Dale Carnegie ( 1888 - 1955 )

Dale Carnegie was born in Maryville, Missouri, USA.  Dale Carnegie attended Warrensburg State Teachers College (Missouri), and became a salesman for Armour and Company. Later, he taught public speaking to businessmen. Two of Dale Carnegie most famous maxims are, "Believe that you will succeed, and you will," and "Learn to love, respect and enjoy other people."

Dale Carnegie was a pioneer in public speaking and personality development. Dale Carnegie became famous by showing others how to become successful. His book "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (1936) has sold more than 10 million copies and has been translated into many languages. It can be considered the grandfather of all people-skills books.

Dale Carnegie books became popular because of his illustrative stories and simple, well-phrased rules. Dale Carnegie other books include "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" (1948). Toward the beginning of his career, Carnegie wrote "Public Speaking and Influencing Men in Business" (1931), which became a standard text.

dale bookThe sole purpose of Dale Carnegie's 1936 book "How to Win Friends and Influence Peoplei" s to help you solve the biggest problem you face: the problem of getting along with and influencing people in your everyday, business and social contacts. This book has sold more than fifteen million copies--one of the greatest records in history for a non-fiction book. Its title has become a phrase in the English language. This book can easily be worth its weight in gold to you.   Here is the summary of this book and Dale Carnegie's Principles:

Part One - Fundamental Techniques in Handling People:

  1. Don't criticize, condemn or complain.
  2. Give honest and sincere appreciation.
  3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.

Part Two - Six ways to make people like you:

  1. Become genuinely interested in other people.
  2. Smile.
  3. Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
  4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
  5. Talk in terms of the other person's interests.
  6. Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.

Part Three - Win people to your way of thinking:

  1. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
  2. Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never say, "You're wrong."
  3. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
  4. Begin in a friendly way.
  5. Get the other person saying "yes, yes" immediately.
  6. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
  7. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
  8. Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view.
  9. Be sympathetic with the other person's ideas and desires.
  10. Appeal to the nobler motives.
  11. Dramatize your ideas.
  12. Throw down a challenge.

Part Four - Be a Leader: How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment.  A leader's job often includes changing your people's attitudes and behavior. Some suggestions to accomplish this:

  1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
  2. Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
  3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
  4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
  5. Let the other person save face.
  6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be "hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise."
  7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
  8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
  9. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.