The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens
Book Review: Saved me from a Bad path
Summary: 5 Stars
I come from a horrible background, my family has no moral structure, they're either on drugs or selling drugs.
My freshmen year of high school was really hard for me, my moms drug use escalated and I felt trapped. I was about to give up and go towards the bad stuff my family did/does. I just wanted to be accepted, I was too weird for the normal kids, but not hardcore enough the kids that let me hang with them.
I had no support, and I felt like I couldn't reach out, after a suicide attempt, I was put into a leadership class and the Curriculum was the Seven habits of highly effective teens
This book helped me:
Over come my family (I moved out when I was 16)
Get better grades (I went from a 1.6-3.8 in one year and graduated with a 2.5)
It helped strengthen my moral goals (and give me some also)
and It helped me take care of myself
I am now 19 a freshmen in college and working towards becoming an abnormal Child Psychologist.
A few good teachers and this book saved me from a life of crime and drugs.
I feel like there are a lot kids out there that need this book, and a few good teachers.
P.s. I still have my copy from my freshmen year, all beat up and highlighted and I re-read it every so often to remind myself of all the awesome stuff in there.
Book Review: Useless and counterproductive
Summary: 1 Stars
Like many of the reviewers on here, I too was one of the unfortunate teens who had this book thrust upon them in high school. I was always a negativist at heart, so I am naturally critical of self-help programs and feel-good books like this one. But since I was going through a rough patch in my life, I decided to give it an honest chance. Plus, it was given to us at no charge, which I did appreciate.
Unfortunately, this book is only helpful to one of two different types of teens, neither category of which I happened to fall into. First are the type of individuals who are already happy-go-lucky, self-confident, and have already fully developed a sense of identity. Teens who are depressed, have a bad family situation, have financial troubles, or have issues with self-image should forget this book even exists. The second type of rare teenage breed who might actually benefit from this book is the one who has the dedication and the energy to uproot his or her entire life in order to live it according to Sean Covey's strict specifications.
Personally, I found the book to be so overly enthusiastic that it actually sickened me. Covey seems to assume every teenager is of the same mold. He doesn't account for some very important variables which often contribute to teenage stress and hardship (i.e., moving to a new location, domestic violence, the death of a loved one, mental illness, etc.) and the issues he does address are often glossed over in a goofy, unrealistic manner. It's plain to see that Covey, despite his "I-used-to-be-just-like-you" attitude, didn't have too many problems growing up. Perhaps he should have let someone more qualified write this book.
Even the people who might enjoy this text will be turned off by its blatant profiteering. There are copious references to a companion planner that you are supposed to buy, as if all other day planners are somehow incompatible.
My advice for troubled teens: burn this book and keep listening to angry music and playing violent video games. It is far more therapeutic than reading "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens".
Book Review: the seven habits of highly effective teens
Summary: 3 Stars
I was given this book as a gift. At first, I was skeptical as to what purpose it served, and it collected dust on my night stand for a couple months.
After getting into some trouble, my dad requested that I read this book, as well as right a brief report on each chapter. I would say that it just reinforces things that teenagers already have an idea of in the back of their minds. It just takes some self-assessment to realize these things. The seven habits were be proactive, begin with the end in mind, seek first to understand - then to be understood, think win-win, sinergize, and sharpen the saw. All of these things, I'm sure, teenagers are familiar with. I learned the phrase "sharpen the saw" in middle school. What this book does is give teenagers an in-depth look at what these things mean, and how to use this advice to their advantage. I think the author did a good job of creating stories and situations that teenagers can relate too, but I also think, that at times, he can be a bit corny in his attempts to make the stories seem realistic.
Overall, this book is a good read for any teen who feels like they need some structure in their life. It wont fix your problems, but it will give you the tools you need.
Book Review: Horrible book, should get negative stars
Summary: 1 Stars
I cringe every time I see this book. I was forced to teach it to a 9th grade advisory class and we all hated every painful minute of it (despite my "give it a chance" attitude--I really did try!). It's a very boring read to begin with, and is filled with unrealistic advice. The worst one I can remember is that he says something along the lines of "success comes from you, not from who you know, the latter of which is a common belief and downfall of many". EXCUSE ME? Are you going to tell me that YOUR success (Sean) has NOTHING to do with your dad's? Come the (insert expletive here) on!
Teens need guidance that empathizes with them, tells them how to deal with realistic situations, rather than preach at them and tell them that scheduling their lives will make all the difference.
Please, schools across the country, stop forcing this on our students. This is not the solution to our so-called 'troubled youths'--this book does NOT speak to them (read other reviews here if you don't believe me!)
Book Review: A great book for adults or teens
Summary: 5 Stars
I discovered this book by accident. I found the 365 days version with excerpts and jokingly said to my Mum that I should get it. She was serious that I should and bought it for me. I was intrigued...
That quite possibly changed by life (not dramatically mind you but kept me on the right track). It took me ages to find the full version, but I bought (it wasn't cheap!) and read it straight away (and was a bit rude considering I was staying at someones house as a guest and hid in my room for hours reading!).
It was the first "self help" book I have read and I'd say the best. It is SO easy to read and has lots of pictures and things so it's not just pages and pages of writing.
I have read this book many times and even though I haven't read it for a year or so I can still remember half of the 7 habits and some of my Personal Mission Statement I wrote.
But anyway, the book is great, easy to read and the stuff makes sense, really quickly - you don't have to sit and think about it for ages, you get it straight away - and you WILL remember it.
I haven't even bothered reading his father's book - I've seen it in stores and been put off by the pages full of writing.
Give this book a go - even if it is the only "self Help" book you EVER read it won't disappoint you (I have found others just don't match up).
Give it to your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews or even your adult relatives and friends. Apart from the references to school aduts can still get a lot out of it!
ENJOY!