How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, Review

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
I was definitely avoiding what is arguably an unfortunately titled book. I hated the thought of "winning friends and influencing people," I mean, you know, said like that! Jeez!
However, now that I have "read" the book - I listened to this one on CD, too and I have to say I love listening to CD books now. Yet ANOTHER thing that I thought I hated. Surprise John! I have decided to give it a subtitle: or, How to Live Powerfully and Well Among People. I think that sounds more like the book to which I listened. Another bonus of the CD is that the guy who reads it is the perfect, amazing, wonderful "authority figure" voice. You'll recognize his voice as being very similar to the guy who did the bawdy Internet sound file about the entemology of the F word which everyone sent each other a few years ago. His voice is perfect, once you stop laughing.

If you want to give yourself a totally amazing leg up on your life then get this book immediately and read it like you mean it. Dale Carnegie shares such wonderfully illustrative stories from his amazing trove of experiences that you can't help but be moved and inspired to deal better with the people. If I could enforce it I would decree that everyone who works with me or for me would read this book. I will also assure you that anyone who wants to succeed in their endeavors will find it to be time well spent.

The nice, unexpected bonus is that the language of the book, and the stories that are told, are so recognizably from a very different era in the past that I found it quite comforting to listen to the book. The Principles the book extolls are, however, timeless and every bit as important, or more so, today!

Bottom line: If you never have to deal with people then don't worry about reading this book. If, however, you ever interact with others then this book is a must read. Further, if you read this book you will gain an advantage over your peers in business who haven't read it, that is almost unfair.