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Summary: The 7 Habits: easy to read but hard to apply
Review: Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People falls under the category of books easy to read but hard to practice. As Neil Postman so credibly points out, Americans are "amusing themselves to death." Covey starts with this premise and calls for us to abandon the cult of personality and all that is superficial and instead devote ourselves to character development. Like Socrates, Covey points out that "the only true victories are victories over self." This discussion of character is the rock on which the entire book is built. All that follows is application. Covey starts with personal victories: Be Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind, and Put First Things First. He calls for us to take action on what is important and become effective, not simply efficient. In his great little book, How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life, Alan Lakein makes similar points and has written a superb time management book. But Covey tries to do more than simply help us to get more done each day. He is concerned with our growth and development and our contribution to the well being of others. The second part of the book deals with Public Victories: Think Win/Win, Synergize, and Seek First to Understand, Then Be Understood. Cooperation sounds like the easiest and most natural thing in the world to do, but for Americans, the reality is that it is almost impossible without genuine awareness and real effort. If you want to see where our competitive habits come from, go to any little league game and watch the parents on the sidelines making life miserable for the officials trying to work with the children. The adults on the sidelines think Win/Lose and shout their "encouragement" to their children and their frustration and anger at the officials and coaches. The angry, strident parents are the models and their children learn the lesson that good losers are losers, to paraphrase Vince Lombardi. As adults these children will find it difficult to become a part of any genuine team effort. Covey finishes his book with a call for the reader to grow throughout life and develop identfied talents to the fullest in a section called Sharpen the Saw. Peter Senge, Peter Vaill, Peter Drucker, and Tom Peters go beyond Covey to a focus on how organizations can learn and grow, but Covey is right to focus first on the individual and then move to corporate applications. As was pointed out at the beginning of this review, incorporating these "habits" into our lives will be a challenge of a high order for most of us. Stephen Covey has built a large organization to help the reader and some of the help is free on the Internet and from Covey's employees, who can be called at a toll free number given in the 7 Habits book. The reader is advised to take advantage of the assistance Covey is willing to give. He is a modern day Santa Claus of the variety found in that entertaining Christmas film, Miracle on 34th Street. Kris Kringle works for Macy's Department Store in New York City, but advises customers to go to Gimbels if Macy's doesn't have what the customer needs. This turns out to be good business for Macy's and a good example for the reader of the 7 Habits. Look for chances to cooperate with others and Think Win/Win.
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Summary: The best 'self help' book of all time
Review: This book has the power to change your life and the ideas and principles mentioned in it are absolutely true and undeniable. No wonder its a best seller.
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Summary: Much more than a book on effectiveness
Review: I almost had to be forced into reading this book. From the title, I expected it to be Yet Another Book On Success. After reading it, I found myself energized by the insight of the book - not on the topic of "success", but on real personal growth. Much of the value of the book is the perspective change that it offers; even a single reading will have you seeing things in a different light. For those that care to, there are also concrete exercises for putting this new perspective into everyday practice. I also recommend "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families" by the same author.
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Summary: Self-Help book of the century
Review: This is the self help book of the century... no doubt about that. In just 7 habits, Covey makes a super efficient human out of the lazy ineffective men and women that we are. If you seem to can't grab hold of your life, or any other stupid thing that's halting you from becoming what you want to become- this book will break the limits of your capabilities and give you a guide from A to Z on how to do exactly that- and how to take control of your life, to stop being dependant, and becoming more than independant, becoming interdependant. WARNING!!!! this book will also make you responsible for your own life, and it won't let you blame everything but yourself. This book will not let you be a reactive person, it won't let you make other people control your own life, and it won't help you live your life with no plan, with no future. If that's the kind of life you want, a lazy, reactive life- you must avoid this book at all costs. But, if you want to change your life and become effective, as well as recieve the greatest and best lessons and advice of the century, than by all means this book is a MUST.
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Summary: The Best Self Help Book I have Read
Review: I have read about 100 self-help books. This is my favorite. Covey also has a set of tapes on this subject. I have found most people like the tapes better. Some reviewers have said this is just common sense. That is correct, but I have not found many of us use common sense very often. For example how many people really try to create win-win situations--not many in my experience. Covey's largest contribution is that there are no quick fixes. There is no substitute for basic integrity. Read this book if you really want to make your life happier.
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Summary: EFFECTIVE BOOK FOR THE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE
Review: I HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS BOOK RECENTLY. THE AUTHOR SIMPLY DISCRIBE THE SEVEN HABITS FOR THE EFFECTIVE PEOPLE. I LIKE THIS BOOK VERY MUCH.
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Summary: Vision and proactivity
Review: I personally like the book in his way of reminding us the importance of vision (persoanl leadership). living in a performance and result-oriented culture, i felt surprised and relieve when i found the answer of my perplexity while working so hard for my studies.Rethink, is that what u want? I like the idea of "being proactive". I encountered many incidences that "plunged" me into depression and I blame the whole world, but now I understand "No one is able to hurt you without your consent". It is up to me to response to the situation. I am able to control the way I feel. Good book, i think, atb least to college level students.
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Summary: You Are Not Your Habits.
Review: Covey's book is a great guide for creating a life of your own choosing. A life you want and not one that is run by mechanical habits. Habits seep in when you are not paying attention to what works and what doesn't work in your life. The Seven Habits are based on an individual's principles, not on a predetermined way of being. I particularly liked Covey's idea of "Production Capability," or PC. In order to have anything in your life function well, say your relationships or your job, you need to pay attention to the maintance of what is producing the end results you wish to have. Treating others or even material things with respect and care is as important as how we would like to be treated by others. Another great source for self awareness is a book called "WORKING ON YOURSELF DOESN"T WORK" written by Ariel and Shya Kane. In their book, the Kanes present life transforming definitions and experiences on such subjects as awareness, happiness, listening and personal transformation. I highly recommend both of these life-inspiring books!
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Summary: I've been touched!
Review: I laughed at the title when I heard about it first time and I kinda looked down readers of this book before. I knew it got a lot of rave reviews and still didn't feel like reading it until one day... So think again, if you are making the same mistake as I did before. You have no idea what you'll miss. One of the most important habits I learnt from this book is 'Be proactive'. I stopped whining about situations and always kept working in my own 'circle of influence' since then. Be humble when you read this book and you'll learn a *lot* from it. Though I would say I'm still far from success, this book greatly contributed to the last promotion in my corporate life before leaving for my own business. I don't write my own mission statement and Big Mac is waaaayyy too far from being a great meal.
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Summary: Great Plan! Now Just Make Them Habits!
Review: .... Before I read this book, I was very busy and it seemed like I was always doing things urgently at the last minute. But Covey helped me to organize my life. Chapter 5 went a long way to help my relationship with my wife. As a man, I always want to fix problems, especially when she has a bad day. She loved it when I learned to repeat what I thought she was feeling. She just wanted to know that I knew how she felt. Although Stephen Covey is a Mormon, as a committed born-again Christian, I really appreciated the way he fit the spiritual dimension into this book. He did not push his Mormonism on the reader, but he does give the reader the opportunity to think about how utilizing the principles in this book will fit into the deeply held values and beliefs that one wants to live. As with any change-of-life habits, the hardest thing is implementing them. Covey gives many practical suggestions for making these habits reality. I personally followed many of them for over a year. Even when I have let some of them slip, I still have the plan solid in my brain and can implement them when I need to.
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