The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Score Classic
What it's about
Stephen Covey lays out seven habits, from being proactive and beginning with the end in mind, through seeking win-win solutions and trying to understand before being understood, to renewing yourself. His argument is that lasting success comes from character and principles rather than from tricks and techniques.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling self-help books of all time, used by companies, schools and families for decades. Its ideas, like 'sharpen the saw', have become everyday language.
You'll love it if you liked
How to Win Friends and Influence People
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
The Autobiography of Benjamin FranklinGood to know
It's earnest and repetitive in places, with examples from Covey's own family and his Latter-day Saint faith. It works best read slowly.
By the numbers
- Readers72 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller58 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #34 of the 85 self-help and business books we rank
- #250 of the 762 classics we rank
- #815 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Practical, Thought-provoking
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Self-help and business booksTop 25 · 85 ranked
Classic booksTop 25 · 762 ranked
Books of the 1980sTop 25 · 202 ranked
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 459 ranked
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 ranked
Literary novelsTop 25 · 309 ranked
Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 ranked
Science fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedQuick answers
Is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling self-help books of all time, used by companies, schools and families for decades. It ranks #815 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People about?
Stephen Covey lays out seven habits, from being proactive and beginning with the end in mind, through seeking win-win solutions and trying to understand before being understood, to renewing yourself. His argument is that lasting success comes from character and principles rather than from tricks and techniques.
How long does it take to read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?
About 11 hours (432 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?
If you liked it, try How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie or The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin.