Book of the Week

Welcome back, and Happy New Year! We hope you've all enjoyed a relaxing Christmas break, with plenty of reading. New Year is often a time for resolutions, and today's book of the week is sometimes viewed as a classic of the self-help genre.  But does its reputation do it justice? Read on and find out.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Recommended by Mr Preece-Smith

This book has been around for generations — it was already well-established when I was at school — but for years I avoided it. The title suggested something slightly sinister, as if it were a handbook in social manipulation. Who would want to be spotted reading what looked like 'The Beginner’s Guide to Gaslighting'?

When I finally did pick it up, though, I discovered something quite different. The writing is clear, engaging and full of real-life stories, and the spirit behind the advice is overwhelmingly positive. Carnegie’s aim isn’t to help readers control others, but to help them communicate with tact, empathy and confidence.

He uses dozens of practical scenarios to explore how to handle potentially awkward conversations, disagreements and misunderstandings — lessons that apply just as much in the workplace as they do in friendships, clubs, and classrooms. One example is his suggestion that giving feedback or criticism should begin with something positive. It’s simple, but remarkably effective advice.

I never read How to Win Friends and Influence People at school, though I remember one boy who did, and he was viewed with some suspicion (“He’s trying to influence us!”). Having now read the book, I think he was actually quite lucky: it’s the kind of wise, good-humoured guide that many young people would benefit from encountering early in life.  Be assured that this highly successful self-help book is not about manipulation, but about understanding people better.