The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a cult best-selling business book by writer Stephen R. Covey. This nearly 400 pages long nonfiction book focuses on finding success by implementing a couple of powerful, life-changing habits. Aimed mainly at professional people, it’s also a book that’s also found a lot of love in the entrepreneur community, among students, and with anyone who wants to focus on self-optimization.
Who is Stephen R. Covey, the Author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?
Stephen Richard Covey is a popular author of self-help books. Throughout his career, he wrote at length on leadership, habit formation, and parenting. As well as writing bestselling books, Covey was also a professor at Utah State University, where he taught in the Business School.
The Style of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
One of the things that make Covey’s book a success is his clear writing style. If you’re used to reading a lot of contemporary self-help books, you may find Covey’s style a little dated. Back in the 80s, writing punchy headlines was less of a priority, and the buzz words in use were quite different. But all things considered, it’s a business book that has stood the test of time, and is as accessible today as it was on its 1988 release.
The Content of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: What Is It All About?
The main lesson of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is to prioritize effectively. A large portion of the book is devoted to developing your vision: what do you want to achieve? Why do you want to achieve it? What strategies will you put in place to achieve your goals?
Structured in 7 parts that correspond to 7 habits, Covey distills his advice on:
- Being more proactive
- Identifying your goals
- Starting your day with priority tasks
- Cooperating with others effectively
- Taking the time to understand situations
- Appreciating what others have to offer
- Taking care of your physical, spiritual, mental, and social needs on a daily basis
Each part of the book delves deeper into these topics, touching on structuring your day, networking, and making each day just a little more effective.
Is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People for Me?
Because the scope of this book is so general (forming effective life habits), it can benefit a lot of people. Whether you’re a student, business owner, employee, or even a retired person trying to stay active, this book will have some pearls of wisdom you can apply to your everyday life. To be honest, there isn’t a single person I can think of who wouldn’t benefit from reading this book. If self-help isn’t your thing then, by all means, skip this reading, but otherwise, it’s a very valuable read.
Final Thoughts on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Covey’s 7 Habits is a bestselling business book for a reason. The advice it offers is practical, the writing style is easy to follow, and his concepts can apply to almost anyone. With that in mind, it’s a book I don’t hesitate to recommend.
Business Books Similar To The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
If you’re interested in habit-formation, some other great books on the topic include The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg and Atomic Habits by James Clear. And if you’re looking for similar self-help books with more of a business angle, we’d recommend checking out High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard.
