First Things First by Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca R. Merrill Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.89 You Save: $12.11 (76%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of First Things First
Book Review: A masterpiece for living
Summary: 5 Stars
Steve Covey did an extraordinary job condensing the privileged knowledge from his academic thesis about the wisdom literature across the ages, combined with the lessons of his succesful life.The result is a wholistic masterpiece, which leads you to face existence from the deepest questions like "why am I in this world" all the way to practical guidance on keeping an organizer leading to a fulfilling life.
Reading the reviews I see some people seeing this book as a new form of time management. It would be somewhat frustrating and uneffective to buy this book with that sole purpose in mind. You need to have the right mindset to read - and keep - it, as you would with other philosophy works.
I have for this book the same consideration other people have for the Bible. Note that it is not a metaphysic or religious book - as far as I know Covey himself is a christian.
I believe that reading passages of First Things First often and following its precepts leads to a meaningful life. It shapes a lifestyle, a discipline full of virtue and enchantement.
Think of it as a trip to Tibet packed with a senior executive course on people skills - a profoundly humanistic work for the self who's also a contemporary citizen of the world.
That's why I presented it to my daughter and her husband as a wedding gift.
In my appreciation Covey's First Things First supersedes his previous Seven Habits for Very Effective People, also an outstanding lesson of life.
Book Review: An unexpected life-changer
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to get a couple of things out of the way right now to make you understand why this book has been so important to me (and could be to you as well). First, I am definitely someone who shuns most self-help tomes--I think most of them are crutches for weak people too lazy to get their acts together or too clueless to embrace a little common sense. Second, my prior experiences with the Covey cult were less than satisfying, as I had a boss (now departed) who talked the Covey talk but did not (I now see) truly walk the walk. This book differs from the _7 Habits_ texts in that it really deals with taking the general Covey concepts ("principle-centered living") and giving them a practical sheen--in this case by applying them to time management. Learning to divide my activities between "urgent" and "important," planning my life around certain "roles" that I have to fill, and composing a "mission statement" (a much more realistic and helpful version of year 2000 New Year's resolutions for me)--these were the concepts that have really helped me organize my life as efficiently as possible (and I was already pretty organized). I highly recommend buying the book and then following up by getting a Franklin Covey planner, where you can take the lessons from the book and start building your time and life around them. I have loaned the book to several friends and students (I teach high school) and all of them have benefitted from it in some way or another. Buying _First Things First_ will be one of the best things you can do for yourself.And I can't believe I just wrote a positive review of a self-help book. Trust me on how helpful this book can be.
Book Review: Another book ALL OF HUMANITY needs....
Summary: 5 Stars
The author's of this book had a buyer when I heard it was co-authored with Mr. Covey (whom I greatly admire) and I found out that Mrs. Merrill had her family's menus planned months in advance.
Also, I love the Covey/Merrill families (all that I have read about them), their faith and successful children, and family lives. And I am not a naturally organized person (I have severe ADD) and every tool I can have in my arsenal helps.
But this book, like The 7 Habits, transcends just mere organization and really helps you focus on WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE and GETTING IT DONE.
Thanks in part to it and the 7 Habits books, I now have a VERY organized household, a much happier husband, more time to spend with family, better work habits, and am well on my way to having 3 books published!
If you have any organizational or time management issues, or are simply just pursuing being the best person you can be, PLEASE GET THIS BOOK.
If I could give it to everyone ON EARTH I would.
Thanks authors!
Book Review: Another great book by Stephen Covey!
Summary: 5 Stars
I read "7 Habits" about a year ago and have gone back to it many times. "First Things First" expands on the first part of "7 Habits," going into depth about how to achieve a private victory. I feel that it has helped me to prioritize and organize myself, understand what is really important to me, and bring an overall balance to my life. If you have read and liked "7 Habits," or are simply interested in improving your own life, you have to read this book!Book Review: Better Than Seven Habits
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the best book on time management I have ever read. "First Things First" puts "Seven Habits" into action. It takes the "Habits" principles--sometimes a bit too abstract (and obtuse) and shows you how to put them to work. If you find you don't have time for the people and things that are really important in your life, read this book. If you take the suggestions seriously, you will never again short-change what you love. And, if you do, you will be at least be aware of your choices. A word of warning, though: Covey has an entire catalogue of products to sell you to support "First Things First," but the company does seem to be committed to "principle centered" business