Chuck McCurry is coauthor of “Maverick Entrepreneurs’ Million Dollar Strategies” and a busy sales executive and Latin American missions leader. He recommends Dale Carnegie’s classic book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” which he taught as a Carnegie trainer years ago.

Dale Carnegie’s book has become a classic. I first read it in 1973 while a student in a Dale Carnegie Course on Effective Speaking and Human Relations at the old Tremont Hotel in Cayce. It was an “eye opener” because it showed me:

• How much I did wrong in human relations.

• What I could do differently and better.

I eventually became an instructor for the course and taught it for 15 years.

I wanted to see how the book revised in 2016 might differ from the original.

A quick phone call to the Dale Carnegie Institute in Atlanta produced a free copy of the 2016 edition.

Before I continue, let me answer the question “why review an 80- year old book?” It’s because of the profound and lasting effect the book has had on mine and thousands of others.

Of course, I’m not perfect or the most successful man in history, but I owe much of my success in life to the principles in the book.

I even reference it in my co-authored book, “Maverick Entrepreneurs’ Million Dollar Strategies.”

In my opinion, only the Bible has as many ways to successfully interact with other humans as this.

The book’s message is clear and unambiguous. The key to success in life is the ability to get along with others and influence people to willing cooperation.

Mr. Carnegie uses examples of successful strategies used by well know business, political and world leaders.

The new edition includes examples from students in recent courses and a few more recent celebrities.

Mr. Carnegie had an enjoyable and entertaining style of writing. It is as if he is talking directly to you.

And he had a delightful, self-deprecating sense of humor which he used frequently. He certainly practiced what he preached.

“How to Win Friends” was not written like most books with an idea, premise, plot and ending. It evolved over many years. It began as pamphlets for those attending his courses for business and professional people at the New York City YMCA.

More ideas were added over time until it was finally published as a book in 1937.

The book is in 4 sections and addresses 30 proven human relations principles.

His techniques have nothing to do with manipulating people, tricking them or conning them into doing what you want them to do.

They are pure, tried-and-true methods of achieving cooperation with others towards a common purpose.

The preface gives 9 suggestions for getting the most out of his book.

Mr. Carnegie personally interviewed scores of well-known and world famous people who were his contemporaries – Marconi and Edison, Franklin Roosevelt, Clark Gable, Mary Pickford and countless others. He gleaned from each pearls of wisdom on how they overcame difficulties.

Many of those cited in earlier versions are not well known today. The 2016 edition has examples of how ordinary people can overcome similar challenges.

• Part 1, fundamental techniques in handling people.

• Part 2, 6 ways to make people like you.

• Part 3, win people to your thinking.

• Part 4, how you as a leader can change people without giving offense or arousing their resentment.

In all, you will discover 30 principles, techniques or suggestions for dealing with the complex and often perplexing situations that everyone of us encounters.

Mr. Carnegie used one or more examples of people applying each principle.

Examples and suggestions from people such as Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and Ralph Waldo Emerson. It’s inspiring to read that people of their stature had to cope with difficult people and situations.

One of my favorite stories is about Mr. Carnegie meeting a botanist at a dinner party and found him fascinating. He listened intently as the gentleman spoke for hours about exotic plants, indoor gardens, astonishing facts about vegetables.

Carnegie spent most of the time on the edge of his seat, absorbing every word.

At the end of the evening, the botanist remarked to the party’s host that Mr. Carnegie was a “most interesting conversationalist.” The truth was that he had barely spoken at all. But because Mr. Carnegie had sincerely listened, the botanist had concluded that the author was a great conversationalist.

I guarantee that if you read “How to Win Friends and Influence People” you will find plenty of ideas to make your dealings with others more pleasant.

If you want to be a better leader, manager, spouse, parent or friend, this book is for you.