Rating: 
Summary: Tools, that's all.
Review: I'm motivated to share my thoughts after reading a few of the 1 and 2 star reviews I read. First of all; this is only a self-help book, and contrary to some of the reviewers expectations, this book is not going to shock you into success. Additionally, this book does (and Covey states this in the intro) repeat very old values related to commitent, time mangement, and prioritizing time; you aren't really going to hear something you haven't heard before.So what does Covery offer? Some of the best sets of tools for managing your life. He states that he came into this new management process while studying old self-help literature from hundreds of years ago. Throughout history he saw the same values repeated over and over again...until the later 20th century. Covey insists that modern self-help literature is superficial, offering a illusory advantage by providing short cuts around older and proven methods. What Covery does is summarize these values and then lays out a method (or a set of tools) for scheduling these values. Obviously, it doesn't matter what you know regardng philosophy and religion when this knowledge can't be incorporated into what you're actually going to do this week. Where's the relevency? And how do your values, what you are, what you do, how do you actually work that into a daily-weekly-monthly schedule!? There's nothing deep here, no mystical revelations. Just tools. If you want mystical revelation, if you want stories of how the supernatural can save you, then find a different book. But if you need help prioritizing you career, your family committments, getting some exercise, enjoying a few hobbies, and all the while getting the chores done, this book helps. I gave it 4 stars and not 5 since the beginning is boring, wordy and redundant. I wish the book just started with the tools and got through them. Covey was probably compelled to be wordy to defend or entice the people who read this stuff thinking that they will suddenly find the motivation to do something they should be doing anyway. It's worth the money.
Rating: 
Summary: Tedious Reading
Review: Most of the self motivational suggestions, although accurate, have been regurgitated in every self help book over the last decade and as a result were uninspiring. It is extremely difficult to believe that I could lessen my stress by following Mr. Coveys P/PC Balance Equation and classifing my daily/weekly activities into the 4 Quadrant Time Management Matrix. Perhaps Mr. Covey has the time to list each of his key roles and create 2 weekly goals for each role and then document those goals on a weekly scheduler, but I certainly do not. In fact, I believe that the committment to adhere to such a system would result in my stressful demise. I am disheartened that I had to write such a vitriolic review of this book. After reading many rave reviews I had grandiose expectations from Mr. Covey and that has surely led me to this level of disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't bother...
Review: I'm giving one star only because there is no "zero star" designation. The "information" in this book is simple common sense couched in and disguised with flowery language to make it appear more than it is. Almost everyone should already know what's in this book before they read it. I suggest you save your money.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent route to personal growth
Review: Although Covey's book is aimed at management, it applies equally well to daily living in any situation. It's about self-respect and getting along with others. There's nothing mystical about this book. It isn't New Age, religious, occult, or oriental philosophy. The seven habits are straightforward, practical, and sensible. It is another way of looking at "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", without religious sensitivities getting in the way. If you're having problems with maturity (your own or another's), being too severe or uptight, or otherwise being somehow ineffectively influential, this book can be your bible. It can help you file off the rough edges of personality defects or inexperience, and Covey explains it in a way that you will find understandable, acceptable, and approachable. This is easily the best book of its kind out there that I've come across.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Covey!!!!
Review: Stephen R. Covey's book is a truly magnificent book. It guides the reader through 7 essential habits for achieving success in life. The way the book is organized and the common sense that forms the foundation of Coveys philosphy makes it easy to apply the specific habits in your daily life. The book keeps a sober and balanced attitude towards personal growth, it doesn't get lost in "new age" philosophies or drown in eastern religions-gone-west. A thing I particularly like about this book is that each habit is presented in such a way that it is up to the reader to go about the creative and practical process of applying the habits in their lifes, there is no set rules, techniques or plan to follow. This allows for individual freedom and makes it possible to keep your own unique personality.
This book is a must-buy if you are interrested in personal growth from a logical, practical and common sense perspective.
Stephen Covey has published a true goldmine of inspiriation for improving your life.
Rating:
Summary: Deep Thought Provoking Look at Yourself
Review: (. . .)P>In a somewhat wordy and lengthy discussion (thus the 4 stars), Mr. Covey presents the reader, in a peaceful and non-judgemental fashion, a way to examine one's life style, and make a few changes that WILL (I say that intentionally) help the reader. There are a wide variety of personal habits that can be examined by the reader as this book is read, and then possibly applied to the reader's life-style. The theories are very stimulating and non-threatening, so they appear as friendly offers to a better, more organized life style. I have found that Mr. Covery's ideas are very good, and have applied some to my world, and feel very good about the results. As I said earlier, there are times when less words may have resulted in more being said, but I see that as personal preference, not a major problem with the writing. I suggest that you read this book, without fear of wasted time, and use the materials as a base to make any changes you feel may be helpful to your life's situations. Well done Mr. Covey.
Rating:
Summary: A guide to discovering the straight and narrow
Review: I first received a copy of this book 12 years ago, shortly before I turned 18. I cannot overstate the effect that it has had on my life since then. While it took a good number of years for the lessons of the book to really sink in, once they had an enormous change in my life came about. I do not want to get into personal details, but to say the least, both my professional and personal lives have benefited immensely from the changes that internalizing the teachings of this book have wrought.
Rating:
Summary: Check THIS Out!
Review: I took the advice of the reviewer who is "An Educator And Former Human Relations Instructor" from New York (who better to take advice from), and obtained right here on Amazon.com the book he or she recommended, "West Point", by Norman Thomas Remick to be used as a companion book to "The 7 Habits ..". The combination was fantastic! The really easy to understand philosophy of character and leadership in the "West Point" book did greatly embellish and make more understandable the practical suggestions in Steven Covey's "The 7 Habits ...". Great suggestion New Yorker, whoever you are. And, I hope you're holding up well under you folks' recent appalling crisis. I wish you well.
Rating:
Summary: Simple yet powerful
Review: I read this book several years ago and picked it up again recently. I realised how much I used to live the habits and over time let them slide. And if I look at how powerful my life is, I was more in charge when I was living the habits. I feel recharged after re-reading the book. This is one worth reading over and over to further reinforce the concepts.
Rating: 
Summary: Didn't keep my interest.
Review: He had some good things to say and some good points, but for the most part he wasn't telling me anything far from what I already knew. I got bored and never finished the book. Check it out from the library.
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