Dale Carnegie was an influential figure in the American self-help industry. Born Dale Carnagey in 1888, he was raised on a Missouri farm and took an early interest in public speaking. After graduating from teaching college, he worked in sales before quitting his job to move to New York City. Carnegie’s attempts to break into acting or become a novelist were not a success. He then turned his attention to running adult education classes on self-improvement. Founding the Dale Carnegie Institute, he developed popular courses on public speaking, communication, and leadership. Carnegie’s subsequent nonfiction books were based on the content of his lectures and seminars. He became best known for the books How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936) and How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (1948). The enduring success of these bestsellers has led to Carnegie being credited for launching the self-help industry. He died in 1955.

Carnegie’s background and life experiences inform the content and ideas of How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. The author includes several personal anecdotes in the book to illustrate his arguments. The poverty of his rural upbringing is highlighted to demonstrate that hardship and adversity can spur success in those with a positive mindset.