How To Win Friends And Influence People By Dale Carnegie
Nearly ninety years old and still the best book ever written about dealing with people. A timeless gift.
First published in 1936, Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People has sold tens of millions of copies—and for good reason. It’s the original guide to getting on with people, and it’s never been more relevant.
The advice sounds simple, even obvious. But try following it consistently for a week and you’ll realise how rarely any of us do.
It’s not about manipulation or clever tricks. Carnegie’s approach is built on genuine respect for other people—and that’s exactly why it works.
Pivotal takeaways
- Don’t criticise, condemn or complain. Criticism puts people on the defensive. Understanding them gets you much further.
- Become genuinely interested in others. You’ll make more friends in two months by being interested in people than in two years of trying to get them interested in you.
- Remember names. A person’s name is, to them, the sweetest sound in any language. Use it.
- See it from their side. The secret to influence is seeing things from the other person’s point of view and talking in terms of what they want.
Why it’s a must-read
At Pivotal, every great client relationship we’ve built has come down to the principles in this book. Marketing, sales and leadership are all, at heart, about people. People remember how you made them feel.
Some of the language is of its time, but the wisdom is universal. It’s the kind of book you should reread every few years, because you’ll always find something you’ve stopped doing.
Reading it at the end of the year is a good ritual, too. It’s a gentle nudge to thank the people who helped you and to start the new year on better terms with everyone.
Rating: ★★★★★
If there’s one book to give someone this Christmas, it’s this one. Better still, read it again yourself. Its lessons will make you a better colleague, a better leader and, frankly, better company at every table you sit at in the year ahead.
Your step. Who’s one person you could show a little more genuine interest in this week? Share in the comments, and let’s spread a bit of goodwill.