"What is 'effectiveness' in a family?" asks author Steven R. Covey. He promptly answers with four words: "a beautiful family culture." Building this culture is the primary theme of Covey's parenting guide, a manual based on concepts introduced in his blockbuster, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey, a New-Age business guru and leadership authority, has consulted with the world's top corporate and political leaders, but closer to home he is the father of nine children. Here, Covey reinterprets each of his now famous "habits" (Habit 1: Be Proactive, Habit 4: Think Win-Win, Habit 6: Synergize) to apply to parenting and family-life issues. Covey suggests writing a family mission statement, implementing special family times and "one-on-ones," holding regular family meetings, and making the commitment to move from "me" to "we" as techniques to improve family effectiveness. Covey is a brilliant storyteller. By weaving the voices and anecdotes of his wife and children with his own inspirational and informative stories, exercises, and parables, he has created a book with something for all parents interested in enhancing the strength and beauty of their own families. --Ericka Lutz


From Library Journal
A personal-development guru, best-selling author, and father of nine, Covey has done it again. Here he espouses the same seven habits to live by as he did in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (S. & S., 1989), but this time the focus is strictly on the family. While his message is not new, it is written with sincerity and simplicity, and even the most career-driven individual should feel passionate about family after reading this book. Covey contends that all families get off track, mostly because they don't know where the track is headed. The remedy: develop a sense of destination. As in Effective People, each chapter here explains the significance of one of the "habits," illustrated by personal stories. Chapters conclude with practical suggestions for putting the habits into action. At times hokey, at times virtuous, always thoughtful and enlightening, this book is recommended for all libraries. [This is the publisher's first adult title.?Ed.]?Kimberly Lynn, Reading P.L., Mass.-?Kimberly Lynn, Reading P.L., Mass.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
Covey's seven habits of effective people are adapted here to families. The program works well on audio for a number of reasons. Covey's popular ideas are rooted in interpersonal wisdom; he expresses them sincerely in a concise and entertaining manner. He presents a number of useful lists and recommendations with authentic feeling and colorful examples from his own experience. Occasional live segments add variety to the studio recording. Throughout the program a tender, repeated musical theme and Covey's earnest voice offer hope to listeners seeking closer family relationships. For all these reasons, repeated listening will be useful for anyone interested in Covey's ideas. T.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Review
Donald G. Soderquist vice chairman and C.O.O., Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The ever-present conflict between professional life and family life is addressed in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families through an excellent blend of principle, common sense, and example. Success is possible in both with the proper sense of priority and balance.


Book Description
In his first major work since The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven R. Covey presents a practical and philosophical guide to solving the problems--large and small, mundane and extraordinary--that confront all families and strong communities. By offering revealing anecdotes about ordinary people as well as helpful suggestions about changing everyday behavior, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families shows how and why to have family meetings, the importance of keeping promises, how to balance individual and family needs, and how to move from dependence to interdependence. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families is an invaluable guidebook to the welfare of families everywhere.



Book Info
Audio cassette. Covey discusses building a beautiful family culture in a turbulent world. He offers powerful solutions for solving family dilemmas and the courage needed to make the tough choices to build meaningful, loving relationships. Four cassettes.


About the Author
Steven R. Covey--recognized by Time magazine as one of America's twenty-five most influential people--is chairman of FranklinCovey Company. He and his wife, Sandra, have three children and live in Provo, Utah.

ANNOTATION

"The author, called one of America's 25 most influential people by Time magazine, explains how families can use the principles he presented in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."

SYNOPSIS