Dale Carnegie’s How to Stop Worrying and Start Living is like an entire self-help library in one book. Also remarkable is that it was written over 70 years ago. Decades before “mind-body medicine” came into vogue, Carnegie was providing evidence of the physical effects of emotional stress. A generation before Rhonda Byrne published The Secret, he was talking about the benefits of a positive attitude. As I read this book, I often found myself thinking, “We knew about this way back then!” Either Dale Carnegie was ahead of his time, or we as a civilization are really slow learners!
With practical advice and inspiring anecdotes, Stop Worrying covers a multitude of topics related to life stressors, including:
- Fundamental Facts You Should Know About Worry (Part 1)
- Basic Techniques in Analyzing Worry (Part 2)
- How to Keep From Worrying About Criticism (Part 6)
- 31 True Stories of How I Conquered Worry (Part 8)
What I especially love about this book are the personal stories of individuals who faced and overcame all manner of challenges. Granted, the references are dated, but this makes them even more charming. Carnegie has a way of making bedtime stories out of very important life lessons. (But isn’t that the way human civilizations have done it for centuries? Proverbs and parables?) For this reason, I highly recommend the audiobook version. The male narration is wonderful – like your granddad or favorite teacher reading to you.
I honestly couldn’t tell you how many times I have listened to this audiobook. It is my “go to” resource when I need help getting out of a funk.
