Ira Glass

So when Paul's teacher decided to do this exercise where they elected a class president, he ran. And he won. And his father was very, very pleased. The book was working. There was just one problem.

What would he say to his father? The whole experience with Dale Carnegie actually left Paul with fewer friends and less influence over people. It was confusing, all the ideas the book put into his head.

What would he say to his father? The whole experience with Dale Carnegie actually left Paul with fewer friends and less influence over people. It was confusing, all the ideas the book put into his head.

You know what's so interesting about that is that the book made you act in a way which was completely phony and calculating. And so then the thought entered your head, maybe everybody else is acting phony and calculating as well.

You know what's so interesting about that is that the book made you act in a way which was completely phony and calculating. And so then the thought entered your head, maybe everybody else is acting phony and calculating as well.

Welcome to WBEZ Chicago. It's This American Life. I'm Ira Glass. Today on our program, with the new year upon us, people making resolutions, some of them trying to figure out how to be more successful this year than they've been in the past, we ask the question, how do you win friends and influence people? We have stories today of people climbing to be number one. How do they do it?

Welcome to WBEZ Chicago. It's This American Life. I'm Ira Glass. Today on our program, with the new year upon us, people making resolutions, some of them trying to figure out how to be more successful this year than they've been in the past, we ask the question, how do you win friends and influence people? We have stories today of people climbing to be number one. How do they do it?

What is the fundamental difference between them and everybody else? We answer that question today in four simple lessons that will change your life forever. or possibly won't. Lesson one, to make a friend, be a friend. David Sedaris has an instructive tale of how, as a boy, with the help of his dad, he tried to bridge the chasm that divides the popular kids from the unpopular.

What is the fundamental difference between them and everybody else? We answer that question today in four simple lessons that will change your life forever. or possibly won't. Lesson one, to make a friend, be a friend. David Sedaris has an instructive tale of how, as a boy, with the help of his dad, he tried to bridge the chasm that divides the popular kids from the unpopular.

Lesson two, stay in touch. Yes, my friend, you can learn so many things about being a better friend, a better spouse, a better business person, if you would simply imitate recent U.S. diplomatic and foreign policy. Lesson three, people like you if you put a lot of time into your appearance. In that lesson, we hear the story of how a simple Superman costume changed one man's life for the better.

Lesson two, stay in touch. Yes, my friend, you can learn so many things about being a better friend, a better spouse, a better business person, if you would simply imitate recent U.S. diplomatic and foreign policy. Lesson three, people like you if you put a lot of time into your appearance. In that lesson, we hear the story of how a simple Superman costume changed one man's life for the better.

Lesson four, just be yourself. Jonathan Goldstein demonstrates how to be bested by the most popular, most handsome, most powerful man in the world and not feel bad about it. Stay with us if you care about your future. This is American Life. Today's show is a rerun. How to make friends and influence people. Lesson one, to make a friend, be a friend.

Lesson four, just be yourself. Jonathan Goldstein demonstrates how to be bested by the most popular, most handsome, most powerful man in the world and not feel bad about it. Stay with us if you care about your future. This is American Life. Today's show is a rerun. How to make friends and influence people. Lesson one, to make a friend, be a friend.

Well, writer David Sedaris tells this story about the popular crowd and how easy it is to enter. This was recorded for a live audience. This story begins on Labor Day when David was a kid at the Raleigh Country Club in North Carolina.

Well, writer David Sedaris tells this story about the popular crowd and how easy it is to enter. This was recorded for a live audience. This story begins on Labor Day when David was a kid at the Raleigh Country Club in North Carolina.

David Sedaris, recorded at the Detroit Institute of Art by WDET. He is the author of many fine books. He's on tour this year in New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, and so many of the 50 states. Find out when he's coming to your town at davidsederisbooks.com. Coming up, it's okay if you're not Superman. Unless, of course, your girlfriend used to date Superman.

David Sedaris, recorded at the Detroit Institute of Art by WDET. He is the author of many fine books. He's on tour this year in New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, and so many of the 50 states. Find out when he's coming to your town at davidsederisbooks.com. Coming up, it's okay if you're not Superman. Unless, of course, your girlfriend used to date Superman.

That's in a minute on Chicago Public Radio when our program continues. This is American Life from Ira Glass. Each week on our program, of course, we choose some theme, bring you different kinds of stories on that theme. Today's show, how to win friends and influence people. We have four lessons on the subject today. We've arrived at lesson number two. Stay in touch.

That's in a minute on Chicago Public Radio when our program continues. This is American Life from Ira Glass. Each week on our program, of course, we choose some theme, bring you different kinds of stories on that theme. Today's show, how to win friends and influence people. We have four lessons on the subject today. We've arrived at lesson number two. Stay in touch.

Well, the United States of America, of course, does all kinds of things to try to win friends and influence people among the world's nations. We organize sanctions against rogue states. We rally countries on trade issues and once upon a time on environmental issues. And sometimes you get the sense that when we're rallying nations into a coalition for this or that, U.S.