Analysis of How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

            In this day and age, it is often thought that reading self-help books is a sign of weakness. However, this is not an all encompassing statement, because not all self-help books are made for people who are clueless or those who do not have confidence. One such book that has greatly influenced many people through time is Dale Carnegie’s How To Win Friends And Influence People. In the strictest sense, this book was meant to be a self-help book. Nevertheless, its concepts and ideas presented in the book make it an enduring staple of many successful managers and leaders. The book was published in 1936 and until this moment is still being widely read and its ideas being applied by many people. The enduring trait of this book is that it is not only useful for people who are in management or business but they are also applicable in everyday real life situations.

            The book’s core concept is quite simple and yet one that is often missed by people whose job entails working with people on an everyday basis. Essentially the book’s premise is quite simple, and that is how to handle people. Carnegie (137) notes that “three-fourths of the people you will ever meet are hungering and thirsting for sympathy. Give it to them, and they will love you”. This statement lays out the foundation on how one is to go about doing just what the title says. The book itself is divided into four chapters that tackle topics such as techniques in handling people, making people like you, winning people over, and becoming a leader. These concepts presented may be simplistic to some who already know and practice these but to a person who has struggled in dealing with people, let alone handling them, they are eye openers. The title may be deceptively simple but in reality, they are concepts that people struggle to achieve even in real life situations.  Once mastered, these concepts can help change one’s life for the better.

            In terms of what were discussed in class, the book offers a wellspring of knowledge because the concepts tie up nicely and seemingly intertwine with the topics discussed, especially in terms of leadership and understanding individual behavior. The chapters themselves present a logical progression on how one is to achieve results in terms of leadership. In class, we learned that leadership is all about influencing people and motivating them to reach a certain goal that is shared by the group. It is also interesting to note that when one thinks of it, an organization is made up of individuals who have their own unique traits.

One cannot expect everyone in an organization to immediately work within the group. The book’s second chapter offers simple yet effective means to winning people over. Such as listening well and encouraging people to speak (Carnegie 76). This is a trait that leaders or people who are aspiring to become leaders often miss. It is also one of the keys to understanding individual behavior, because there is no better way to understanding human behavior than to let people open up themselves to you. This is because people often hide behind facades that can only be overcome by intently listening to them.

            Personally, there are certain concepts that I would apply in my day-to-day life. These are concepts such as always making people feel important (Carnegie 86). This concept is one that is very important to me because it is one that very few people consciously ever do. Letting people know and feel that they are important is something that I see is lacking in the world we live in. With our world increasingly veering towards impersonal communication aided by technology, letting people know that they are important is one that is lost among us who live in the present. The author may be long gone and his intended audience may be from a different era but his words still resonate as true in our modern world. Even in face to face conversations it is evident from this writer’s point of view that conversations and interactions often point to the fact that people want to feel important. I intend to consciously shift the focus on the person I am interacting with as opposed to hogging the limelight.

            Another concept in the book that is so simple and yet so lacking in this modern world we live in is to smile. Carnegie (64) advises us “actions speak louder than words, and a smile says, I like you, you make me happy. I am glad to see you”. As a person, I personally realized that although this gesture may be small, smiling does tend to change the mood and even demeanor of people one interacts with. It is also evident that smiling is not often used by people who believe that it is not needed in serious situations. However, smiling is something that tells people that you are sincere and this would make them open up to you. This opens up many possibilities that would have otherwise not been available when you do not smile.

            Many might say that this book may already be dated and that it does not apply in our modern context. However, this should not be the case because this book is concise, and offers insight into human nature and how one can navigate its intricacies into getting people to agree with you, as well as getting them to following your lead. I would give this book a high rating because it takes a very hard concept and explains it in simple terms but does not dumb down that the essence of its message is lost. Overall this book is highly recommended for people who interact with people on a daily basis, as well as those who want to gain insight on human nature.

Work Cited

Carnegie, Dale. How To Win Friends And Influence People. Simon and Schuster.1981. Print

Buy Literature Essay Now!

Literary Analysis of Art Spiegelman’s ‘Maus’

            Art Spiegelman’s ‘Maus’ is a book that details the story of Vladek and how he survived the Holocaust. Here, the book offers different perspectives about the Holocaust and the way it has changed their attitudes and viewpoint about life. For this, I will write a paper about the character of Vladek in Maus, analyzing the choices Spiegelman made in creating and presenting the character.

            Vladek is describe by Spiegelman to be someone who has survive the problem of Holocaust. Since Vladek is his father, the author had to use his interaction and past experiences to show the character.  In the book, Vladek is show to be happy with his life. In the comic strip, it shows how he feels glad because he has married to a beautiful woman Anja and lived in a good life because they are rich. Spiegelman also shows the couple contented seeing their first son, Richieu.  Using this background, the author want to show the experience of the Jews before the Holocaust. It helps readers understand that the Jews are successful in living their life normally.

            The next part of the book give idea to readers that the discrimination to the Jews are becoming a problem. There are particular scenes in the story where Vladek would see the development of Nazi and Anti-Jew sentiments from the people (Spiegelman, 27). A good example to show this experience is when Vladek returned from Czechoslovakia and saw that the factory has been damaged with writing against the Jews. Using this approach, Spiegelman introduces the beginning of the problem. It gives the idea that the hate against the Jews are increasing and even Vladek himself was a victim of this anger.

            The problems of Holocaust give Spiegelman the chance to describe the hard experience of his father. The comic strip gave different scenes where Vladek saw the Germans killing Jews in concentration camps. There is also the problem of losing his wife during the Holocaust and tried his best to get her back. The death of Richieu is also hard because Vladek had no time to say goodbye or even rescue him from the punishment of the Germans. Using the different experiences of Vladek, Spiegelman is able to show how his father survived. It also gives readers the chance to understand why Vladek acts that way especially his relationship with people like his wife and son Art.

            Another perspective to consider in understanding how Spiegelman present Vladek’s character is their relationship as father and son. In particular, their relationship remains to be distant. Also, Vladek was hard on not repeating the bad experiences he experienced in the past. Using this, Spiegelman is able to create a character like Vladek who was a good man and later on changed due to his hard experiences in the Holocaust.

            Vladek’s character also gives the impression of how difficult it is to recall the truth. In the different sections of the book, Spiegelman shows the problem of Art in getting the detail from his father because he has a hard time telling the story. This also gives a valid point in understanding the impact of Holocaust even if it happened for a long time already.

            Lastly, Spiegelman also try to show readers the impact of the Holocaust to Art’s life. The relationship of Vladek and Art give the idea of how difficult it is to handle the pain and suffering experienced by the people who survive Holocaust. The different attitudes of Vladek and his sudden anger and depression influence his relationship with Art.

            In conclusion, Spiegelman’s describes Vladek’s character to be the one that tries to cope and live the effect of the Holocaust. From a happy life in the past, he had to endure the harsh treatment of the Germans. It also create situations where his attitude towards life and other people became different. This influenced Vladek’s relationship with Art as he tries to cope with the anger, depression and difficulty of surviving the prosecution that happened during that time.    

   

Work Cited

Spiegelman, Art.  Maus: A Survivor’s Tale. Penguin Books; United States. Print

Buy Literature Essay Now!

Exploring Context and Applications of the Film ‘Hearts and Minds’

            Media remains to be a powerful because it gives ways to communicate a specific goal and objective to viewers. It is a tool used to show people the reality and also be critical about specific issues influencing society today. Arguably, films such as documentaries remain to be powerful instruments in helping bring change to people. Viewers are given the opportunity to connect with specific themes and also recognize that they will continue to be influenced by the changing norms of society today. Based from this context, it can be argued that the documentary ‘Hearts and Minds’ remain to be powerful to influence Mr. Horman to become responsive to issues in his environment as well as examine critical points that is worth pondering about.

            The documentary film ‘Hearts and Minds’ was directed by Peter Davis and was shot during 1974. The main focus of the film is to show the negative side of the Vietnam war. Although the intention was to create familiarity about the reason why the United States entered in such conflict, there film was specifically patterned to be critical about what is happening. Here, viewers are able to see the atrocities of the war and citing different things such as death, racism, torture and anti-war sentiments.

            Looking closely, the film was uniquely patterned to complement the interests of viewers. Specifically, there are instances where suffering and anguish is portrayed when a soldier died in the field trying to protect his country’s ideals. Such results depict the harsh reality associated with conflict and how the US government ultimately failed in this campaign. There is also the equally racist/prejudiced view of General William Westmoreland, where he emphasized that Vietnamese life is nothing but cheap. This somewhat created a negative sentiment against the US campaign given the context ad perspective created by this particular assessment. Equally, the documentary highlights the humiliation and trauma of a prisoner-of-war (POW) in Vietnam. After being captive for 6 ½ years, George Thomas Coker showcased resentment against the Vietnamese.

            The movie also highlighted the expansion of ideas through interviews. The interaction with people who have been directly involved in the conflict offered a deeper perspective about the mistakes brought forward by the Vietnam war. For them, this was a piece of history that should always be learned from. The harsh treatment of the Vietnamese brings forward challenges related to recognizing the value in the campaign as well as how difficult it is to enter a war without sacrificing lives.

            One way to analyze the film ‘Hearts and Minds’ would be to look at the general impression of this documentary to people. Specifically, there is the ability of the film to be analyzed as a form of media and how it influences people. It shows that media can be used by people to put forward or emphasize something of value. Looking at the examples of today, there are many films that try to portray the realities happening in society. For example, directors such as Michael Moore in ‘Sicko’ wanted to create a documentary that challenges the US healthcare system. Mr. Horman should realize that media is used as an instrument to showcase criticism about the policies initiated by the government because it not only compromises the people, it also exposes the harsh reality that the people had to face.

Exploring the context of legitimacy, documentaries in general also provide challenges to the ability of the governments such as the United States to successfully implement its policies and goals. Applying this to the film, the history of the Vietnam war was humiliating for the United States because it demonstrated a failed attempt to exert its full authority during the war. Even if the U.S. were fully equipped, the location and terrain became their particular demise. Using this premise, it viewers are then given the lesson to become sensitive to these issues because it gives them a better understanding of what is going on. Seeing this, Mr. Horman can realize that the disdain and contempt experienced by people from the event that transpired especially the death and killing of many.

The development of negative resentment or values is also another context that the documentary provides. Specifically, ‘Hearts and Minds’ gives the impression on how U.S. supporters of the Vietnam war developed resentment against the Vietnamese. The lesson that Mr. Horman can learn here is that media also shapes the way we think. It provides definition of values and how we particularly behave. That is why it is important to become analytical of what we see or hear because that might not be true or just a propaganda created to gather support and backing from people. Going back to the influence of media, this documentary gives a good impression of how such prejudicial perspectives are created. It communicates to viewers giving them the impression that there are indeed specific conditions that influence people to believe in such way.

            Lastly, media opens up a medium where people can showcase their particular side of the issue. Arguably, this form of communication encourages people to become critical and be proactive to what is happening. In ‘Hearts and Minds’ one of the director’s objective is to allow the mothers and fathers of the soldiers to speak up and fight for the safety of their son. The same goes for other documentaries. It challenges people to be responsible citizens and recognize that issues cannot be solved if they remain to be apathetic or  indifferent to what is happening in one’s country. One way or another, the problems would impact people and create specific issues that would impact the life of people. Thus, it is better to be critical and voice out concerns rather than do nothing at all.

            ‘Hearts and Minds is also effective because of its ability to create specific connections to readers. Under this part, there are arguably  different approaches used in order to tell a story and piece together themes that would persuade readers to take on a stand over the issue. Though it can be argued that this is an anti-war documentary, there are others who recognize the film as an inspiration for soldiers who sacrificed their life in order to promote the specific ideologies and views.

            Applying this particular context, films are important because they always convey a particular message. The documentaries equally provide the same objective and at the same time offer criticism that viewers need to understand. Using this as basis, people should also be aware of how to specifically spot these changes and apply it to the realities of today. For example, the effect of the Vietnam war brought forward US weaknesses and therefore should strengthen its approach in promoting diplomatic policies. Arguably, these are just simple examples that viewers can try to explore further as they engage in further interaction and discussions.

            In communication, it has always been critical to convey the appropriate message to recipients. The communication process would falter or cause misunderstanding if the channels are not properly established. Seeing Mr. Norman also needs to convey the proper message to others. In particular, he must be responsible and approach the issue with a critical eye. This gives him the opportunity to become proactive and at least demonstrate a sense of nationalism particularly in helping promote the values and principles we believe in.

            The documentary ‘Hearts and Minds’ can also allow viewers to highlight conflicting political views. This means that the documentary illustrates the differing opinions about how the United States would respond to the aftermath of the Vietnam conflict and the particular realities it creates especially on issues of today. Arguably, political influence remains to be powerful in the development of relationships today. People must understand that everyone has their own perspective of how the government should fulfill its role to the people. The development of conflict is sometimes caused by different ideals or clashing ideologies of how to view the world. Familiarizing with these things remain to be essential as it helps bring forward ways to appreciate the issue in-depth as well as increase our participation in state/political affairs.

            Moving forward to the realities of today, it can also be seen that politics play an important key in the promotion of national policy. The recent war with Iraq and Afghanistan can also be understood from the conflicting political framework. This means that the United States is seeking to respond to specific influences that challenges specific ‘Western ideals’. For the case of Saddam Hussein and the Taliban, their political ideologies differ and influenced the development of war and conflict. Regardless of one’s position, these issues are clearly important because it impacts all of us.

            Another valuable perspective is that politics open up ways for people to become critical. For example, there are those who argue that the new Obamacare would limit the ability to promote healthcare access for all. However, there are those who believe that it isn’t. Based from these opinions, one can clearly understand each contentions and recognize the influence of politics in the issue. Having a detached and indifferent mindset would not only create limitations on understanding the issue thoroughly, it also undermines the capability to become responsive to these changes because little information is known.

            Examining further the context of sentiments, people remain to be emotional or hopeful that their new presidential candidate would promise the results he clamored for during the campaign. This enthusiasm about creating the positive changes comes from the ability of people to recognize the potential it carries in the future. However, without exercising one’s responsibility to vote, this would be difficult to accomplish. Arguably, everyone has to do their own little part in making their voice heard, regardless if the candidate wins or not. The important part that needs to be established is people tried and responded.

            Equally, the same feeling can be seen in the manner that we show concern to our family members. Engaging in public discussion on social issues is like addressing your issues with family members. If one creates distance or remains to be indifferent, the problem balloons and becomes more challenging to address. However, if one would be vocal and responsive to the need for change, then transformations can be made possible. Clearly, this is an important step to think about especially since everyone would be affected regardless of race, social status and specific affiliations.

            Using the documentary ‘‘Hearts and Minds’ again, sentiments are created because people feel that their children are dying because of politically motivated gains. If one would put themselves in the situation of the father or mother of soldiers in Vietnam, the story would have been different. That is why clamoring or having a voice should not just revolve around on areas we are particularly interested in. Rather, it should come from our willingness as a citizen to make the country and society better. There must be the readiness to interact, cooperate and be critical of what is happening around.

            ‘Hearts and Minds’ is also instrumental because it touches on the different sentiments of people who are affected by the war. Clearly, the conflict that the United States engaged in 1974 influenced various sentiments from the citizenry. Specifically, examples of these groups from those who have actually witnessed the hardships and reality of Vietnam and the people who tried to fight for better solutions to the problem. Seeing this, documentaries such as these are powerful because of its ability to evoke these feelings altogether and create a good perspective not only about the war but the related factors influencing the development of sentiments.

Conclusion

            Overall, the objective of this paper is to explore why the documentary ‘Hears and Minds’ remains to be a powerful theme to make Mr. Horman critical about the realities of today. Through these subjects, the value of any documentary such as ‘Hearts and Minds’ is to allow people to become analytical about what is happening. It remains to be important because it gives emphasis on how people perceive social issues and the impact it creates not only to people who are involved but also on how the US government seeks to promote its political goals and objectives.

            To conclude, it is the right of every people, including Mr. Horman to be critical about how the government pursues its policies and objectives. By creating awareness, it helps one to become active respondents in ensuring that political and social issues are addressed properly or in accordance to what the citizenry needs. Also, it gives media the ability to connect people together, convey messages and recognize that there are possible alternatives that can also help promote change. In essence, becoming active and vibrant citizens can be a powerful tool that can mirror the realities of today and also bring forward lessons for improvement in the future.

   Work Cited

Davis, Peter. Hearts and Minds. 1974 BBS Productions. Film

Buy Literature Essay Now!

         

“A Season in the Life of Emmanuel”: A Presentation

            The book ‘A Season in the Life of Emmanuel’ Marie-Claire Blais is a Canadian classic which provides a critical perspective of the harsh realities of life. It presents readers in a context that is oppressive and provides its connection with religious beliefs and ideals. To carefully piece together the purpose of the text, readers must carefully locate themes that influence character development and change. In seeking to understand the themes presented by Blais, consideration must be made on areas related to the negative impact of religion, abuse, patriarchal families, power and conflict. These concepts are essential in helping understand the story and how characters interact with the issues they face.

            A critical theme that is presented by Blais in the book corresponds to the negative impact of religion. Arguably, this remains to be one of the central areas highlighted by the story. Here, the clergy and the overall concept of religion are presented as flawed and oppressive. It is flawed because it fails to recognize the suffering of the family and continues to maintain the status quo. Likewise, it is oppressive because the priests have been subjected to scandals and sexual abuse. A good viewpoint to show this was the case of Héloise, a nun who was subjected to exploitation of her innocence. This is presented figuratively by Blais as she provides the following quote:

“Héloise was unable to make out of anything in this depraved fairy landscape but the chaste foot of a girl depicted as spurning full of toads – as in other pictures she had been the Virgin spurn the head of the malignant serpent” (Blais, 116).

The end result was disgust on the part of Héloise as she left the convent to became a prostitute. This sad reality is one evidence of how Blais exhibits the abuses of the Catholic faith. Using the perspective of Sampson, he provides that “Blais’s intention is to show the dehumanizing heart of religion, especially Catholicism, and to do so through the prism of a morose and exaggerated absurdity” (1).

            Also central to the story is the issue of abuses. It was stated in the previous part about the Catholic abuses. In this case, the concept of abuse revolves around how it somewhat resembles a norm in the story. This means that the process of hurting people and domestic violence remains to be an acceptable act. Such harsh reality can also be seen with the family that Blais describes. Here, readers are able to see the oppressive nature of the father and how he continues to exercise his authority with both his wife and children. A good example to showcase abuse is how the father maintained discipline by beating his children. As Blais puts it:

“He wanted to know everything, poor child. It was his curiosity that killed him. His father beat him too much. You’ll be beaten, too, if you ask questions. Better keep quiet and go out to chop wood like the others” (104).

Similarly, the abuse doesn’t necessarily stop in the application of violence. Arguably, Blais also shows how abuse is manifested in terms of demonstrating irresponsibility to the father. Considering his continued attempt to produce many children, the inability to provide sufficiently can also be counted as abuse. Rather than providing for the family, the father is unable to make ends meet effectively. Arguably, it is this traumatic feature that makes the process of abuse apparent from the family level up to the social realities like religion.

            Related to the process of abuse is the ability of the father to control the decisions of the family. Arguably, this relationship demonstrates a patriarchal family. This means that the father continues to exert authority and he remains to be in control of all things. From the vantage point of Blais, it clearly shows an authoritarian perspective for the family. Without much choice, the children follow their father’s wishes. The sad reality about this is that these decisions often lead them to be exposed to further abuses or violence. This is particularly problematic especially with how the children were brought up. A good quote from the book that provides this says:

“But your father is as stubborn as an ox, as simple as a fish! He throws his children out of the house before they know how to fend for themselves like grown-up men. I wonder what will become of him without those three fingers” (Blais, 105).

Interestingly, there is also the correlation of Grand-mère Antoinette and the father. Here, Blais portrays this character to also be in control of the family affairs. Arguably, the role of Antoinette in the story is an extension of the father and remains to be in control of the family affairs. The end result is the role of the mother is reduced to mainly the child-bearer or the one who takes care of the children. “In this novel of transgression and subversion, mother's position as gatekeeper of tradition is de-glorified. While Grand-mère Antoinette seems to fulfill that role in a rather untraditional way, as she dominates men and even clergymen, Emmanuel's mother is a victim to be pitied” (Andersen 1).

            Lastly, the book emphasizes the interaction of power and conflict. Since it was argued in the previous sections how abuse remains to be a dominant theme, the interaction of power remains to be controlled by a few people and the religious institution (Natalie’s Reviews 1). Integrating the issue of power and conflict, there are contradictions to how the sons and daughter perceive their interest of living their life compared to their father. For example, the harsh reality of being named number 7 and his interest in poetry led him in conflict with his family. The depressing part about this was that he developed the bad habit of stealing. This negative trait can be attributed to his inability to define who he is. Even his name makes his story saddening. A good way to demonstrate this is when he continued to justify his why he would need to steal. As Blais provides:

“Number Seven was walking in Silence, preoccupied with all the bicycles and car headlights he was going to steal. Without doubt the would end up in prison, as his father often told him. He no longer has any hope  of finding a cure for his need to steal. He had gone too far to turn back now”(134).

Sadly, the same fate also happened to other characters as they continue to fall for the system that was specifically setup to oppress and maintain control. This is particularly a challenge to overcome and more often than not provide emphasis on how gruesome and horrible the environment which Blais created. Also, each story is connected with one another in such a way that it gives the impression of violence, oppression and power struggle as it applies to their individual life. As Sampson contends, “the results are, paradoxically, more heart-felt and harrowing because she doesn’t simply hold a one-dimensional mirror up to her readers” (1). There are clear depictions of such realities throughout the text.

            In conclusion, Marie-Claire Blais piece showcases the harsh realities of life. It gives impression on how religion, oppression and abuses remain to be prevalent. It also shows how these themes continue to promote the status quo by controlling the character’s individual beliefs and values. The use of these themes remain to be manifested in each character as they try to struggle and find meaning in this gruesome reality they had to live in. Sadly, the story ends the same way as it continues to expose the inability of these characters to find hope to this harsh reality.

Works Cited

Andersen, Marguerite. ‘Subversive Texts: Quebec Women Writers’ Studies in Canadian

Literature, 1988 vol. 13 no. 2, Web Available from <http://journals.hil.unb.ca/index.php/scl/article/view/8081/9138>

Blais, Marie-Claire. A Season in the Life of Emmanuel. 2009 Canada; Exile Edition. Print.

Natalie’s Reviews. ‘A Season in the Life of Emmanuel by Marie-Claire Blais’ Good Reads 2011

Web Available from <http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/186650485>

Sampson, Mark. Review: A Season in the Life of Emmanuel, by Marie-Claire Blais 2011 Web

Available from <http://freerangereading.blogspot.com/2011/05/review-season-in-life-of-emmanuel-by.html>

Buy Literature Essay Now!