Confucius: The Analects, The Doctrine Of The Mean, and The Great Learning What is the Doctrine of the Mean? The mean is an idea that exists in both in the East and West, and has a number of expressions. Different expressions of the Doctrine of the Mean are due to the fact it’s hard to pin down exactly. Aristotle, Confucius, Lao Tzu, and others have sought to explain the mean. Basically, the mean boils down to how to act morally and ethically. “Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.” Confucius Enjoy solving today’s problems with the wisdom of the past? Join the Conversation of Our Generation. — This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/conofourgen/support
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