Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) was an American writer and lecturer best known for How to Win Friends and Influence People (1937). The book grew out of the public speaking and human relations courses he developed after observing that technical knowledge alone rarely determined success.
Carnegie’s central insight was that the ability to handle people could be taught through concrete, story-based principles rather than abstract theory. He collected thousands of examples from history, business, and everyday life to illustrate each rule.
His work directly shaped modern sales training, management practices, and popular psychology. The Carnegie courses he founded continue to operate worldwide, and the phrase “how to win friends and influence people” entered common language. The book remains one of the best-selling nonfiction titles of all time.