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 Read Someting Else including Covey's The 7 Habits of... October 24, 2008
The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness: Miniature Edition
Covey generally writes well, and his 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (which is a much better and more useful read) remains one of the better personal development books on the market today.
In short, this 8th Habit book...any strong synonym for "bad" will do. Only read it if you can buy it for less than $3, and will not spend more than 20 minutes on it.
With the 8th Habit he capitalized on the success of his previous books to generate more cash. He does try to make this book as useful to a reader as possible, albeit with little success. The book is more tedious than his previous ones. Covey reiterates the same points (I almost feel like he copy and pastes paragraphs) and fills space with many inspirational stories and quotes which, and one can disagree, should be really limited to specific examples and supporting points in order to be effective.
In this text, yet again, he goes over different types of intelligence. If you never did particularly well academically, you can think that you are "intelligent in other ways." He spends a good chunk of the book persuading you that great leaders develop their physical, emotional and spiritual intelligence into higher sense of right and wrong (among other things). Creative genius perhaps? Just one look at the creative accounting by senior executives at Lehman and AIG suggests they really found a creative outlet for their physical and emotional intelligence :) Sorry, Covey explained away all modern-day corrupt leadership with Hitler and "mad ego" example.
The voice and the speed of trust was a good section, and probably a useful one for most people. Is it worth reading the entire book though..? I think there are far better texts(including his own 7 Habits), that are less theoretical/philosophical, and are packed with real-life concrete ideas that can be put into action today. Brian Tracy tends to be good with that and his books/programs on Maximum Achievement and How to Master Your Time are worth a look as a substitute to the 8th Habit.
 Extremely Disappointed May 12, 2008
I am only rating this book 1 because there is no zero rating.
I have read and enjoyed the 7 habits and First Things First; however this book one ways or another is repeat of same concepts and materials in the 7 Habits book.
Way too long, badly written and too many irrelevant details. In brief I think it's a new many making attempt by S. Covey.
 El 8vo Habito May 4, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Good summary of the book. Return to the road after years of read the first Covey book.
 Excellent book on CD April 24, 2008
This audio book was great. I needed to read this book for work and since I'm pressed with time I thought getting it on CD would be great. I would play it in the car while I'm driving to work. I would also listen and read along with it before I go to sleep. I would definitely by another audio CD again.
 Discover the importance of finding your purpose April 18, 2008
You may think that the 8th Habit is simply a marketing ploy to wring more money out of a society desparate for someone to show them the way.
That is what I thought when I first heard of the 8th Habit. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was more than that.
The 8th Habit is a philosophical mindset focusing externally on service and how one can serve ones own inner needs by serving the needs of others.
It is a message thousands of years old, whoever desires to lead should be the one of who serves the most. It is a message many modern companies with their focus on profits would do well to heed, especially in an economic downturn.
The story is full of anectdotes of men and women with humble beginnings who became great by putting the needs of others before their own.
A considerable amount of time is spent on the stories of Anwar Sadat and Gandhi, men who paid the ultimate sacrifice, with their lives.
Not the easiest of reads, and if possible, listening to the audio edition can make things easier.
Recommended.
Cheers!
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