How To Win Friends and Influence People

Kind of elementary stuff (especially for a social wizard such as myself!), but it's always enjoyable to be reminded of basic social skillz - and how to implement them. Eradicating your inner judger is a good idea; complimenting people; making them feel your good ideas are theirs. And so on. That said, for slightly more effective social skill-building, I think Dr. David Burns' (the CBT guru) books are more helpful. They provide concrete tips that you can start applying immediately - plus, Burns is hokey, but not Dale Carnegie 1940s hokey.

Which brings me to one of this book's nicest qualities: its adorable old timeyness. The text just REEKS of wartime yammer yammer, what with Dale Carnegie's jokey, newsreel voice, and constant references to grand Americana like Lincoln's letters or some rich, foundational kabillionaire (Schwab, Carnegie, Rockefeller) schmoozing with his guppy fish on the factory floor. It's all very enchanting and cute and - well, gosh darn it - full of gumption and spirit! It's like listening to Col. Potter from MAS*H give you a stern-but-loving talking-to. How can you not feel warm and fuzzy inside?