// Book comparison
Dare to Lead vs How to Win Friends and Influence People
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of Dare to Lead by Brené Brown and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
Dare to Lead
by Brené Brown
★ 4.9/5
How to Win Friends and Influence People
by Dale Carnegie
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| Dare to Lead | How to Win Friends and Influence People | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 320 | 288 |
| Reading time | ~8.0 h | ~7.2 h |
| Published | 2018 | 1936 |
| Author | Brené Brown | Dale Carnegie |
| Category | Leadership | Leadership |
| Publisher | Random House | Simon & Schuster |
Choose Dare to Lead if…
- → You're interested in leadership.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2018).
Choose How to Win Friends and Influence People if…
- → You're interested in leadership.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~7.2 hours).
Key takeaways — Dare to Lead
- ✓ Practice Rumbling with Vulnerability by leaning into difficult strategic conversations and productive conflict, which is the primary driver of high-performance team innovation.
- ✓ Utilize the BRAVING Inventory to objectively build and measure trust within your leadership team, ensuring that your organization is grounded in a foundation of mutual accountability.
- ✓ Foster a Daring Culture by adopting the 'Clear is Kind' philosophy, providing honest and specific feedback that supports employee growth and organizational excellence.
Key takeaways — How to Win Friends and Influence People
- ✓ Practice Radical Appreciation by identifying and acknowledging the sincere strengths of your team members, which is the most effective way to inspire high performance and loyalty.
- ✓ Master Empathetic Perspective-Taking by always seeking to understand the motives and needs of your stakeholders before attempting to persuade them to your strategic viewpoint.
- ✓ Avoid Direct Criticism and instead use indirect methods to point out errors, ensuring that you preserve the other person’s dignity and maintain a collaborative work environment.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with Dare to Lead. If you want a different angle on the same topic, How to Win Friends and Influence People is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is Dare to Lead or How to Win Friends and Influence People better? +
Dare to Lead has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. Dare to Lead focuses on leadership, while How to Win Friends and Influence People focuses on leadership. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, Dare to Lead or How to Win Friends and Influence People? +
How to Win Friends and Influence People is shorter (288 pages, ~7.2 hours) compared to Dare to Lead (320 pages, ~8.0 hours).
Should I read Dare to Lead or How to Win Friends and Influence People first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with Dare to Lead. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.