* 7 Habits of Highly Effective People *Book Review. Review on 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People, The - Steven R Covey

Welcome to the Highway of Success which give 7 tracks you have to watch while driving.

I bought this book approximately 3 years back. I started reading it some 2years back…but somehow it doesn't impress me after few pages and kept the book back into shelf. Last month I give another try on the book after I saw that the is still in the list of hot selling books in local book stalls.

During this 2nd reading as well, the beginning chapters were not that interesting. However, sooner I realized that there is a central theme for those chapters and if we can find the central theme that in itself is a motivation. There had some interesting observations and new techniques suggested which I felt very true. Unlike many other personal self help books, this book doesn’t concentrate on personal success, but use it as abase to extend the success to the group or society.

I am more impressed by Stephen R Covey as a person than as an author. This is because I can see that when he talks from heart, there is truth in him. The author highly depended on other books and articles to establish his point. His writing style is not that impressive. Still, the leading thought and vision behind each chapter is clear and true.

The book suggests 7 habits which each one of us can develop to be an effective human being. 3 of 7habits are to benefit personal success and 3 for the social success. The 7th habit covers both sets of habits and suggests a form of progress.

3 Habits for personal success.

1. Be Proactive, instead of reactive. 2. Principles are important in life. We have to be leaders, not managers. (Begin with the end in Mind). 3. First things first.

All these 3 points are very true and if we apply it into our life that is very useful. Many a time we forget that we are responding to people and reacting to situations and thereby controlled by them than moving ahead of it and controlling them. (Say, one member sent a gift to us and we send a gift back. They trusted us and we trusted back.) As Jesus said, if you love those who love you, what merit you have? Anybody do this. Here, we have to be proactive, which is well told. So,the idea itself is very useful and good graphic explanation of circle of influence and circle of anxiety are helpful. On the negative side, the main problem people face is to control their reactions. It is true that we have to proactive. However, being a human being we have to react to situations as well. This part is ignored by the author, probably to avoid distraction from the central point. The major plus point of the 2nd habit is that here the author explains a great habit which if one understand it properly nothing better than that. On the negative side, the chapter is the most badly written chapter in the book. Even the title of the habit is wrong to the central theme discussed. This should have been told in simple terms, but too much explanation and deviation made this point still at large for most readers. 'First things first' is a beautiful chapter which I enjoyed reading it and start using it immediately though I have been trying to do it otherwise also. I will say I got back my cost of book and a huge return with this chapter. Especially the chart in the beginning was very helpful. However, here too over explanation spoiled the show to an extent, in the second part. The problem with going into details on tables is that out of 10 options only 1 will be applicable for the readers.

3. Habits for Social success.

1. Think Win/Win. 2. Active Listening (Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood) 3. One plus One equals three. (Synergize).

Compare to the 3 personal success habits, 3 social success habit chapters are short and more concentrated on the topic. Thinking about Win/Win situation is beautifully explained by the author by giving good examples from personal relations and business relations. Fully recommend this chapter. Active listening is one thing we are missing these days. We all want others to get read our writings,hear what we talk, but rarely listen. I have observed and found in my life that we win other's heart not by our mouth,but by our ears. We need to have ears with a brain and mind working with it. So, as a point I fully endorse the habit, but for the chapter, I thought the author could have given bit more good examples. Unity is strength. More than that when we come together, the energy created by it is more than the combined individual capacity. The chapter synergy is conveying a good point and the author doesn't bore at any point in this chapter. In general, the 3 habits for social success is detailed well by the author.

The 7th Habit

Sharpen the saw. Combine the personal success and social success to reach heights. I believe the chapter is not well explained by the author where the habit itself is not focused. However, I enjoyed reading the books final chapters which I will consider part of the synergy process. The icing on the cake was some personal revelation by the author. The idea of Paradigm shift mentioned in the beginning chapter is completely justified with this.

The author need applauds for addressing the situation in realistic terms. Not many books on advice will tell you that there is a thing called impossible. The call to know the limitations and to overtake it is something special I liked about the book.

The book has to be read once, understood once but the habits we have to keep as long as we want to be in the race to success. Each chapter got a fine point which one can easily follow and the result of following it will be amazing. I now don't repent my purchase of the book,but only regret my delaying reading it.