Book recommendation – Dale Carnegie – How To Win Friends And Influence People

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Dale Carnegie’s work is considered a timeless classic on communication and the art of living. Although the book was published in the 1930s, his advice is still relevant today. Carnegie shows that human relationships are less about rhetoric or “tricks” and more about a genuine attitude of appreciation.

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The book is divided into several basic principles that revolve around central themes:

  1. Dealing with people in generalCarnegie emphasizes that people primarily seek recognition, respect, and understanding. Criticism, condemnation, or blame close doors — praise, genuine interest, and appreciation open them.
  2. How to become popularThose who truly listen to others, remember their names, take an interest in their views, and make them feel good about themselves are automatically perceived as likable. Genuine interest replaces any superficial compliments.
  3. How to persuade peoplePersuasion is not achieved through pressure or argument, but through empathy. Carnegie recommends looking at arguments from the other person’s perspective, emphasizing common ground, and making people feel like they are finding the solution themselves.
  4. Leadership without power gamesParticularly important for managers: people are motivated by appreciation and encouragement, not by a commanding tone or fear. Mistakes should be addressed tactfully by emphasizing positive aspects and working together on improvements.

Conclusion

How to Win Friends and Influence People is not a superficial guide, but a plea for human warmth, empathy, and respect. Carnegie makes it clear that success — whether in your professional or private life — depends less on specialist knowledge than on the ability to deal with people. Those who internalize the principles not only improve their communication skills, but also their inner attitude.

It is a book that should not only be read but lived — a practical guide for anyone who wants to understand that genuine relationships are the foundation for personal and professional growth.

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Book recommendation – Paulo Coelho – Like the Flowing River: Thoughts and Reflections

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With Like the Flowing River: Thoughts and Reflections, Paulo Coelho presents a collection of stories, reflections, and short texts that alternate between spiritual wisdom and poetic narrative. Unlike his well-known novels (The Alchemist, Brida), this is not a continuous narrative, but a kind of literary diary full of fragments of thoughts, parables, and anecdotes that repeatedly inspire the reader to reflect.

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Coelho takes up central themes of his work: courage, love, the search for meaning, inner strength, and trust in one’s own destiny. His language is concise, vivid, and often like an invitation to linger between the lines. Many of the short stories are inspired by Eastern wisdom or Christian teachings, while others are based on observations of everyday life.

The strength of the book lies in its versatility: you can read it from beginning to end, but you can just as easily open it to individual chapters and take away little nuggets of inspiration for the day. Not all of the texts are equally profound—some seem almost like loose sketches—but it is precisely this mixture that makes the book so appealing. It is a book that accompanies rather than instructs.

Conclusion:

Like the Flowing River: Thoughts and Reflections is not a novel, but a collection of spiritual and poetic miniatures. Readers who appreciate Coelho’s simple, symbolic language will find a treasure trove of inspiration and flashes of insight here.

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Book recommendation – Paulo Coelho – Manual of the Warrior of the Light

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Paulo Coelho, world-famous for his bestseller The Alchemist, has turned his attention to a more meditative work in Manual of the Warrior of the Light. It is not a classic novel, but rather a collection of short aphorisms, poetic thoughts, and spiritual wisdom intended to serve as a kind of guide to conscious living.

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The “Warrior of Light” is not a warrior figure in the literal sense, but rather a symbol for people who are prepared to live their lives courageously, authentically, and in harmony with their inner values. Coelho describes how this warrior deals with doubts, mistakes, and setbacks, yet still has the courage to follow his own path. He learns to trust his intuition, not to be guided by fear, and to get back up again and again despite defeats.

Particularly impressive is Coelho’s ability to express complex life themes in simple, almost poetic language. The short texts are like little reflections that encourage you to pause and reflect. The book is less suited to linear reading and more of a source of inspiration to dip into occasionally, similar to a spiritual handbook.

Conclusion:

Manual of the Warrior of the Light is a meditative companion for people who are looking for inspiration and want to strengthen their inner compass. It is not a guidebook in the traditional sense, but rather a collection of spiritual insights. Those who appreciate Paulo Coelho’s vivid language will find a work here that conveys hope, courage, and mindfulness.

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Book recommendation – John Strelecky – The Big Five for Life

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John Strelecky, known for his philosophical bestseller Das Cafe am Rande der Welt, continues to explore similar themes in The Big Five for Life: it is about the search for meaning, personal fulfillment, and the question of how we can shape our lives and work in a way that is consistent with our true values.

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The novel tells the story of charismatic entrepreneur Thomas Derale, who is regarded as a role model both in business and in his personal life. The narrator, Joe, looks back on his friendship and collaboration with Thomas and learns from him crucial principles for a fulfilling life. Central to this is the concept of the “Big Five for Life” – five personal life goals or desires that one absolutely wants to achieve or experience, similar to an individual bucket list. These are intended to serve as a guide for making conscious decisions in everyday life.

In addition, Strelecky introduces the “museum day”: the idea that every day of our lives is collected like an exhibition in a museum. The question is: Would you be proud and happy if outsiders visited this museum? This image makes it clear how important it is to actively shape your life according to your own ideas.

Strelecky’s writing style is simple, easy to understand, and emotional, sometimes almost fairy-tale-like. Critics complain that the characters seem somewhat one-dimensional and that the book serves more as a vehicle for a message. But that is precisely its strength: The Big Five for Life is less a novel in the classic sense and more an inspiring fable that encourages readers to think about their own life goals.

Key lessons from The Big Five for Life

  1. Find your “Big Five”
    • Define the five most important goals or experiences you want to achieve or experience in your life.
    • They serve as a compass for decisions, priorities, and your life path.
  2. Live for your “museum day”
    • Imagine that every day of your life is an exhibit in a museum.
    • Ask yourself: Would I be proud if others visited this museum?
    • This image helps you to live more consciously and meaningfully.
  3. Work and meaning belong together
    • Your professional activity should not only serve to earn money, but should also be in harmony with your own life goals.
    • Good managers support their employees in finding and living their personal “Big Five.”
  4. People are more important than things
    • Relationships, shared experiences, and mutual support shape life far more than material possessions.The courage to live authentically
  5. Many people live a “heteronomous” life.
    • Strelecky urges us to have the courage to go our own way—even against external expectations.Inspiration as a legacy
    • A fulfilled life is not only valuable for oneself, but also inspires others to live their lives more consciously
  6. Inspiration as a legacy
    • A fulfilled life is not only valuable for oneself, but also inspires others to live their lives more consciously.

Conclusion:

The Big Five for Life is a modern motivational book in the guise of a narrative. It inspires readers to define their true goals and live more consciously. Those looking for profound character development or literary complexity will not find it here. However, those seeking inspiration for more meaning, direction, and joy in life will find Streleckys work to be a powerful companion.

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Book recommendation – Rolf Dobelli – Die Kunst des klugen Handelns

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Rolf Dobelli follows up his bestseller The Art of Thinking Clearly with Die Kunst des klugen Handelns, once again introducing readers to the world of psychological traps, cognitive biases, and decision-making illusions. While the first book primarily examines cognitive distortions, this work focuses more on everyday behavioral patterns, routines, and seemingly minor decisions that have a major impact in the long term.

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Dobelli writes in his usual clear, concise language, which makes complex insights easy to understand. Instead of theoretical treatises, he provides short, concise chapters with vivid examples from everyday life, economics, psychology, and philosophy. Each chapter deals with an “error of action,” such as why we often hold on to bad investments for too long, why we allow ourselves to be influenced by irrelevant information, or why we often waste more time on unimportant tasks than on crucial ones.

What is particularly impressive is that Dobelli not only points out the stumbling blocks to the reader, but also implicitly offers ways to avoid them: through conscious reflection, simplification of decisions, and concentration on the essentials. The result is a handbook for smart, pragmatic action that can be applied directly in everyday life.

Conclusion:

Die Kunst des klugen Handelns is not a dry reference book, but a practical guide in essay form. Those who are willing to question themselves self-critically will find a treasure trove of food for thought that can help them make better decisions and avoid unnecessary mistakes. The book is an excellent complement to The Art of Thinking Clearly, but also stands on its own as an inspiring and entertaining read.

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