I'm talking about How to Win Friends and Influence People since Ive seen it pop up multiple times in tbe last month and get undeserved praise.

People don't realize that books like these are popular because they're the product of successful marketing, and while it does have the benefit of taking you from "insufferable" to "friendly", it's too simplified and in some ways harmful for the purposes of the average person interested in actually influencing people. The book simply isn't comprehensive enough to illustrate the limitations and downsides of being too interested or inquisitive about the other person, which is like its biggest takeaway.