"Essais sur la nécessité et les moyens de plaire" by François-Augustin Paradis de Moncrif is a treatise published in 1738. This work explores the art of pleasing others in society—whether to gain esteem, cultivate friendship, or simply be agreeable company. Moncrif argues that understanding human flaws like selfishness and vanity is essential, and that the desire to please is a categorical imperative above all else. The work attracted international attention and was translated into German, English, Italian, and Spanish. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
These books are free to read. Each is in the public domain in the United States; check your own country's rules before you copy or share one.