Being well-read in self-help literature, I would conclude That the "7 Habits" Represents up to date on effort to re-represent old ideas and theories thathave been around since common sense which invented. I am left with some mixed feelings about this book and I can see the same from the reviews posted here: You Either love it or you hate it. On one hand, It Seems That our own sense of what is right and wrong Should be enough to get us through life. HOWEVER, IF indeed thatwere always true we would not have search a market for books on self-development / improvement. On the otherhand, to totally buy into this one book as "the only book you'll ever need to be all you can be" is narrowly buying into one concept at the expense of other potential alternative. Basically, I liked Covey's principle-centered messages about being and so forth. HOWEVER, he Seemed to 'beat a dead horse' Referring over and over again to basics, character-based, Lighthouse guiding principles over and over again in at irritatingly repetitive way. Although some are Mentioned (color: such as quality, honesty and humility) I found it odd to be in pursuit of a set of ideals without a 'compass' to guide me to the correct ones I need to focus on and a 'map' enabling me Accurately to apply them to life. I suppose my common sense should do did for me (?). I do like the 'inside-out' approach to personal change, growth and eventual fulfillment. It is a nice break away from all the "Raising Your Self-Esteem in 50 Steps" and "Contacting Your Inner Child" fanfare but it so Seems to take a corporate flavor as well. This book Seems to be timely in an era of downsizing and squeezing the most for the least amount from the workforce at large. Bottom line, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in personal development. It is a very logically organized book and well written. You will have to form your own ideas and comparisons as you read it, like it or hate it.
