"Those who don't know how to fight worry, die young." This ominous advice begins Dale Carnegie's bestseller, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, an eight-part treatise on the follies of worrying. Like other Carnegie books, this one is packed with good old-fashioned common sense, illustrated with examples drawn from research on historical figures and interviews with business leaders. Somehow, even the most simple advice--such as Carnegie's four-step method of problem solving--is presented in a way that makes you want to write it down and post it on the employee bulletin board. Narrated by the resonant and engaging voice of Andrew McMillan and loaded with relevant real-life examples, this unabridged audiobook maintains interest throughout. (Running time: 10.5 hours, eight cassettes) --Sharon Griggins --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Nick Vujicic (Subtitulado en español)
Nick Vujicic (Korean subtitle)
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
Nick Vujicic لعاشرة مساءً - منى الشاذلي في لقاء مع
I'm forever grateful that I read this book!, May 25, 2011
By Dr. Joey, Listen to Life Coach "Dr. Joey, Lis... (Virginia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (Paperback)
As you read in the Introduction of my new book: Work Positive in a Negative World, Dale Carnegie wrote his first book during the Great Depression. This book influenced me greatly during my youth. When in fifth grade, I entered an Optimist Club Oratorical contest on the recommendation of my English teacher. I was mentored by Toastmasters Club members. One of them suggested I read this book. I'm forever grateful I did.
Trainers around the world still teach Carnegie's philosophy and assist millions in transforming self-defeating behaviors through focusing and filtering their perceptions.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Its the Best book by Carnegie, May 25, 2011
By Manu Kumar - See all my reviews
This review is from: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (Kindle Edition)
My father gave this on my 18th birthday. And I can say that this was the best gift I ever recieved. This is not a book only to cope up with the worries but its a way of life. All the solutions it gives are very practcal. I will recommend it to anyone who wants to live a more meaningful and peaceful life.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Its Made All The Difference, May 22, 2011
By Steve Skye (Phoenix) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (Kindle Edition)
I have read "How to Stop Worrying..." numerous times and always marvel at its wisdom. The book is a handbook for dealing with life's problems and just as Mr Carnegie mentions I too easely forget the importance of its priniciples. I really can't imagine what my life would have been like without this book, ever success I have can be traced back to the practice of its ideas. When ever I find myself overwhelmed with the vicissitudes of the everyday I reach for this book and it has made all the difference.
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2.0 out of 5 stars OK overall, but very dated, April 23, 2011
By C. Cole (Allen, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (Audio CD)
I'm actually really surprised at all the 5 star reviews here. I'm reviewing the audio book, and although there are some useful tips for getting by and managing stress, this book really is extremely dated. Linguistic gems are found throughout such as "avoid the wibber-jabbies" and numerous recommendations to have a gay attitude and live life as gayly as you can. Most of the stories are of course from the 20's through the 40's, which is fine but after a while this is like listening to a very old person tell you, in extreme repetition, all about their experiences back in the good old days. There is also an extremely prevalent attitude of dated medical and psychological context that is almost laughable at times. Numerous facts and examples are presented as backed up by "medical science", which have you shaking your head.
Pros include some albeit obvious but effective techniques to manage stress and live in the moment.
Cons include extreme repetition of points, many points that boil down to "you should just stop worrying", and extremely dated presentation of the material.
All of this was not worth the $30 price of the audio book.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The concepts in this book are as true today as they ever were. I am now using them to enhance my life., April 10, 2011
By Linda Linguvic (New York City) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (Kindle Edition)
This classic book was written in 1944, a time that has now faded into history. And yet, in spite of the old fashioned references, it is as true today as it was then and will no doubt will continue to be as helpful to future generations for a long time to come. It's a simple book which is full of good advice with many examples of how worry can negatively impact health and happiness.
The advice is simple and priceless. Basically it shows how worry can become a habit and it gives practical solutions on how to break this habit. Dale Carnegie was a businessman and many of his examples are pulled directly from his business experience. But he was also a keen observer of human nature. And one of the most meaningful examples in the book is one that I remember from my childhood and a plaque that was kept on the wall. "Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday, and all is well." The example in the book is of a man who was asked to write down all his worries. As this book was written during WW2, his worries included concern for his son who was a soldier, the loss of his business, his land being taken away because of a new highway that might be built, etc. One year later he looked at the list. His son was safe, his business was thriving and his land was not taken away. All of the things he worried about never happened. And, as the theme of the book suggests over and over that most worries are mere thoughts that people torture themselves with and can make a person ill. When the book was written this was a new concept. We now call it "stress" and understand the damage it can do.
Yes, the book is definitely dated. The world that the author depicts is of a time and a place where much of the population lived in rural areas, when America was primarily a farm and manufacturing community and the roles for men and for women were different than they are today. This was a time when television didn't exist and that computers and the internet could not have been even imagined.
I got a lot out of this book and am now using some of Carnegie's techniques to enhance my life. This is perhaps one of the highest compliments I can give any book.
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5.0 out of 5 stars a must read!!!, March 16, 2011
By Book Reviewer - See all my reviews
This review is from: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (Kindle Edition)
this is by far one of the best books I have ever read. Its advice is even more relevant now than when it was written more than half a century ago!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Book, March 12, 2011
By Mel "Mel" - See all my reviews
This review is from: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (Paperback)
I had this book for years, but it was falling apart. I used to read it alot when I was stressed and raising a family and working very hard. So, the book really did help me get through some sleepless nights, being stressed and worrying, etc. I bought another one, because the one I had was falling apart. It was originally written back in the 1940's, so it's an oldie, but goodie, has been updated many times, though.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Stop Worrying..., January 29, 2011
By Trevor J. Flannigan "www.theguidetogetrich.com" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (Paperback)
The book of the week was How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie. I think Carnegie is a genius and if you have read his work, there is a good chance you agree. This book is completely different from his other book I have reviewed How to Win Friends and Influence People, but still incredibly useful. I really like Carnegie's stories because since he was just a simple Missouri boy, all his stories originate from familiar places like St. Joseph, Omaha, or Minneapolis. And they are all great stories too! Let's begin with a simple prayer many of us have probably heard.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
This little prayer contains all the ingredients to help you stop worrying and... start living. Worry is a dangerous part of life. It inhibits so much growth. Growth in our emotions, growth in our relationships, and even inhibits us from growing physically healthy. There is nothing admirable about worrying.. Worry is, for the most part, irrational and everyone should be looking for ways to get rid of it.
Worrying comes about for many different reasons. People worry about everything from not having enough money to not getting enough sleep. No matter what the cause of you worry is, to eliminate it you need to identify specifically what it is you are worrying about. Are you concerned about financial issues because you have heard there are lay-offs happening at work- if that's the case, since there isn't anything you can do about it, there is no need to continue thinking about it. A situation that used to worry me is sleep.. This example was given in the book too about someone else... I lay down and no matter what I cannot get myself to sleep. I laid there for hours and the rest wouldn't come and I am just thinking "I am only going to get 6 hours of sleep now, 5 hours, 4 hours... One night I decided to cast away all the worry and I convinced myself that nature would take its course and as long as I laid there with my eyes closed that I was getting rest. After I gave up worrying about the situation, there was no situation. Worrying about my lack of sleep was causing me unhealthy stress and once I decided not to let myself worry the problem went away. Identify the situation that is causing the worry... then decide whether you can do something about it or not (most cases you cannot do anything about it)... then act on the situation or forget about it.
Ever so often your worry is manifested by a real situation that has real potential. If this happens just ask yourself the question of Willis H. Carrier "What's the worst that could happen?" Then mentally prepare yourself to accept the worst and be done with that worry. Usually the worst that could happen isn't nearly as hard on you as all the stress you inflict on your life and those around you by worrying.
Another idea I liked in the book is living in "Day-tight Compartments." Only focus on what is happening today. Don't think about what could happen tomorrow. Just seize the day you are on and make something of it. Thinking about "what-ifs" doesn't get you anywhere. Live each day to the fullest until bed-time and then do the same thing with tomorrow's today. Carnegie even suggests putting the word Today in your car or on your bathroom mirror.
Some people concern themselves with ingratitude. They get really upset that they did someone else a favor and they weren't thanked for doing it. I have seen these situations play out and they always end up with someone stressed beyond belief about something that should be perceived as very trivial. Carnegie mentions a story from the Bible to put perspective on this. In Luke, Jesus heals 10 lepers in one night and only one leper sticks around to thank Jesus for what he had done. Carnegie says if Jesus isn't thanked by everyone for what he did, then anything Carnegie isn't thanked for is not even worth thinking about.
Everyone has the potential to worry, however, the best of the best have found ways to avoid worrying about things. Some people may remind themselves of a simple prayer like the one I used to start this blog and others may use a trick like taking a nap in the middle of their work day. Several people have made themselves more efficient and worry less by taking naps... John D. Rockefeller and Thomas Edison and Eleanor Roosevelt. They all turned out pretty successful. It's amazing how much reconstruction the body and mind can do with even a 15 minute power nap. Give this a shot and see how much more effective it makes you. The most important things to realize is that worry is real and it's not necessary.
I think the most powerful way to conquer worry is to control your thoughts and to consciously think about not worrying about things. Sounds easy, but it can be. A man that I consider one of the world's greatest leaders, Marcus Aurelius, is quoted saying "Our life is what our thoughts make it." I wrote about the power of positive thinking last week, but I want to reiterate how powerful it is. You can be anything you want to be and do anything you want to do. I don't think that it's "just a coincidence" that the greatest leaders in the world agree with my perspective. Use the power of your brain to achieve everything you want... start with casting away any worries and then see what else you can do.
This is an amazing book and the stories are really interesting. It would clearly be identified as a "self-help" book, but forget all the negative attention that goes toward such books and think of it as "helping your self." Take care of Number One (You) and turn around with that information and help anyone you think might need it. If you have any questions on the book don't hesitate to ask. I would be more than happy to help anyone that wants it.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!, January 13, 2011
By mpax10 - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (Paperback)
Written by a Christian, words could not ring more true. This is a book to keep and read over and over.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Still the best, January 9, 2011
By J. P. Moss (NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (Revised Edition) (Hardcover)
Dale Carnegie wrote this book over 60 years ago, but his advice is still fresh and relevant. It helped me more than any other book to get a handle on my worries and fears and make them a thing of the past. Highly recommended.
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