I just picked up How to Win Friends and Influence People and I want to hear opinions!

[Sophadoph]

I just started this book so I'm not far enough in to form a final opinon yet, but considering that this book has been around for quite some time, I am wondering if the LNF community thinks that it lives up to the "hype."

I'd like to hear personal opinons, success stories, criticism, or anything else that you would like to add.

I am reading the book for pleasure, but opinons from an academic viewpoint are definitely welcome.

Thanks Everyone!

[mal4mac]

What hype? I don't know of even one great critic or writer who even bothers to mention it. Self help books are usually painful to read, not pleasurable, and not helpful. Try reading some Dickens at the same time. Nicholas Nickleby is a good one to start with. Dickens is a master at portraying friendship. Then ask yourself (ignoring all hype!) which is the most pleasurable read. I've glanced at books like this in the past and they are usually guides to making crude and superficial friendships. Read real literature for examples that go beyond the crude and superficial.

[dfloyd]

Quite old and the only thing it ever did as make money for Dale Carnegie It was used as a text book for Carnegie courses which were usually mail order courses. IMO, the book is a total waste of time. Probably, the most useful thing you could do with it is to buuild a fire.

[Emil Miller]

Like all quick fix solutions, strictly for the trash bin.

[keilj]

Like all quick fix solutions, strictly for the trash bin.

heh - snake oil with a hard back cover on it

[Sophadoph]

What hype? I don't know of even one great critic or writer who even bothers to mention it. Self help books are usually painful to read, not pleasurable, and not helpful. Try reading some Dickens at the same time. Nicholas Nickleby is a good one to start with. Dickens is a master at portraying friendship. Then ask yourself (ignoring all hype!) which is the most pleasurable read. I've glanced at books like this in the past and they are usually guides to making crude and superficial friendships. Read real literature for examples that go beyond the crude and superficial.

I do read "real literature," including most of Dickens available works, this book is completely different from my normal taste so I felt as though it would be an interesting departure from my usual. As I stated in the first post I am reading this for pleasure and do not intend to take it entirely too seriously unless it inspires me to do so. In terms of pleasure taken away from reading, I think that it is incredibly beneficial to take in a wide variety of writing styles and genres, a book is often what you make of it and I have found this one to be a very interesting psychological peek into the mechanics of relationships. I do not entirely agree with your statement that this is not "real" literature because it doesn't suit your taste, but I understand your sentiments.

Thank you for the reply!


heh - snake oil with a hard back cover on it

I see it does not have much of a reputation here, thank you very much for the replies!

[The Comedian]

I'm glad that you're reading it an posting about it here. I'd like to hear what you have to say about it. In many ways the book is legendary and in that respect, at least, deserves a read from historical/cultural perspective.

I think I may have read a couple sections of it here and there, but I can't remember. Anyway, books like that always make me curious too -- so many people talk about them but it seems so few have ever actually read them that they peak my interest.

[mtpspur]

Ho ho ho---this is the book that ruined my life. LOL. It taught me TRICKS. The more it emphasizes principles of moraility and sincerity and a desire to truly like others I found myself more and more impressed with my own wonderfulness (to steal from Bill Cosby). Seriously it's a valuable book written with the common man in mind and I really do have pleasant memories of it BUT I have never been able SINCE to tell if I really care or not about the person I am relating to. If you can read it and learn from it and adapt it to your personality should be fine--just don't overthink it. Tongue firmly in cheek while typing this.

[mal4mac]

It is not "real" literature because it isn't in the canon, it isn't even in the running to get in any future canon. It's on no one's list - check Bloom, Borges, Fadiman et. al. and this book is not mentioned! Are you getting any pleasure from it? The same amount you get from reading Dickens?

[TurquoiseSunset]

It is not "real" literature because it isn't in the canon, it isn't even in the running to get in any future canon. It's on no one's list - check Bloom, Borges, Fadiman et. al. and this book is not mentioned! Are you getting any pleasure from it? The same amount you get from reading Dickens?

Do you only read books on those lists?

I agree with The Comedian. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it after you've read it!

[myrna22]

I just picked up How to Win Friends and Influence People and I want to hear opinions.

It is not literature. A self help book. I find self help books simplistic and boring in the extreme.

[Motherof8]

I found the advice" Never tell a man he is wrong does seem to apply with some people.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

It is not "real" literature because it isn't in the canon
Well, this definitely makes my list of "dumbest things I've read on LitNet."

[dfloyd]

When you are finished with it, you should read the poetry of Edgar Guest which exemplifies the poetry side of mundane writing. As Dorothy Parker once said: "I'd rather flunk my Wasserman test, then read a poem by Edgar Guest."

Eddie Guest gave us such memorable lines as "Winners never cheat, and Cheaters never win."

[PeterL]

Read it. It isn't bad for something that was written to help train salespeople. There are a fe pieces of good advice in it, but it was so long ago that I can't remember what they were, except that it is good to remember people's names.

[Summer M]

Well, this definitely makes my list of "dumbest things I've read on LitNet."

:iagree:

[JasmineJNR]

I just started this book so I'm not far enough in to form a final opinon yet, but considering that this book has been around for quite some time, I am wondering if the LNF community thinks that it lives up to the "hype."

I'd like to hear personal opinons, success stories, criticism, or anything else that you would like to add.

I am reading the book for pleasure, but opinons from an academic viewpoint are definitely welcome.

Thanks Everyone!

It does live up to the hype but it also turns you into a sleazebag. The value comes after you've learned to pull away from it.