Living the 7 Habits Stories of Courage and Inspiration

by Stephen R. Covey

This text shows how the 7 Habits have touched readers lives. The people, institutions, companies and even governments that have incorporated them into their lives are profiled. The book demonstrates through examples how to put the seven habits to work in the individual, family and business realms.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Business, Leadership, Personal Development, Psychology, Audiobook

336 pages, Hardcover

Published June 18, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Stephen Richards Covey was an American educator, author, businessman, and speaker. His most popular book is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. His other books include First Things First, Principle-Centered Leadership, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, The 8th Habit, and The Leader In Me: How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time. In 1996, Time magazine named him one of the 25 most influential people. He was a professor at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University (USU) at the time of his death.

Reviews

[Iman Shabani · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I have to put it in one phrase: "Inspirational, life-changing and definitely effective"

It's been so long since I couldn't put down a non-fiction book until it's done, and also so long since reading a book that I already know I'm gonna read multiple times and often. Next step, I'll have to give what I just read some thought, and come back and re-read it within the next 7 days, one thing is for sure though, my rating isn't going to go any lower for the foreseeable future.

To be honest, once I started the book, my worry was that this will not have much to add to the original book, "7 Habits of effective people", but now that it's finished, fortunately I was wrong. Stephen Covey didn't just do some research or contemplating to create his books, he lived them, and he truly got the wisdom out of them, the one he put inside so long ago.

My recommendation: Give this a go, even if there's 5% chance of your life changing for the better after this, it's worth a shot. (If you don't have time, or patience for the written book, try the full audio version as I did).

For anyone who reads the book after this review, please let me know what was your experience while doing it. Thanks.

[Peep Laja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this you have to read "7 Habits" as this is kind of a sequel.

The book consists of powerful stories of people who read the "7 Habits" and started to use them. It goes habit by habit, covering all of them.

It is very inspirational, gives you additional proof that the habits really work and brings new insights on how to use all of the habits.

[Dania zarzour · Rating 3 out of 5]

بصراحة من كثر ما قيل عن الكتاب تشوقت لقراءته خاصة أنني احب هذا النوع من الكتب عن التغيير والسيطرة على الذات وعن البرمجة اللغوية العصبية فيما يأتي بقصص حياتية واقعية....لكن في البداية وجدت المتعة ..ولكن عندما تكمل باقي القصص تشعر بالرتابة والتكرار وستكون حتما ممن يتوقع نهاية القصة...ثلاث نقاط فقط لأانني مللت منه حقيقة...وصيته أكبر من محتواه....

[Georgi Nenov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short stories around the 7 Habits. It's always valuable to remind yourself through context how to apply the lessons from the main book.

[Ramy · Rating 2 out of 5]

باختصار كدا و من الاخر
كتاب
العادات السبع للناس الاكثر فعالية
هو الاصل هو المادة العلمية و "بعض المقولات و الحكم" و "بعض القصص الواقعية" كتطبيق لعادات ستيفن ار كوفى للناس الاكثر فاعلية


العادات هم :
1-كن مبادرا دائما اغزو المشكلة ب خطوة استباقية كمحاولة للحل
2-ابدأ و الغاية فى ذهنك : كل شىء يخلق مرتين مرة ف عقلك اولا ثم مرة اخرى باصرارك و تنفيذك على ارض الواقع
3-ابدا ب الاهم قبل المهم : ترتيب الاولويات يجعلك تنهى 80% من العمل ب 20 % من المجهود
4-تفكير مكسب /مكسب : حاول ان تصل ل صيغة تكسب انت و الشخص الذى امامك لا داعى لان تكسب و يخسر الناس
5-اسع من اجل فهم الناس اولا حينها سيسمعك و يفهمك الاخرون: الناس بطبعها تحب ان تتكلم عن نفسها اكثر من ان تستمع لحكايات الناس عن انفسهم ...فوجود الشخص الذى يستمع للناس هو امر نادر يجعله مميز و يكسب قلوبهم و ااذانهم فى المقابل
6-التكاتف: الاشياء سواء نفسية او مادية هى عادة اكبر من مجرد مجموع اجزائها ...فملا قطع غيار جرار زراعى مفككة هى ليست بنفس قيمة جرار
زراعى مجمع و يعمل .... قوة اسرة مترابطة من 4-5 افراد هى اكبر من قوة و نفوذ و مهارات ال 4-5 كلا منهم على حدا
7-اشحذ المنشار : التجديد الدائم و الشحذ ل جوانب النفس ال 4 العقلية و الروحية و الجسدية و الاجتماعية
- انتوى قرائته قريبا هو الاكثر فائدة و شمولية -

هناك كتاب اخر ل ستيفن ار كوفى
حكم وتعاليم ستيفن كوفي
هو تجميع لحكم و مقولات و الاقوال المأثورة فقط
- قرئته من فترة و اعطيته 2/5 -

و الكتاب الذى بين ايدينا هو كتاب آخر ل ستيفن ار كوفى
العيش وفقاً للعادات 7 : قصص الشجاعه والإلهام
هو تجميعة لكل القصص و المواقف الحياتية التى هى تطبيق لاناس قرأو الكتاب و نفذوا العادات السبع فى حياتهم و مع اسرهم او مجتمعهم او عملهم رؤساء او مرؤوسين
- اعطيته 2/5 -
يعيبه الملل اغلبها قصص اجتماعية و انسانية ...قلة من القصص هى عن مجال العمل و الشركات

الامر اشبه بتفصيص عدة دجاجات
و بيع الوراك لوحدها
و الصدور لوحدها
و الاجنحة لوحدها
لمجرد المزيد من المكاسب من بيع الاصدارات دون اى اضافة ادبية مفيدة

الكتاب التالى:
تأملات مسافر

[Bebe Burnside · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, you'll love this follow up. Stephen Covey puts together a collection of stories he received from people who used the 7 Habits to change their lives. He gives a brief intro to each story and a follow up after, which help reinforce the lessons from 7 Habits. The stories are powerful and a living example to help your further understand the 7 Habits. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to change their personal and professional lives. One of the best books I have ever read!

[Nada Gohary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagination is more powerful than memory . Imagination taps into possibilities , into the infinite .
Memory is limited by past events and the finite . When u use your imagination and your dreams as the criteria to make your decisions , they became self -fulfilling prophecies .
The subconscious mind seizes upon experience and opportunity to actualize those imagined dreams .
Those DREAMS ignite excitement and hope in other people .... From article " my flower shop " Stephen convey , living the 7 habits ..

[Wood Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's great! I'm in it.

[CatReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book builds on the late Stephen Covey (1932-2012)'s 7 Habits series, and consists of ~300 pages of variably compelling anecdotes of people in different situations (teachers, parents, workers, leaders) putting the 7 Habits into practice to improve their efficacy and self-fulfillment. Though this book was first published in 1995, I was reading the 1999 edition; however most of the anecdotes are dated back to the 80s/early 90s, and it would be useful to see them updated for the 2020s, since virtually all fields and modes of working effectively have been transformed significantly by technology since then.

Covey states in this book that it's designed to be an add-on to the 7 Habits text, though he provides a quick primer and a diagram of the 7 Habits at the start. Honestly I think this book could be read as a standalone, since the habits all largely revolve around being self-accountable and practicing good communication skills.

[Shakira · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a bunch of reference from the 7 habits book which I should've read before this but overall it's an eye opening experience. And this book is lend to me by an amazing friend so it's a 8/10 instead of a 5/10.

[الشناوي محمد جبر · Rating 1 out of 5]

هو توأم كتاب العادات السبع للناس الأكثر فعالية، وهو قليل القيمة مثله، وغير مفيد.

[Phuongvu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sống mạnh mẽ💕

Bất cứ điều gì bạn làm hoặc mơ ước làm, hãy bắt đầu ngay lập tức! Sự can đảm mang trong nó sức mạnh, phép mầu lẫn tài năng vượt bậc

[Shreshtha Rathore · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of my friends told me that he found 7 habits really boring because it told everything we all already know, and I said exactly! That's the purpose of the book.

It works on the basics of our attitude. It's a reminder of all the things we already know, arranged in a proper format and ingrained into our brains via short stories that help you put a thought to these habits and analyse the situations when we may apply them in our daily life.
This wasn't an entertaining read for me, actually it wasn't a read at all.
This book is an experience made up of experiences of other people, live them to get the best out of it.

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a birthday gift from my friend Chris when I was living in Paris. I used to read this book the green armchair by my window with the occasional interruption from the nearby church bell. It is simply an application Steven R. Covey's 7 Habits. I loved it. I found the stories incredibly inspiring - although the jargon started driving me nuts after a while. But, as with every time I read Covey, I find myself really driven to live with more integrity. This really was the perfect gift for me at the time and one I've pulled out to reread recently.

[Kym Hamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a really long time since I first read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. This book contains a whole range of people's personal stories spanning family, community, education and business and was a great way to revisit the habits. I thoroughly enjoyed this and it's given me the opportunity to swot up on the habits again.

[Manoj B Unni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros: Powerful stories of learning, affirmation and hope
Cons: Color visuals could have given it a great look.

To read more about my review, click here

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living the 7 Habits is a collection of personal experiences from people who have applied principles and practices from The 7 Habits. It illustrates very well how The 7 Habits can really be life-changing.

[Francie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually a really great book -- way more readable than the 7 Habits book itself, because it is one motivational/inspirational story after another. Kind of like a "Chicken Soup For the Soul" book. Great read for when you want to feel good about life.

[The Docta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent set of stories showing the habits put to practice in ways great and small with positive result. I think it is a good book as a follow up or as something to encourage someone new to the habits to read in order to encourage them to read the seven habits book.

[Tona Bantan · Rating 3 out of 5]

ستيفن كوفي كاتب أعطيه خمسة نجوم في أسلوب جذب القارئ

[Qb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is like a workbook of the earliar book of
Dr stephen, the 7 habits and it facilitate those who want to adopt those principles.Its a useful book for a hands on experience.

[Don Gubler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doesn't add that much.

[محمد الملا · Rating 3 out of 5]

الكتاب جميل .. يجعلك في أجواء العادات السبع ويرفع من روحية التغيير في داخلك ويعطيك دفعة إيجابية نحو الأمام

[Abdullah · Rating 4 out of 5]

الكتاب يشرح لك كيف يتم استخدام العادات السبع. ويغني عن الكتاب الام. لكن هذا الكتاب يزيد من طرق تطبيق العادات السبع.

[Rina Slusnyte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like the “real‑life highlight reel” of Covey’s famous 7 Habits.
No, it's not a dry and boring theory.
You get stories of teachers, parents, CEOs, and everyday people who actually used the habits to change their lives.
It’s proof that courage isn’t about being fearless—it’s about choosing differently when life gets messy.

Habit 1: Be Proactive
Think of it as grabbing the steering wheel instead of letting life drive you. Example: one teacher stopped reacting in anger to misbehaving students and chose patience instead. She controlled her response, not the kids.

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
This is your GPS. Without a destination, you just drive in circles. Example: a father realized his “end goal” wasn’t just paying bills—it was raising confident kids. That vision changed his daily choices.

Habit 3: Put First Things First
Your calendar is like a diet—stop feeding it junk food (busywork). Example: a manager cut endless meetings and invested time in mentoring. The results multiplied because he focused on what mattered.

Habit 4: Think Win‑Win
Life isn’t a pie where you fight for slices—it’s a bakery where you can bake more. Example: two business partners stopped competing and built a joint venture that doubled profits.

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Listening is emotional Wi‑Fi—it connects you. Example: a couple saved their marriage by listening without interrupting. Once the signal was clear, love came back online.

Habit 6: Synergize
This is jazz band energy—different instruments, one rhythm. Example: a community project thrived because diverse voices created solutions no single person could.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Think of yourself as a phone battery. Burnout is running on 1%. Example: a nurse took time for exercise and reflection—her energy at work skyrocketed.

The Courage to Change
The real magic of this book is seeing ordinary people prove that change is possible. Courage isn’t about giant leaps—it’s about small, consistent choices that add up.

The Bottom Line
This isn’t just a book—it’s a mirror.
You’ll see yourself in these stories, and you’ll realize the habits aren’t lofty ideals—they’re tools you can use in traffic jams, boardrooms, or family dinners.
Read it, and you’ll stop asking “Can I change?” and start saying “I already am.”

P.S. Turns out effectiveness isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing less nonsense.
Honestly, if habits were a currency, I’d be rich in gym memberships I never used and motivational quotes I forgot to apply...

[Mario Mateev · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having read “The 7 Habits of highly effective people” I knew that this book would provide me with a more exemplified look on the 7 Habits.

It indeed did! Not only was I able to revisit the 7 Habits, but I was able to look at them from a more situational and humanly exemplified view. The stories told in this book, helped me gain a deeper and more brought understanding of the universal principles.

Some stories also resonated deeply with me and helped me rethink the way I am trying to apply the 7 Habits in my life.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a long time to get to this book on my shelf but I'm glad I finally did. I don't usually read nonfiction and this style of book (all short personal stories) isn't something I enjoy. I was pleasantly surprised though. Many of these stories hit home for me and I decided to keep the book to refer to later. It feels like a good reference book to me. The stories are in themed sections on parenting, teens, marriage, business etc. I think this book will be very useful for me in the future together with the original 7 habits book.

[Ireland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a fan of the 7 habits for a long time. So, it was interesting to read real accounts of how people applied them and found success. It is older and reflects different times. Although human nature doesn't change, each generation seems to have different motivators and boundaries. It felt too long. By the time it got to the last two sections I started to skim through and the last section I just finally gave up on.

[Thu Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sống mạnh mẽ - Stephen R.Covey
1/ 7 thói quen: chủ động, bắt đầu bằng cái kết trong tâm trí, ưu tiên cho điều quan trọng nhất, tư duy cùng thắng, lắng nghe để được thấu hiểu, đồng tâm hiệp lực, không ngừng rèn luyện.
2/ Tình cảm giống như tài khoản ngân hàng. Tốt hơn hết là gửi vào luôn nhiều hơn rút ra.
3/ Những câu chuyện đời thường, nhẹ nhàng vì họ biết mình phải làm gì. Bế tắc chỉ là cách thể hiện mà người ta không muốn giải quyết một việc.
4/ Không nói xấu người khác.

[Nguyễn Quang · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you havent read 7 habits before, dont worry, this book inspire you to read that. The stories in this book are really inspirational and i want to read 7 habits immediatly. This book and 7 habits can change my life and your life if you adopt the habits in life. Maybe we can know and adopt the habits before without even realizing it, but the book is in depths of the habits and makes us actively use the habits.