●Text Analysis

1.Theme

By citing interesting historical anecdotes, the text tells us how to handle people. The policy is, not to criticize or ridicule them because it may cause bad feelings and destroy their confidence. Besides, our criticisms can often be wrong. Wise people should instead show their understanding and trust, since nobody is perfect.

2.Structure

1)Part One (Para. 1): Criticism is usually futile and often dangerous in handling people.

2)Part Two (Para. 2-21): By examples of both positive & negative, the text gives stories of how some celebrities learned to handle people.

3)Part Three (Para. 22-23): The writer urges readers to understand people instead of criticizing, condemning and complaining.

1) When young, Abraham Lincoln learned not to ridicule people. (Paras. 2–4)

2) As president, Lincoln learned to put himself in the position of the person he intended to criticize. (Paras. 5–11)

3) When criticized, how to avoid responding rudely. (Paras. 12–14)

4) Bitter criticism is capable of ruining a promising career and even causing suicide. (Paras. 15–16)

5) It takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving. (Paras. 17–21)

3.Further Discussion

How to Win Friends and Influence People 《人性的弱點》, published in 1936, is still a popular book in achieving successful personality and communication skills. Its structure is as follows:

Part 1: Fundamental Techniques in Handling People

Part 2: Six Ways to Make People Like You

Part 3: How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking

Part 4: Be a Leader - How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

Questions:

1) Why did Shields challenged Lincoln to fight a duel?

A: He was ridiculed by Lincoln repeatedly, and turned to duel to settle the dispute, which was then the practice to settle a quarrel over a point of honor.

2) Why did Lincoln think, from the author’s guess, in this way?

A: Battle of Gettysburg was the most brutal one of the entire Civil War, leaving the largest number of casualties. Lincoln came to understand why General Meade refused his order to launch a new attack.

3) Why did Mark Twain lose his temper occasionally?

A: Twain had a peculiar idea upon spelling mistakes, which he thought created a unique effect. Besides, some of his protagonists, say Huck, were not well educated, and always gave a poor pronunciation.

Alliteration 头韵（修辞）：

The repetition of an initial consonant sound, as in “a peck of pickled peppers.” It creates a rhythm to draw the readers’ attention.

✔my ears had been pierced with the screams and shrieks (Para. 11)

✔Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain (Para. 17)

✔this proud and precise pilot (Para. 21)

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” It evokes a sense of rhythm and sound within the line almost like a drum, pounding against an object like a boat against waves. — A famous example from The Great Gatsby

4) How do you think Carnegie’s idea of not criticizing? Do you think his argument convincing

A: The anecdotes he uses are more legendary and cannot prove anything. He uses the word “criticize” rather loosely and treats it as synonymous with “ridicule”, “condemn” and “insult”. Actually, to criticize does not have to be any of these. A sincere advice would be welcome, which may strengthen mutual understanding and friendship rather than otherwise. He asks people not to criticize, but isn’t he criticizing and ridiculing those who do?

Discussions:

1) Can you make a distinction between constructive criticism and destructive criticism?

2) Isn’t the author being illogical when he is arguing against criticism while criticizing those who criticize?