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How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Here's a sample:

Lesson 1: "Don't criticize, condemn, or complain."

John Wanamaker [says] "I learned thirty years ago that it is foolish to scold. I have enough trouble overcoming my own limitations without fretting over the fact that God has not seen fit to distribute evenly the gift of intelligence."

Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person's precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment.

The resentment that criticism engenders can demoralize employees, family members and friends, and still not correct the situation that has been condemned.

Do you know someone you would like to change and regulate and improve? . . . why not begin on yourself? . . . that is a lot more profitable than trying to improve others--yes, and a lot less dangerous."

Benjamin Franklin: "I will speak ill of no man . . . and speak all the good I know of everybody."

Any fool can ctiticize, condemn, and complain--and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving. That breeds sympathy, tolerance, and kindness.

This is a lesson I need to take to heart.