Living the 7 Habits Stories of Courage and Inspiration [Hardcover]

Stephen R. Covey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 1999

In the ten years since its publication, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" has become a worldwide phenomenon, with more than twelve million readers in thirty-two languages. "Living the 7 Habits: Stories of Courage and Inspiration" captures the essence of people's real-life experiences, applying proven principles to help them solve their problems and overcome challenges. In this uplifting and riveting collection of stories, readers will find wonderful examples of hope and encouragement as they are touched by the words of real people and their experiences of change -- change that got them through difficult times; change that solved family crises; change that mended broken relationships; change that turned their businesses around; change that influenced entire communities.

The readers' understanding is enhanced by the personal commentary and added insights of Dr. Stephen R. Covey, as he explains how the application of his principles aided each situation. He also adds other provocative examples throughout the book that show how these applications can enhance your life. Whether you have read his previous works or not, these touching and powerful stories will enthrall and inspire you with an energizing recognition of your own freedom, potential, and power.

"To live with change, to optimize change, you need principles that don't change. I cannot fully describe the respect and reverence I have for every person who has contributed a story, for their willingness to share their inward struggles to live by universal and self-evident principles. You can tell that all of them are rich human beings who should be respected for what they represent, for what they are trying to accomplish, and for what they have accomplished. Their stories are splendid illustrations of profound change. I feel humbled by their humanity and profoundly grateful for their sharing."

-- Stephen R. Covey

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Stephen Covey's famous 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been teaching people and organizations how to be more effective since 1989. But how do Covey's principles translate for real people living their lives? Living the 7 Habits presents more than 70 little stories of people as they meet challenges and practice the seven habits. Some are ordinary slices of life; others are pivotal moments or life changes. A 76-year-old man who had overdrawn his wife's "emotional bank account" starts making deposits of chores, favors, and special dates until love is rekindled. A woman changes her life after her husband dies of cancer. Children teach parents empathic listening. A banker-turned-minister, cleaning his gun as his pregnant wife naps on the couch, accidentally discharges it, killing his wife and the unborn child, and learns to recover from grief and guilt. Parents learn to hear their teenagers' anxieties with respect and understanding. A clinical-psychology researcher, moved by statistics that one-third of foster kids never return to their birth parents or get adopted, creates a village for former "unadoptable" children, their new parents, and volunteer "grandparents." The stories are organized thematically into individual, family, community, education, and workplace--with commentary from Covey following each story. If you practice the seven habits and seek inspiration and a feeling of community, this book will help you find both. --Joan Price

From Publishers Weekly

Covey fans and booksellers alike will be delighted by this collection, perfect for June gift-giving occasions and destined for a long life. For 10 years, the author's famed Seven Habits of Highly Effective People has influenced countless individuals and organizations worldwideAand sold millions of copies. Conceding that the earlier books may have been long on theory and light on practice, Covey and his team culled thousands of testimonials for examples of the principles in action. The resulting collection of more than 75 true stories will satisfy the full range of Covey constituents. Though the storytelling is always first-person, the focus is consistently on the underlying principle, reinforced by Covey's commentary. Handily arranged by situationAwithin individual, family, community, workplace and educational settingsAand varying in depth and power, the stories offer intriguing and provocative lessons. They are mostly brief and often inspiring, but are by no means simplistic; they readily lend themselves to informal teaching and discussion. Some are dramatic and hard to forget: a woman facing a debilitating disease; a convict finding his mission while in prison. Many instructive stories deal with more routine problems, such as how to handle a sullen teenager sensitively or accommodate the needs of an elderly relative. Longer entries from executives of Shell Oil, Olivet College and Alphagraphics, and about the rejuvenation of South Bend, Ind., will appeal to strategic thinkers. This is a Covey classic. Agent, Jan Miller; 20-city TV and radio satellite tour.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 1 edition (June 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684846640
• ISBN-13: 978-0684846644
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #997,943 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 7 Habits in action!, June 14, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Living the 7 Habits: The Courage to Change (Paperback)

I hesitated to buy this book. After reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I thought that Dr. Covey had said all that he needed or could say. Boy was I wrong?

In living the 7 habits, Dr. Covey brings the 7 Habits to life. This book touched my heart and my soul. It made me dust of my old copy of 7 Habits and read it again along with this volume. It made the 7 Habits work like never before and created more balance and happiness inmy life.

If you are not touched agter reading this book, then you had better check your vitamin dosage. It is powerful.

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Provides evidence that the 7 Habits work, March 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Living the 7 Habits: The Courage to Change (Paperback)

This is clearly a secondary work. It is more in the nature of evidence that the principles taught in Seven Habits of Highly Effective People work.

Putting the Seven Habits to work requires commitment and patience. In my personal life, I have always had to work very hard to choose my response, instead of just snapping at the other person if they did not agree with me.

I find many of these stories interesting. However I also find that this book is not essential to following the Seven Habits. The best use of this book is if you are skeptical about the Seven Habits, then you can read it so that you get proof it works. Then you can go to the main book.

This said, I believe that Stephen Covey must get off the Seven Habits bandwagon. His first work was a masterpiece that I continue to read and re-read. Subsequent derivative works have not achieved the greatness of the first, and he is in real risk of diluting the Seven Habits franchise if he goes on and on. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is a completed work. The brilliant thinking and concepts that produced it do not need a book every year to keep them going.

I also believe that the observance of the Seven Habits are a necessary condition for true success but not a sufficient condition. It would be enlightening to see Dr. Covey explore other essential areas of improvement in self, family and business without necessarily being locked in to the Seven Habits. I want to know if there are habits eight, nine and ten. I suspect there are, though I don't know what they are.

It's time for a paradigm shift, Dr. Covey.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great supplement to 7 Habits, June 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Living the 7 Habits Stories of Courage and Inspiration (Hardcover)

I have been a fan and student of StephenCovey for many years. I read and re-read7 Habits, which I believe is one of the best, if not the best personal development books on the racks right now. For those who have written negatively about this book and refer to it as a repeat of Covey's earlier work, keep in mind, that the title is a dead give away to the message---You must "LIVE" the 7 Habits and put them into practice--the stories are so inspiring and prove that the 7 Habits have changed many peoples lives. Two other books that I recommend are Superself and Think and Grow Rich. Also Financial Self Defense, which in my opinion is to personal finance what 7 Habits is to personal growth.