|
|
|
Average Customer Review
Share your thoughts with other customers
|
|
|
› See most helpful viewpoints
|
|
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
ONE OF THE BEST, 28 Jun 2007
When I first borrowed the book from my companys learning library I had an ephiphany... I was compelled to study over and over what he wrote, not because it was some new mindblowing concept, but it peiced together my thoughts and experiences and principles I had collected in my 22 years of my life in a way that was easy to understand.
Not that I agree with everything and in this book we are given practical examples, but from what I heard from a friend who did business with Covey, even he fails sometimes to apply what he teaches. There is no perfect person that can be the perfect embodiment of these principles and if those around you have very different principles or none, you may suffer as well as gain from applying them.
I rate this book along with Paradise 21st Century Fox and One Minute Manager and Don't Shoot The Dog as one of the most important books one can take the time to read. Put it at the top of the pile!
I would also reccomend checking out his videos on youtube, excellent. Thank you Mr Covey!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
40 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
Nowhere near as bad as you might expect, 18 Nov 2006
I was coerced into reading this as part of a corporate training scheme: it was presented to me as "the management self-help book it's OK to like". Well I have read it, and, largely, I do like it. Yes, the author is reminiscent of a 19th-century itinerant evangelical who wants to save your soul and yes, his slightly pompous tone does more than once teeter over the edge into apparent self-parody ("I became her student, her learner... I could begin to see out of a new paradigm the whole way a Jedi Knight's basic philosophy in training is manifested in different circumstances") - but the fact is, he wants you to take control of your life, honour your commitments to others and try and do your particular thing better than you do it now. And, at the risk of sounding like a grumpy old man, if everyone took this message seriously, the world would indeed be a better place.
So two and a half cheers for Prof. Covey. But I don't recommend you tell your spouse that you regard your most intimate moments with him or her as "key Quadrant II activities".
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
30 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
An inspiring and well balanced piece of literature, 10 Dec 2000
By A Customer
I first read about Dr Covey's habits when I was a young teenager, although at the time I only briefly skimmed through the pages and neglected to absorb, or completely understand, the principles he is sharing in his book. Having recently purchased the book and tried putting the habits into practice, I must say that personally I have found it rather difficult if not frustrating to plan my week to such a strict agenda as he suggests. Dr Covey claims that his scheduling technique is flexible, but is it? Perhaps over the long-term with regular consistant practice his technique works, something which I have not yet accomplished, but the immediate effect it has had upon me is one of irritability and rigidity rather than a sense of purpose.On the subject of 'happiness' as described by another reviewer, I firmly believe that your happiness is ultimately your responsibility, and in achieving more fulfilling relationships with others, and planning your goals more effectively, both of which the 7 habits claim to generate in your life, I think your happiness will increase naturally as you grow in purpose and personal stature, provided you are committed to putting in the effort. Overall, I would agree that the book can be rather ambiguous at times, and some of the habits are difficult to produce consistantly in practice. Perhaps other readers will have more success in their attempts. Otherwise, the book is definitely worth a read, as I think some of the principles the book describes could be a valuable lesson to us all.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
29 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
Might change your life – or sit on the shelf, 23 Jan 2006
This is a powerful guide to self-improvement. The "habits" are common-sense: be proactive, or "seek first to understand, then to be understood". The writing is clear, presenting each habit in a way which is easy to apply to oneself. If you're looking for a self-help guide to living a more focused, targeted life, you can hardly do better than this.The downside is that this is a massive, densely-written book. Just reading it, let alone internalising and acting on it, is a major project. Many readers will dip into it; lose interest; and let it gather dust on the shelf. Summary: excellent self-improvement guide, won't work for everyone.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
Self-improvement based on personal integrity--great concept., 29 May 1999
By A Customer
I recommend this book to every one I know. It starts from personal integrity and works from there. It offers a method that works both in the home and work. This is not a book for those who want a quick fix. Step by step it shows how to examine your day to day decisions and how to set and focus on your goals. It does not say focus on one aspect of your life while you ignore another aspect. It shows how to base your decisions, taking your whole life --Work, family, spritual--into account. I liked it so much I started reading "Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers" for my 15 year old daughter. Sometimes, the book does get a little tedious. When it does become tedious, I then read the corresponding chapeter in the "Effective Teenagers" book. I find I'm making better decisions (especially the minor ones) and my life slowly becoming more organized as I follow each chapter.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
16 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
7 Good habits to adopt, 8 Jul 2002
By A Customer
In 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey (creator of the now famous "Franklin Planner") makes a strong case for living your life in a "Principles Centered" manner rather than basing your life around money or possessions or even apparently good things such as family and church. Knowing who you really are at your core, not as dictated to you by society or family, and then living your life based on those values and principles is, according to Covey, the essence of leading a life of satisfaction and happiness. Covey mentions self-awareness throughout the book as an important and fundamental part of his work, and I couldn't agree with him more. Therefore, I also heartily recommend "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work" by Ariel and Shya Kane. The authors offer a truly remarkable method of self-discovery and awareness, which leads to incredible shifts in how you live your life.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
A Long Read - but worth it!, 17 Jun 2007
Covey has created a book that should be offered to everybody at school. Within it he sets out what he sees as being the 7 habits that everybody should follow:
1. Be proactive
2. Begin with the end in mind
3. Put first things first
4. Think win win
5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the saw
You will see from the above that the first three habits are focused on the self (moving from Dependance to Independance), whereas the next three are focused on working with others (Independance to Interdependance). Interdependance is where Covey sees the greatest benefit from all Highly Effective people.
Habit Seven, Sharpen the Saw, is the self renewal required to maintain a healthy and successful lifestyle.
Covey states that he is aiming to "restore the character ethic". He visits the understanding of paradigms, and the necessary paradigm shifts that are required in life.
This book is full of useful tools, such as the time management quadrant system which will be explained later in an article on this website.
Overall, we would recommend buying this book!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Guidance....isn't that why you read the book in the first place?, 24 Jul 2009
I'm not sure I entirely agree with some of the reviews. The way I see it is that even if reading a third of the book makes even a slight improvement in your life, then it's time well spent. Try not to go in with the mindset of getting 7 habits that are going to completely change your life...instead look at it as yet another method of teaching you different concepts that you knew existed, but didn't know you could apply to certain scenarios in life.
It's complicated in bits, but simple in others....I'm thoroughly enjoying it....but if you're not, then it's definitely not the content. Probably, the style in which it is written, so just try something else :o) I don't think the book is preachy or patronising in any way, neither do I think it makes your life a misery if you decide to adapt your life according to the book. It's just an inoffensive book attempting to get the reader to look at things "inside-out" using good "principles" and a balanced view of achieving what you want to achieve. Didn't give it 5 stars because I think it might just be a tad too lengthy!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Highlights the obvious which is obviously overlooked, 29 Nov 2001
A very thought-provoking and thorough title commenting effectively on the need for a greater humanistic approach to life. It gives a greater insight not only into better understanding oneself and one's own capabilities, but also into the enormous benefits of living a more interpersonal existence.This ultimately leads to appreciating others far more and learning far more deeply about life's fundamental principles.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Concise principles on audio tape, 21 Mar 2002
I found this audio tape excellent for listening to over & over again while driving. Common-sense principles are outlined here - the sort you don't recognise unless they are pointed out to you. There is clearly a lot more depth to this than outlined on the tape and now I would like to see a separate tape on each of the 7 habits??
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Amazon Home
