Ask Lemmy

It's quite dated, and there are some blatent white-suburban-privlage references, but if you can get past that, it's not bad for business relationships. If anything, the book is an eye opener to disingenuous relationships.

The biggest take away was recognizing when others are using the techniques. You really notice it if you deal with a salesperson. Go buy a car and watch them flick between different items from the book; trying to use your name as much as possible, trying to figure out and relate to your interests, etc.

It's not meant to be revolutionary - he even said so himself in the introduction. He just collated the best bits of advice and wisdom on the topic, and presented it in an easily digestible way. It's like an alcoholic asking a therapist for advice, and the therapist says he should stop drinking, and the alcoholic says "that's not very revolutionary". We all have things we screw up and we know how and why, and the answer is something obvious. I think considering the time he wrote it, it was a pretty innovative way of telling people things they already know, but in a way that they might want to start listening.

For a balanced point of view, you should also read How to Lose Friends and Infuriate People by Jonar C. Nader.

Great for making insincere connections with people who take its advice as gospel. Downside: Now you've made a connection with someone who takes its advice as gospel.

It’s great for business relationships