"How to Win Friends and Influence People," a self-help book by Dale Carnegie, was first published in 1936. It has since sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.
A year in to his presidency, Donald Trump has shown the value of Carnegie's insights.
Never before in the field of American foreign policy have so many of the nation's friends been lost with such speed by one man.
He began his days in the White House mired in controversy through his travel ban on people from several Muslim-majority countries that instantly spread suspicion among Islam's 1.6 billion faithful that he didn't like them.
Fast-forward to the closing days of his first year in office, and he was reportedly offending an entire continent.
In between these bookend events, he has made himself toxic to some of the closest US allies and lost their support and leverage for his agenda.
Witness the recent flurry of European statements over Iranian compliance with the Obama-era nuclear deal that cut Tehran's immediate pathway to a nuclear bomb.
Every international partner that Obama helped corral to snap controls on Iran's nuclear ambitions in 2015 spoke out as Trump mulled nullifying the deal.
During his fall visit to Asia, Trump proudly proclaimed his "America First" vision. He offered nations bilateral trade deals, only to have his host of a few days -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- restart the very multilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, without America, that Trump trashed during his first days in office.
Trump had shared burgers and played golf with Abe days earlier in Tokyo.
Carnegie's insights may not have been on Trump's mind when he and Abe strolled the golf course. Had they been, history might be written differently, and Trump might not have faced such a public put-down.
Yet the year cannot be chalked up as only losses for Trump.
Carnegie might smile about Trump's new relationships in Saudi Arabia -- although maybe not on account of Trump's political acumen.
The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has cultivated a classic national leader's relationship with Trump based on mutual and national interest: Both men detest Iran's apparent regional ambitions.
His father, King Salman, was the first world leader to host Trump -- and he did it in style.
In May, he literally rolled out the red carpet for Trump in Riyadh, put on a traditional sword dance for him and invited dozens of Muslim nation leaders to a grand conference.
The King and his son understand Carnegie's premise: Cooperation comes easier with friends. For them, an American president who shares their antipathy toward Tehran is a valuable ally --, and they are right.
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