Carnegie, Dale (1888-1955), was a pioneer in public speaking and personality development. He became famous by showing others how to become successful. As a young man, Carnegie quit his job in sales and began teaching courses in public speaking. His book How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936), which was developed from his public-speaking course, has sold millions of copies and has been translated into many languages. It was not the first self-help book, but the influence of this work is still felt in self-help books today. Two of Carnegie’s most famous maxims are, “Believe that you will succeed, and you will,” and “Learn to love, respect and enjoy other people.” His other books include How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (1948). Toward the beginning of his career, Carnegie wrote Public Speaking and Influencing Men in Business (1931), which became a standard text.
Carnegie was born Dale Carnagey on Nov. 24, 1888, in Maryville, Missouri. After attending Warrensburg (Missouri) State Teachers College, he became a salesman for Armour and Company. He left and began his career in teaching and writing. Carnegie died on Nov. 1, 1955, in Forest Hills, New York.
