It’s been a long time since I’ve picked up a self-help book. To be honest, I’ve usually found them either too specific and narrow to be widely useful, or the complete opposite—so vague they feel like filler stretched across hundreds of pages. Most of the time, I finish those kinds of books thinking the same message could’ve been delivered in a 10-minute YouTube video. So when I started reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I didn’t have the highest expectations.
But I’m happy to say that this book proved me wrong.
I probably wouldn’t have read it on my own. My mom saw a TikTok recommending it, and since I was off for the summer before starting school again in August, I figured I had the time. Not working over the break was starting to make me feel unproductive and restless, so I thought, 'Why not give it a try?' Even though I expected the usual repetition and fluff that tends to come with books in this genre, I went into it with an open mind.
And I was genuinely surprised.
One of the first things that stood out to me was how readable the book is. The language is clear and simple, and Covey includes a ton of stories and anecdotes that make the ideas stick. The 7 habits aren’t just abstract theories—they’re tied to real-life examples that help you see how to apply them.
Though I read the book fairly quickly (in about a week), it’s definitely the kind of book I’ll need to revisit. I can already tell it’s not something you absorb in one go. These are habits meant to be built over time, and I’m looking forward to revisiting different chapters to really reflect on and internalize what’s being said.
Covey structures the book so that it moves from “private victories” (working on yourself and your mindset) to “public victories” (improving your relationships and leadership). I found this progression incredibly logical and empowering. It emphasizes how personal growth lays the foundation for everything else—something I think many of us in our 20s are just starting to understand.
Honestly, I wish I had read this when I was younger. I probably wouldn’t have been open to it then, but now it feels like the perfect time. I’m at a point in my life where I’m starting to think more deeply about the kind of person I want to become, and Covey offers not just guidance, but also tools for that journey.
This isn’t just a book you passively read and forget. Covey encourages readers to pause, reflect, and do the internal work. The thought exercises he includes are worth engaging with, and I can already tell this is a book I’ll be returning to many times as I grow and (hopefully) develop some of these habits in my own life.
One thing I appreciated was that, even though Covey includes a lot of references to his religion, it never feels preachy. I’m not a particularly religious person, and I never felt alienated. His beliefs clearly inform his personal compass, but he doesn’t impose them. Instead, he empowers readers to develop their own values and principles based on what matters to them.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is practical, thoughtful, and surprisingly impactful. It’s not about becoming someone else—it’s about becoming a better version of yourself. If you’re willing to put in the effort, reflect, and return to the material over time, this book genuinely feels as if it can help shift the way you approach life.
If you’re in your 20s like me, or at any point where you’re reevaluating how you live, work, and relate to others, I’d highly recommend giving this book a chance. You might be surprised by how much it resonates.
And maybe the biggest compliment I can give it: this book has opened me up to trying more self-help soon.
Wooooo amen
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