Born in rural Missouri, Dale Carnegie (1888-1955) began his career as a traveling salesman for the International Correspondence Schools, dabbled briefly in acting, and served in the Army during World War I. He later transitioned into public speaking and training, and these overlapping areas of expertise fuel his well-rounded advice on perfecting interpersonal communication. He also developed and taught courses in public speaking and human relations at a time when few resources were available in these areas. By focusing on likability, persuasion, and emotional intelligence, his work was designed to address the practical needs of individuals who wished to succeed in business and social environments during the early 20th century. He later synthesized this expertise in his 1936 book How to Win Friends and Influence People, which galvanized the American self-help industry and still resonates with diverse audiences nearly a century later.

Carnegie’s lasting credibility stems from his empirical and experiential approach to human behavior. All of the lessons in his book are illustrated by pointed anecdotes and firmly based upon real-world observations and numerous case studies, many of which are drawn from the lives of businesspeople, political leaders, and even the students in his own courses.