fdw

the important point of the book is that Carnegie succinctly collects a small number of behaviors that will improve your social life if you apply them.

Carnegie chose not to use "manipulate" for a reason

I'd recommend reading some later ones.

I still recommend the book to new colleagues, and our culture takes care that we don't follow each "law" to its letter.

Personally, I'd always recommend Going Postal

maybe Night Watch (a bit of back story could help but is not necessary)

or Monstrous Regiment.

The Color of Magic - Terry Pratchett (Kinda interesting, but rather odd)