Self-Help Messiah
Dale Carnegie and Success in Modern America

I've loved listening to "Self Help Messiah: Dale Carnegie and Success in Modern America," by Steven Watts (Other Press, 2013). Five stars. This is the story behind the man who wrote the huge bestseller during the 1930s, "How to Win Friends and Influential People." The book has sold millions and it w......more

I have long been interested in the "guru" business and its various subareas, whether concerned with management consulting or individual self-help. My interest is largely fueled by skepticism about the tension between the provision of general advice that is valuable to an actor and the need for any s......more

I guess years ago I may have read Carnegie's famous work "How to Win Friends and Influence People", though I can't say I remember much about it other than keep a positive attitude with a lot of enthusiasm, and have a smile on your face. Simple stuff in reality but effective enough that it made Carne......more

I've read a lot of non-fiction books lately that feel like magazine articles that have been padded to book size. This is more of the same. Carnegie's life and personal history are fascinating, but not fascinating enough to fill 500 pages.......more