The Habits of Highly Effective PeopleAugust 1, 2008 1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Purchased the book on CD and the workbook. It is an interesting book makes you think a lot about life. More philosophical than instructional.
Taking Charge of Your Life, and Governing with DignityJuly 25, 2008 5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Regardless of whether one finds this book profound, banal, or in-between, it serves as a reminder that no one can harm our self-concept without our permission. Covey cites Victor Frankl, who saw his relatives put to death and who suffered terribly in a Nazi concentration camp, yet came to a point where he realized that his self-concept was the one thing that the Nazis couldn't take away. This, of course, applies to lesser situations. For instance, your boss cannot sour your attitude towards your job, and a disagreeable ex-spouse cannot remain "married" to you, without your permission.
There is a helpful table (pp. 120-121) that helps the reader determine what he/she is centered on. The possibilities include money-centered, pleasure-centered, self-centered, enemy-centered, etc.
Covey also focuses on different styles of leadership (and gives several examples of the same in terms of parenting). In the gofer style of leadership, the leader gives a constant series of commands and effectively dogs the person being led, often breeding resentment in the person being led. In contrast, when the leader uses stewardship delegation, the leader gives a general framework for the accomplishment of a goal, and the person being led feels his/her dignity respected while working from within to achieve the goal. Covey comments: "Trust is the highest form of human motivation. It brings out the very best in people. But it takes time and patience, and it doesn't preclude the necessity to train and develop people so that their competency can rise to the level of that trust."
There are various means of dealing with problems. For instance, the traditional authoritarian approach is the win-lose one. Not surprisingly, Covey emphasizes the win-win approach to solving problems.
Dumbed Down, Trite TripeJuly 22, 2008 2 out of 10 found this review helpful
I agree with the other commenters who have given this book negative reviews and who appear to be more critical thinkers than the author himself.
This book was clearly written on auto-pilot; it is constructed on a string of cliches and half-conceived insights and analysis. It is entirely clear the author has little to say. The book is an insult to probing, intelligent minds. A total joke!
Highly Effective CardsJune 27, 2008 0 out of 3 found this review helpful
I actually purchased these cards in error, thinking that they were the book.
When I received it, I was disappointed.
When I read them, I was delighted!!!!
They encourage great focus and act as a boosters at the start of the day - pick up a card, read the back also or just read the front in the extremely pleasant font, and make yourself more effective and generally a better person.
A lot of these points made are quite obviously (although some are a lot more subtle and extremely cleverly presented) but fundamentally, it helps to make you a balanced and better person, which then obviously spills into your personal and business life.
They are the closest thing you will get to a quick fix - where a book requires you to be motivated to focus to read it, these are available at all times - pick one up from your desk before a meeting, browse through one or two while on hold for a phone call - you can only benefit if these ideals and tips sink into your subconscious!
Priceless bookJune 17, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
We had the privilege of hearing Dr. Covey in person at The University of Michigan when this book was first published. It instantly became one of the most important books we've read and used in our teaching. We give this as a graduation gift to our college students to help them to be effective as they start their new life. Covey is the master of story-telling and bringing his habits to life.
Author, "Trust is Everything: Become the leader others will follow"
