Rating: 
Summary: Good common sense
Review: This book offers good sound advice on the important aspects of life. It will help you achieve balance and to look at things in a different way than you are used to. However, I struggled with the concept of a personal mission statement which is a key to the whole working of the book. There is also a lack of clarity with goal-setting. The idea of 'contextual' goals are not specific enough to motivate. Worth reading but needs a bit of oomph !.
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Summary: Life Transforming Book
Review: This is the most profound book, next to the Holy Bible, that I have ever read! I read it orginally in '91 or '92 and I continue to reread and reference this book. It teaches you how to be a better you -- how to be truly successful in all aspects of life. It confirms the concept that success is not measured in material gains, but in personal attainment. You can be successful regardless of your walk and life and enjoy true happiness.It is important to reread this book because it will talk to you in different ways at differant stages in your life. I recommend the hard back addition, since it is definitely a keeper. An excellent choice as a present anytime since the appeal is very broad. I have made it assigned reading for my management teams and I endeavor to live these teachings on a daily basis -- but no, it's not a cult. Just exceptionally sound advice.
Rating:
Summary: ok
Review: This is not a bad book actually learned something useful
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Summary: This book changed my life
Review: I've been a big reader all my life and several books have been life changing. This classic hit me at the right time (1996), when I was ready to take a step toward what I most wanted to do with my life: write books, get published, and teach. The phrases that hit me hardest was "being caught up in the thick of thin things" and "It's easy to say no when you have a bigger YES burning inside you." These ideas propelled me to focus seriously on my writing and make the first move to get an agent-with considerable success so far, as you can see below. Covey reminds us of what is important: expanding our sphere of influence, leaving a legacy, listening and loving, living by our principles. He never says it's easy or that you will be "enlightened," but for me, this book was truly enlightening. Covey's words made the difference between planning my future and moving into it whole-heartedly. There is so much that's helpful in this book that I can return to it whenever I feel at loose ends. ~~Joan Mazza, author of DREAM BACK YOUR LIFE; DREAMING YOUR REAL SELF; WHO'S CRAZY ANYWAY? and 3 books in The Guided Journal Series with Writer's Digest Books, columnist and features writer for Personal Journaing Magazine.
Rating:
Summary: Necessary Reading [for some]
Review: All the preaching and 'self help-isms' aside... if you read this book and come away from it not having identified at least one major area of you life that could be improved, with the confidence that you do in fact have the power to improve it, you're probably perfect. OR - You probably don't have the capability to examine yourself, and improve yourself based upon you self-examination. If you fit THIS picture.. don't buy the book. You won't like it.
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Summary: Great Read
Review: I think that this is one of the best books that I have ever read. Covey helps you to make changes to have a successful life and relationships. It showed me where I can implament or change my life and personality to reflect what I think is most importent in my life. It also gives helpful hints on how to love others. The first one-hundred pages of the book are kind of boaring, but they are laying the ground work for the rest of the book. The only think that I didn't like was Covey trying to ...his products. But even that wasn't so bad, cause he gave ways to successfully use other products to implament his philosophies.
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Summary: COVEY IS AMERICAN SOCRATES, REALLY!
Review: The title of this book suggest another how-to-be-happy light book...it is not. Covey has developed a philosophical approach to life in this book. They make justice when they say Covey is the American Socrates. What he presents is a very profound guideline to reach equilibria in life, through having a life oriented to principles, and not to things or circumstances. The result of this equilibria is character development and capacity to reach goals in a systematic way as well as maturity to see things. The key for developing this can be found in practicing seven habits. Four of them having an internal, personal aproach and the other three an external approach. He suggest that all of us can develop a circle of influence in these things, which will directly depend on the practice of these habits. He also defines and introduces the well known term proactivity, as the hability to assume complete responsability of our acts and things that happen to us.
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Summary: Highly Effective Listening
Review: If you believe that all "self help" training/literature is the same - think again. Stephen Covey in this training can make you contemplate many things you have never considered before. He motivates and challenges you to be better at communication in practical and real terms. He will make you laugh, but the examples and principles are potentially life changing - the rest is up to you.
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Summary: Hardcover=Miniature - Buy Paperback instead
Review: Being of Yankee-descent I usually buy the cheaper of the two: paperback or hardcover. Mistake this time! The Hardcover is actually a miniature version of the book - paraphrased in a minimal amount of pages - suitable only for perhaps reading it on the sly in church. See dimensions in the fine print. Buy the 300+page paperback instead!
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Summary: Listen to the cassettes first
Review: If you're a busy person, you're likely to be attracted to this book. But if you're a busy person, it's difficult to appreciate this book because it takes quite a bit of concentration. What worked for me: Listen to the tapes first--while you're doing chores at home or cleaning up your office space. The tapes will win you over, and you will be ready for the book. I love reading portions of this book over and over again. I apply these principles at work, as well as in the classroom when I teach. Covey is a gifted teacher, and this book will provide you the guidelines and tools to succeed at what is truly important to you.
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