Everyday Greatness: Inspiration for a Meaningful Life [Paperback]

Stephen R. Covey (Author), David K. Hatch (Compiler)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0785289593 | ISBN-13: 978-0785289593 | Edition: Reprint

Inspiring stories and practical insights challenge readers to live a life of everyday greatness.

Best-selling author Stephen Covey and Reader’s Digest have joined forces to produce an extraordinary volume of inspiration, insight, and motivation to live a life of character and contribution. The timeless principles and practical wisdom along with a "Go-Forward Plan" challenge readers to make three important choices every day:

1. The Choice to Act - your energy
2. The Choice of Purpose - your destination
3. The Choice for Principles - the means for attaining your goals

Topics include:

• Searching for Meaning
• Taking Charge
• Starting Within
• Creating the Dream
• Teaming with Others
• Overcoming Adversity
• Blending the Pieces

With stories from some of the world's best known and loved writers, leaders, and celebrities, such as Maya Angelou, Jack Benny, and Henry David Thoreau, and insights and commentary from Stephen Covey, the Wrap Up and Reflections at the end of each chapter help create a project that can be used for group or personal study. 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen R. Covey was recognized in 1996 as one of Time magazine's twenty five most influential Americans and one of Sales and Marketing Management's top twenty five power brokers. He is the author of several acclaimed books.

David K. Hatch is a recognized consultant specialized in leadership and organizational effectiveness. His career has taken him to over thirty countries, where his assessment tools have benefited numerous Fortune 500 companies and over a half million leaders.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Reprint edition (May 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785289593
• ISBN-13: 978-0785289593
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1 x 5.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (100 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen R. Covey is a renowned leadership authority, family expert, teacher, organizational consultant, and co-founder of FranklinCovey Co. He is author of several international bestsellers, including The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which has sold over 20 million copies. He was named one of TIME Magazine's 25 Most Influential Americans. Dr. Covey holds the Jon M. Huntsman Presidential Chair in Leadership at the Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#4 in Books > Self-Help

#5 in Books > Business & Investing

#24 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting

#68 in Kindle eBooks > Business & Investing

#4 in Books > Self-Help

#5 in Books > Business & Investing

#24 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting

#68 in Kindle eBooks > Business & Investing

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A motivational and inspirational book January 9, 2007

By J. Barclay

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have enjoyed this book very much. It has a number of wonderful stories that motivate and inspire. Covey adds his insightful commentary which is thought provoking and appropriate. The buyer should understand that this is a compilation of Readers Digest stories and NOT a Covey book per se.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Insight and inspiration from multiple sources... August 18, 2007

By Thomas Duff HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Everyday Greatness: Inspiration for a Meaningful Life by Stephen R. Covey and David K. Hatch is one of those books meant to be read in small doses so that the concepts can sink in. You may not find all the sections as applicable as others, but no one is together enough to not benefit from *some* part of it...

Contents:
Searching for Meaning: Contribution; Charity; Attention
Taking Charge: Responsibility; Courage; Discipline
Starting Within: Integrity; Humility; Gratitude
Creating the Dream: Vision; Innovation; Quality
Teaming with Others: Respect; Empathy; Unity
Overcoming Adversity: Adaptability; Magnanimity; Perseverance
Blending the Pieces: Balance; Simplicity; Renewal
Afterword; Acknowledgments; Notes

Even though the book has Covey's name on it, the material isn't written by him. The bulk of the material consists of compiled stories and quotes from existing sources and historical figures. Covey adds commentary to each section and chapter in order to tie them all together into a cohesive theme. Each chapter has around three stories that illustrate the particular trait being covered. There is then a Wrap Up and Reflections section that summarizes the stories and theme, as well as questions to ask yourself in order to more deeply examine how that trait would manifest in your life. Finally, the chapter concludes with a number of quotes that stick with the theme but show slightly different facets of it. All in all, there's a lot of inspiration to be had here...

For as good as this book is, I didn't find myself putting it at the top of my priority list to read.... I've had it checked out from the library for quite awhile, but there always seemed to be another book that I'd pick up over this one, rather than come back to Everyday Greatness. I'm still not quite sure why I felt that way, but it is what it is. Regardless, I did find a number of valuable insights, and if I owned the book I'd likely revisit it a number of times. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that you'll often want to revisit! July 5, 2007

By Blaine Greenfield

Format:Hardcover

Be forewarned: EVERYDAY GREATNESS: INSPIRATION
FOR A MEANINGFUL LIFE by Steven R. Covey; compiled by Donald K. Hatch is not a "typical" Covey book along the lines of his classic THE SEVEN HABITSOF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE.

Rather, it is a collection of short pieces that originally appeared
in READER'S DIGEST that Covey effectively brings together
with running commentary. . . the "Reflections" section after
each chapter made me do just that; i.e., think about what
life is all about . . . I found the overall effect to be quite powerful.

I also liked the "Further Insights" that provided quotes on the
topic being discussed . . . among the ones that caused me to
pause were these:

* What do we live for if not to make the world less
difficult for each other?---George Eliot;

* It is more noble to give yourself completely to one
individual than to labor diligently for the salvation
of the masses.--Dag Hammarskjold; and

* Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human
face.--Victor Hugo.

EVERYDAY GREATNESS is the type book that
you'll often want to revisit . . . it would make a great
gift for just about anybody . . . furthermore, it can also
be a source for short read-aloud stories that can
be appreciated by all ages--such as this one [from
John Louis Feliciello]:

* As a boy I often tackled a task full of enthusiasm, only to become
discouraged quickly. One bright summer day my father showed me
an experiment with a magnifying glass and a newspaper. When he
moved the glass over the paper from one place to another, nothing
happened.... But when he held it motionless in one spot for a while,
focusing the sun's rays, a hole appeared.

I was fascinated, but didn't grasp the significance of the procedure.
Father explained that the same principle applied in everything we do:
That to make a success of our lives we must learn to concentrate all
our efforts on the undertaking in hand until it is finished. Read more ›

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Stephen Covey Meets Dale Carnegie January 22, 2007

By Steve Skye

Format:Hardcover

Years ago I took the Dale Carnegie course on public speaking and human relations, it changed my life. As a pupil we would read, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" & "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living". Both books taught valuable lessons which we would study and give a two minute talk in front of the class. After each speech the instructor would provide feedback on what the student said and how they applied the principles. It was a great forum for personal development and this book follows that format. It seemed that these two great teachers have developed a similar comprehension and approach to their discipline of human achievement.

The book is comprised of similar stories like the talks we gave, but to tell the truth at first I found some of them silly and poorly written. Many of the lessons I didn't understand and even some I disagreed with however most I found deeply thoughtful. I would pause over the "Reflections" portions after each chapter and considered the comments; this was very enlightening experience for me. There is also a "Further Insights" section which provides quotes on the topics which were also very elucidating. All of this returned me to the sagacious enrichment of that Dale Carnegie class. It is said that once a mind is open, it never returns to it original size, books like this add and hasten that expansion.