Book Review: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is an innovative look at the road to success

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the American entrepreneur and university lecturer Stephen R. Covey explains how, in his opinion, some people become successful and others do not, by looking at a range of values including integrity, leadership and synergy. This clear and detailed summary and analysis is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand Covey’s groundbreaking book: it features a thorough explanation of the author’s seven habits, the main concepts underpinning his work, such as Trust Capital and Emotional Bank Accounts, and the contextual background to his work, including his beliefs as a Mormon. It also provides an introduction to what he calls the “Circle of Influence”, the main criticisms of his work and potential extensions of his approach, giving you everything you need to understand this original self-help book in just 50 minutes.

This accessible and insightful 40-page summary and analysis is structured as follows:

•  Introduction to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
• About the author and background to the book
  • The author: Stephen R. Covey
  • Context and background
• Summary of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
  • The four key principles at the heart of the seven habits
  • The seven habits
  • Methods for better self-management
  • Methods to communicate better with others
• Impact of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
  • Criticisms of Covey’s approach
  • Extensions and similar approaches
• Recap of Covey’s main ideas

About The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is an unusually innovative book in that it advocates a return to the classical personal development theories of the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Unlike many other self-help books which provide nothing more than temporary improvement, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People offers long-term change because it requires you to work on yourself. It was incredibly popular when it was first published in 1989, selling millions of copies worldwide and expanding to include a range of related books, such as The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families.

About Stephen R. Covey

Stephen R. Covey is best known for his international bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which has sold over 15 million copies to date. He was an internationally recognized entrepreneur and management expert, and his ideas influenced a range of multinational companies, as well as world leaders including Bill Clinton. He also wrote several other books, including Principle-Centered Leadership, First Things First and The 8^th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, which have contributed to his ongoing success and popularity.