Agreed. The "influence people" part of the title really rubbed me the wrong way. But after reading it, it's not at all about manipulating people. It could just

Agreed. The "influence people" part of the title really rubbed me the wrong way. But after reading it, it's not at all about manipulating people. It could just as well be titled "How to be a pleasant human being", because that's what it's mostly about -- along with many anecdotes illustrating the positive consequence of behaving pleasantly and respectfully.