Rating: Summary: One of the Best Books on any Subject Review: This is one of the best books I've ever read. Period!
The principles are timeless... and they work!
This book should be in every library. While most books on personal development and success principles are hacking at branches, Covey strikes at the roots. He describes powerfully how character is the core trait of success--lasting success!
This is the book that I give to all the people who I care about most.
A true landmark!
Rating: Summary: Universal Truth Review: Covey's Seven Habits, at times, warmed me from the inside out as if it were teaching universal truths. Although at times I felt like I was back in Psych 101 it maintained a warm feel to it's principles. I would encourage anyone to read it but do not expect to read
it quickly. It is much more enjoyable and beneficial to bite and chew a little each day.
Rating: Summary: Who Are You? Review: I wish this book was required for life like air is for breathing. The Seven Habits (which has sold close to one
gajillion copies, at last count) have become so immensely
popular for one very good reason--they work. The more you
think about Covey's words, the more the truth of them sinks
in. Covey starts by asking his readers to invest in character
rather than personality, then takes the reader on a wholistic
journey to find out what's really important to him/her. No,
there's no metaphysical sojourn and we never see Shirley
MacLaine, but Covey does ask the reader to ask some serious
questions. With those answers, he helps you build a life
focused on the values you have chosen and guided by the principles that lead us all. Career management, time control,
priorities, family, career, leisure, friends--it's all in
here. The Seven Habits are all about becoming the best
person you can be, starting first with independence, then
working toward interdependence.
Covey may not be the most interesting writer in the world,
but the message he brings is far too important to miss. If you're
not afraid to find out about yourself and have the courage
to change yourself into the best person you can be, do yourself
an incredible favor and read this book.
Rating: Summary: A continuous reader Review: Read it once, read it again. My husband and I have been re-reading this book over the last year and every time we do, we keep finding something new to apply to our lives. Yes, there are 7 habits and the author feels you should complete each habit in succession. Actually, we recommend that you read the book from cover to cover and then read it again to start to digest everything the author is conveying. This is a wonderful book that will help you on many different levels but only if you take it to heart. This book should not be read lightly and then just tossed aside. There is way too much important information in it!
Rating: Summary: STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVENESS Review: Stephen Covey outlines the best strategies for maximum effectiveness in this great book. The fact that this book has remained a best seller for over 15 years should tell you something about the merits of the informmation that it contains.Highly recommended book.
Rating: Summary: One of the best business/success books out there Review: Unfortunately, during my experience with corporate America I've had several business/success books thrust upon me. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is the only one that was worth reading. This book, coupled with the First Things First training I received at work has had an enormous impact on me. Five years later, I still organize my life based on my mission statement, roles, and goals. I plan weekly and take time out to Sharpen the Saw. I don't always live up to the seven habits, but at least I'm going in the right direction. Periodically I pull this book out of my bookshelf and flip through it to reinforce the lessons it contains. It's also one of the few books I've ever bought someone as a gift. My biggest criticism is that Covey has a tendency to beat you over the head with examples. Numerous times as I read the book I thought to myself, I get it, move on. My other big complaint is that this book coined the word "proactive," which is believed to mean the opposite of reactive, but actually means that the person using it is an idiot and needs to resort to using made-up words to appear highly effective.
Rating: Summary: This is my favorite book - in hard competition Review: I have read this book probably a hundred times. I you haven't yet read it - DO IT! This book lies on my bed side table and has stayed there for years, and will stay there for the future (don't worry - I actually read it quite often). I met Stephen Covey and his son and talked with him in Copenhagen once. He is so authentic and simply an amazing guy. He really struck a cord with this book, and he "plays it further" through his seminars etc.
When you first get his 7 habits under your skin, so many things become so much easier to understand. To act upon the issues is a whole different matter - but understanding is a very good start. The book helps with strategies on how to put the theories into action. I use it to understand and to make my self understood when managing my staff, I try to use the techniques to raise my kids, and I try to manage myself and my future (I don't want to limit this to my career because it goes well beyond this). The only thing that I think is sad is the consulting business that they are trying to build around the 7 habits. There are so many replicates wanting to offer "consulting" but only one original. You should have and keep an open mind when you read this book - I actually met people who never got past page 62 (introduction). Believe it or not...
Rating: Summary: One of the better self-improvement books Review: Several of the habits in this important book are critical to personal and career success. Covey certainly borrows from other gurus in this work, but puts it together nicely in a way that makes sense and keeps you interested.
Though this is a book that gained most of it's prominence in the 1990's, it still has important relevance today.
Rating: Summary: Every home and workplace should have one (or more) Review: One of the greatest contributions to the field of human potential - a best seller for all the right reasons. The basic ideas are essential for anyone wishing to truly make a difference and achieve. A mindset/worldview that is relevant for everyone and practical/accessible tools.
The book is not an easy read and the CDs might be an easier way to access the profound wisdom that Stephen has put together.
Beware, there is no 8th Habit (despite the book of the same name) - there is nothing new in that book. First Things First and Principle-Centred Leadership are worth reading but this is, without doubt, the seminal work.
Rating: Summary: Newton's laws in human world Review: The impact that this book gave me is unmatchable by any other books. Years ago I felt lost in the direction of life, so I searched for many books for guidance, but none could get me out of the gray. Then I found this book on a give-away library cart. What a wonderful give-away gift! I was struck by the story of the battleship, the analogy of the tennis player, and the discovery of Viktor Frankl. The words were so heavy that after I read a few lines, I had to pause and think. Often a couple of sentences were enough to keep me think for the whole day. It took me half a year to finish reading the Introduction ("Inside-Out"), and another year to finish the first three habits. It was during this period of time I started to see life from a totally new and healthy perspective. Thank you, Mr. Covey.
Natural world is governed by Newton's laws. Likewise, funcamental laws exist in human world. Mr. Covey's book is a textbook to explain such laws to all of us who don't understand ourselves, let alone the human world. The book teaches me how to deal with myself through analytical eyes, and how to live a successful life while still keep my soul. The reason most other books did not help me was because they are dealing with knowledge on everything but myself. The book is fundamental yet reachable. The fact that the book becomes a bestseller testifies that every reader knows what real gold is.
Some readers complain that the Habits are difficult to practice in daily life. I don't force myself to do something according to the agenda suggested by the Habits. Rather, I read a little bit of the book everyday for a long time, sometimes by page order and sometimes randomly, and let the thoughts find their places in my mind. Over time, I find myself subconciously practicing his teaching in daily life. The habits are becoming mine.
Five stars are not enough to assess this book's value. Let me quote Warren Bennis' comment about this book: "This remarkable book will be my gift to everyone I know."
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