Customer Reviews

Everyday Greatness: Inspiration for a Meaningful Life

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

As a life long reader of Reader's Digest magazine, Condensed books and RD Select Books, I appreciate real life stories as well as good fiction. Stephen Covey has a way of striking to the core of life. With this combination, the reader is able to enjoy the experiences of others and then apply that to making their own life richer.

Exceeds expectations. Reaches well beyond The Book of Virtues or Chicken
Soup series. It's inspiring, it's simple, it's entertaining. I purchased 8 copies. Homerun!

Aha, I thought these stories read like they were from Reader's Digest -- and in fact they are. Covey it seems just put them together in a compendium format. He divides them into rather arbitrary cagtegories such as "Searching for Meaning" , "Taking Charge", "Starting Within", "Creating the Dream" and "Teaming with Others" , "Overcoming Advertisty" and "Blending the Pieces". There is an afterword and an intro. I personally love Reader's Digest but somehow many of these stories seemed outdated..l.still I enjoyed many of them...and maybe was in a mood for some quick inspiration which the book does provide.

Written by the author of the bestselling "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", Everyday Greatness: Inspiration for a Meaningful Life is a guide to mentally transforming one's life through creating one's own dream, focusing on a purpose, and teaming with others as needed to make the vision a reality. Numerous insights, quips, and proverbs from famous people pepper Everyday Greatness, adding extra punch to its points on the virtues of humility, dedication, empathy, adaptability, and more. The core text draws upon the author's lifelong wisdom, alternating between overviews of positive traits to cultivate in oneself and vignettes written by others that lend a palpable dimension to life lessons. A highly recommended repository of insight and drive, that flavors its wisdom with subtle humor. "Originality is unexplored territory. You get there by carrying a canoe - you can't take a taxi." - Alan Alda

Everyday Greatness is a collection of best-loved short stories, reflections, and quotes from Reader's Digest. Stephen Covey adds insights and challenges throughout the various chapters, which focus on 21 characteristics of a purposeful, principle-filled life. Uncommon, inspiring stories and quotes are featured from well-known folks like Alex Haley, Erma Bombeck, Maya Angelou, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and William J. Bennett, to name a few.

Although I found the inconsistent font and structure changes frustrating, Everyday Greatness is a book I reach for more and more often for use in my column and general writing projects. I appreciate how the variety of contributors, story lengths, and quotes work together to support overriding chapter themes. This makes Everyday Greatness a nice addition to a reference library for pastors, writers, or anyone who needs a quick dose of impactful, insightful advice for living a life of distinction.

My only other caveat: I did not find the book jacket to be reflective of the organizational structure of the book. The jacket states readers will find a, " 'Go-Forward Plan' . . . to make three important choices every day: 1) The Choice to Act; 2) The Choice of Purpose; 3) The Choice for Principles." This structure was not discernable when I read through the book.

Otherwise, Everyday Greatness is a fresh and inspiring reference book which would add value to most collections.

I am a member of Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger program, [...]

This is one of the best books I have ever read. I found the stories motivating, reflective and uplifting. It was a calming way to end a the day.