The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The original edition of the book was excellent. This new 30th anniversary edition is even more tremendous. The son, Sean Covey, gives great updates and additions to the book at the end of each chapter. Stephen Covey reads this book as if he is giving an interesting lecture and adds to the text with some additional insights. I almost gave this book less than 5 stars after a call to their home organization and perceived the person on the other end of the phone would have performed better if they would have incorporated the teaching of the book into their own manner. The book is excellent. One funny observation - The son, Sean Covey, will remark how consistent his dad was in living the 7 habits, then tell stories how his mother did not necessarily follow the same path. It wasn't really a criticism of the mother, but more of Sean appreciating her inconsistency with the habits to give out sympathy.

These 7 habits that Stephan Covey present to the reader are good, but some managers even after taking the class or reading the book doesn’t know how to apply these skills.I like that he uses examples of how and when to use the skills. For example if you have a subordinate that tells you that they just found out that have cancer, you don’t repeat what they said to them. However if you have a subordinate that is having problems meeting deadlines, then you will practice active listening to get to the heart of the problem. Giving the nature of the climate now, some people need these tools more than others.

Listen to Steven over and over.Be captivated by the habits.Listen to his son be impacted by his father and then by the habits' deep impact into your soul.

I have read this book numerous times in the past and was excited to hear the new bonus content.Unfortunately,Sean Covey does not deliver anything new or illuminating.His reading is tedious and his tone is almost smug as if he is the heir to an intellectual kingdom and should automatically be recognized as the new king of the Covey legacy. Well, sorry, but he is a copy of a copy, at best. I recommend the 7 Habits, just not this version.