Little Known Facts about Well Known People by Dale Carnegie - Summary by Chady Elias

This summary was written by Chady Elias, second runner up at the reading competition and translated by myself.

In this book, author Dale Carnegie chose to explore the depths of the lives of renowned world figures looking for special personality traits that distinguished them and enabled them to leave their marks on history. Below are some of the most notable figures Dale discusses.

 

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all"

First, there is George Byron; the Romantic poet who had great impact on nineteenth century's literature. Insanely loved by dozens of women, he loved them back and left us thousands of poems and love letters.

As for Albert Einstein (born in 1879), the scientist who revolutionized science with his theory of relativity, we learn that he had difficulties at school and suffered a lot because of them. As an adult, he turned out to be as exotic as his own theory. For instance, he despised fame, wealth and luxury and avoided interviews with journalists. Over 1800 books have been published around his theory while he on the other hand only needed one sentence to convey it ... He often wore old wrinkled clothes which he didn’t even bother to iron. As for shaving, he always claimed doing it in the bath tub because using two kinds of soap, one for shaving the beard and one for bathing made life too complicated. He was a happy man who claimed his happiness was due to him not wanting or needing anything in life: “I don’t seek money, or titles or recognition and praise, what makes me happy is to play the violin, to work and to go on short excursions on my small boat”.  He even admitted that once at the train station, the ticketing officer pointed out to him that he had a serious problem with numbers and accounting.

Lenin, leader of the Russian Revolution was born in 1870. He was seriously "depressed" in his youth and never participated in any sort of athletic competition. He wrote one of his manuscripts in prison using yogurt instead of ink to avoid being caught. To reveal the content, his followers had to soak the pages in hot water. In 1917, he became the ruler of Russia and confiscated all private properties redistributing them to farmers after chasing away their original owners. Russia knew famine at those times, to which Lenin’s initiative was to refuse adding sugar to his Tea because others were not able to have it. He had absolute power over Russia; ruling more or less alone, working 20 hours a day. He was a hard fighter who wouldn’t allow himself to be stopped at anything, learning even to write with his left hand when his right one got paralyzed.

Gandhi, the wise man from India, was born in 1869. He was poor yet he was stronger than any Millionaire on the earth. He grew up in a time full of hatred for the English. He then studied law in London and became a lawyer. The first time in court, he trembled and his knees shook so bad that he was forced to sit. He was not successful carrier wise when he was young, but he later knew a huge success and made a lot of profit. He was however incapable of enjoying his achievements because millions in his country were suffering from poverty. He consequently chose to vow his life to poverty and also adopted a little girl to raise as his own.
He did not ask for anything for himself. All he ever wanted was to die for others to live and he was indeed granted what he aspired for when he was assassinated in 1948.

William Shakespeare, England’s greatest poet and playwright was born in 1564. He got married at the age of eighteen to his mistress, eight years his senior. This was the tragedy of his life because he never loved her and he was forced to marry her only because they were caught in bed together. Shakespeare always warned readers not to marry older women. He lived most of his time in London, and only spent little time with his family visiting them once a year.  Shakespeare’s parents, his sister, his daughter and granddaughter were all illiterate. At the age of thirteen Shakespeare was forced to leave school and work with his father on the farm. He looked after the cattle, milked cows, made butter as well as tanned leather. He then guarded horses and carriages at the doors of theaters. Eventually, he was to act in a play and quickly become a leading master in play writing and show making.
He died very rich but did not leave anything in his will for his wife except their used old matrimonial bed. He was buried in front of the pulpit in the church because he had the money to make it possible! With Hamlet, King Lear and The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare has become immortal.

Joseph Stalin was born in 1879. His mother used to regularly take him with her to church, light a candle and pray that one day he becomes a priest who devotes his life for the service of religion. As planned, he studied theology but everything in his life took a turn the day he read Karl Marx's “Capital: Critique of Political Economy”. He joined the Social Democratic party in 1900. One may admire him or despise, but one thing is sure, one cannot ignore him. I personally find it difficult not to respect a man who devoted his whole life for one goal!He revolted against poverty  and was sentenced for eight years for standing up for this cause.

When he became the supreme ruler of Russia, he did not live in the Imperial Palace; home of the nine czars that ruled for sixty years before him. Instead, he chose to live near the palace, in a small apartment that was inhabited once by one of the czar's servants. He hated appearing in public and being in the presence of strangers. On the other hand, he was fond of clothing and style. No one is infallible, he used to repeat but "the virtue of a man is to have the courage to admit his own mistakes and fix them".



Leo Tolstoy, Russian novelist and philosopher indulged himself in his youth with life pleasures. He later on dedicate himself to  the teachings of Jesus Christ. Early in his life, he faced too much difficulties to the point of despairing his tutors. After thirty years nonetheless, he wrote the greatest stories the world would ever known namely, "War and peace" and "Anna Karenina".
He was on a totally different pace with his wife when it came to luxury, fortune, glory and social success. He hated all the aforementioned trivialities of life as he preferred to refer to them, while she worshiped them. Not surprising for her to turn his life to hell after he gave up his intellectual properties right and authorized the Russian people to print his books free of charge. He tragically died at eighty two years old while trying to flee his wife. Indeed with no where to go to, he contracted pneumonia and passed away in a railway station in the presence of his daughter as well as photographers and journalists from around the world!



Egyptian queen Cleopatra inherited the throne of Egypt at seventeen years old. She ruled along her brother until she was deprived of her rights and was forced to flee to Syria. When Julius Caesar invaded Egypt, she decided to meet him and arranged for a fishing boat to transport her and her maid. She managed to get in his palace by hiding in a bag of goods. She instantly conquered his heart the moment she got out of the bag and sang and danced for him.  He then helped her overthrown her brother and monopolize the throne. She went back to Rome with him and publicly continued their affair. A son, "Caesarion" was born of their union. After the assassination of Julius Caesar, she moved back to Egypt where she met Marcus Antonius, the emperor with whom she would fall in love with and give birth to three children. Octavius' ​​troops defeated the armies of the Marc Anthony committed suicide when he was mistakenly informed that Cleopatra was captured and taken as a prisoner. Cleopatra followed his steps and killed herself after learning of her lover's death. What a sad end for a woman at the peak of her life, a woman who was madly loved by two of the greatest men in history...