Customer Reviews

Dale Carnegie: The Man Who Influenced Millions

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Dale Carnegie's works, HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE being the most famous, are very well known. But little is known about the man himself. He is buried under myth and assumptions. Wouldn't you assume that the man who wrote such huge best selling books on human relations would be very outgoing and have a great social life? This book says otherwise.

This book is surprising because it says that Dale Carnegie was always a shy and awkward man who occasionally went through periods of being a recluse. Despite the success of his books, he never became an out-going person and he was awkward about his newfound fame and fortune.

This book is helpful because it traces the Dale Carnegie Seminars from their genesis, and even lets you know what goes on in some of the seminars. The book, interestingly, says that when one graduates from Dale Carnegie's "Human Relations" class they aren't so much masters of social skills, rather they have developed the ability to be more comfortable with themselves and who they are. They have learned to not be controlled by their insecurities.

Dale Carnegie, the man behind the best sellers, was far more interesting, complex, and surprising, than one would think (i.e., wouldn't one imagine him to be the "man about town"? I had expected him to be). I recommend reading this book if you are interested in learning about that man. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My favorite part of this book was reading that upon his arrival in New York City he learned a word that fascinated him, "intuition."

A section of photographs is included in this book.

This title by Kemp and Claflin describes the man behind the famous Dale Carnegie books and courses. The book describes highlights of his life:

1. Early life and times during the depression.
2. Marriages.
3. Job and career changes that led to his defining moment.
4. Various relationships with business leaders, politicians, relgious leaders, and other people of his day.
5. How he was surprised that he influenced so many people.

The subject of the book comes across as a plain, yet complex man who become one the most successful "self-help" gurus this country has ever known. Indeed, many of his sayings and books are based on plain good common sense that many in today's sophisticated age seem to forget.

A readable narrative that flows smoothly from area to area of Dale Carnegie's life.

Recommended.