>>17977632there's a whole genre of etiquette handbooks dating to 19th century, and back, that covers exactly the same topics (just look up "etiquette" on
archive.org) - active listening, not putting yourself in the spotlight, avoiding inflammatory topics like religion and politics, exactly the same stuff Carnegie reiterates
but the intent changed. what previously been taken for granted - shit you have to know, and follow, to be a member of the society, smoothening out social interactions, nowadays has the transactional underpinning, it's for salesmen, direct marketing people, all that vermin
on one hand Carnegie popularized something important and precious, breathe new life into it, bless his soul for that. on the other, he vulgarized it. just like with everything americans touch.
