How to mock friends and irritate people – The Donald Trump guide to success －友人を嘲り、人をイライラさせるには ～ドナルド・トランプの成功ガイド－

“Nobody would be tougher on ISIS than Donald Trump.”
Donald Trump

 

“When Mexico sends its people [to the USA]... they’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems to us.  They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists.  And some, I assume, are good people.”

Donald Trump

The top story on the BBC news this week is Donald Trump.  He is campaigning to be the Republican Party nominee for US President.  He suggested this week that all Muslims should be banned from entering America.  I don’t know what to make of him.  Does he really think that he could be elected President with such divisive and controversial statements?

I have another theory.  He will say more and more controversial things and be criticised and talked about all over the world.  He will ultimately lose the nomination but will then use the huge publicity to sell something.  Since everyone is amazed at how successful his unusual campaign has been, a good option would be to sell a self-help book.  Here is a suggestion for the title: “How to mock friends and irritate people – The Donald Trump guide to success”. 

The title is of course based on Dale Carnegie’s famous self-help book, “How to win friends and influence people.”  His book was first published in 1936, has sold over 15 million copies, and remains popular today.  Almost 80 years on, perhaps his theories need to be rethought for the current generation. 

And what if Donald Trump is the man to do it?  Below, I’ll compare some of the things Dale Carnegie wrote with what Donald Trump could write. 

Topic: Fundamental techniques in handling people

Dale Carnegie:

Don’t criticise, condemn or complain.

Give honest and sincere appreciation.

Arouse in the other person an eager want.
 

Donald Trump:

Criticise, condemn and complain.  Mexicans, women and Muslims are particularly good targets.

Give entertainment and an enemy for people to blame.
Arouse in the media shock and disapproval.  People hate the media, so this makes you look good.

 

Topic: [3] ways to make people like you 

Dale Carnegie:
Remember that a person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest sound in any language.
Be a good listener.  Encourage others to talk about themselves.
Make the other person feel important – and do it sincerely.

Donald Trump: Remember that your own name is the sweetest sound in any language.  Name a tower after yourself.
Be a braggart.  Talk about how great you are.
Make yourself seem important – speak about yourself in the third person.

William is going to finish his blog now.
p.s. I am great.  

Vocabulary:
 

to mock – to make fun of; to laugh at the expense of someone
 

to irritate someone – to make someone annoyed or angry
 

ISIS – The [so-called] Islamic State in Syria, a terrorist group
 

controversial – something which divides opinion
 

ultimately – finally; in the end
 

fundamental – most basic

to handle someone – to deal with someone
 

to condemn – to express complete disapproval of
 

a braggart – someone who brags, or praises him or herself or his or her own achievements
 

the third person – in speech or in writing, not referring directly to yourself (I, me etc.), and not the listener (you etc.), but another person (he, she, Donald Trump etc.)