Book · 1989
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
by Stephen R. Covey
Before you fix your calendar, this book makes you write a personal mission statement about what you're scheduling around in the first place.
What does Reddit think of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?
r/productivity treats this less like a book than an obligation: the ↑247 comment calls it the one book anyone should read in their lifetime, full stop, and follows with the thesis in three clauses, be proactive, live by your values, focus on what's in your control. r/getdisciplined mostly agrees, with one commenter (↑149) rereading it annually and calling it 'very complete, very practical.' But r/getdisciplined also supplies the pushback, and it's aimed less at Covey than at the evangelizing: the ↑94 reply mocks the reflex of answering every problem with 'the only thing that works is Seven Habits,' then concedes, almost grudgingly, that it worked for that particular poster. A separate joke (↑93), built around a New York Times line, needles the same thing: people spending more time reading about the habits than practicing them. Nobody here disputes the ideas work; what's wearing thin is being told, yet again, to go read it.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · Treated by some as the one self-help book worth reading, not one of many
- · An annual-reread habit for at least one r/getdisciplined poster
- · Backlash aimed at the constant recommending, not at the book's actual content
- · A recurring joke about people reading about the habits instead of practicing them
Common praise
- + The ↑247 comment calls it the one book anyone should read in their lifetime and summarizes the thesis in three clauses without padding.
- + The ↑149 commenter rereads it annually and calls it 'very complete, very practical.'
- + The ↑170 comment treats it as a text worth revisiting, pairing it with Crucial Conversations for a fuller toolkit.
Common criticism
- − The ↑94 reply mocks the reflex of answering every problem with 'the only thing that works is Seven Habits,' even while conceding it worked for the person recommending it.
- − A separate joke (↑93) needles readers who spend more time reading about the seven habits than living them.
Who it's for
If you want one principle-level book instead of a shelf of them, r/productivity's top comment (↑247) is arguing you should start and stop here. Reread it the way the ↑149 poster does, annually, instead of treating it as a one-and-done; the ideas are meant to compound. Just don't become the person in the ↑94 thread who answers every unrelated problem with this exact title, because that's the one thing Reddit visibly can't stand about it.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?
The most relevant excerpts across the subreddits where this book is mentioned — opinionated, argued takes first, then top-upvoted mentions. Click through to read the full thread.
“7 habits of highly effective people. If I wanted to suggest the ONE book anyone to read in their lifetime it is it. The idea is simple - be proactive, live by your values, and focus on what's in your control. It will change the way you think and approach life.
“This is my productivity reading list: * David Allen, *How to Get Things Done* \-- the classic productivity system. Start here. * Stephen R. Covey, *The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People* \-- self-help classic that should also be early on in your reading. * Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, *Make Time…
“Get the audio book... The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Listen to it. Properly. Take it in like sage wisdom. Revisit this every so often. Then get Crucial Conversations. Both of these audio books will give you new tools and thinking to not just support yourself, but your kid and the…
“Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is my favourite book. Very complete, very practical, just all round sound and positive principles. I read through it annually.
“I like the book: "The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. I'm halfway through it, and the first part is about changing your habits to suit your values with paradigm shifts and self reflection. It's a good read.
“7 habits of highly effective people. The first chapter was game changing for me.
“The Seven Habits of Highly effective people by Stephen Covey. I think it touches on the most important aspects of what motivates you or holds you back from doing the right things. It really helped me a lot.
“the 7 habits of highly effective people has been instrumental in sorting myself out and truly figuring out what i want to do with m life
“Hi There, Here few that have had a big impact on me. \-The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. A framework for approaching my life in the proper way. This is the one I've gifted the most. \-Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want…
“7 habits of highly effective people. Changed my perspective dramatically
“Have you ever read “7 habits of highly effective people”? It’s a self improvement book but teaches you to be the best of each role in your life, not just as a person succeed in career and finance. It also tells you to always value people over things.
“7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey. An oldy, but a goodie!
“This seems a really defeatist post for this sub Reddit. I don't understand why entering with the mindset that this will be the best year yet is a bad thing? In fact, I'm pretty sure that should be what everyone does. 7 habits of highly effective people - start with the end in sight. I'd in fact en…
“An oldie but goodie: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
“Idk, i am also frequently in the minority, as I enjoy listening to many self-help books. Even if they are repetitive, I listen as I am cleaning or doing other chores and often find 1 or 2 tips motivating and inspiring. BUT if I had to list the top one — I am going to throw back decades to, The 7 hab…
Convinced? Pick up The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Readers also mention
Books that share discussion threads with The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — counted from the comments, not curated.
Guides featuring The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Ranked best-of lists and editorial guides where this book's tracked mentions place it.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — frequently asked
Is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People still worth reading?+
Yes, per its strongest advocates. The ↑247 r/productivity comment calls it the one book anyone should read in their lifetime, and the ↑149 r/getdisciplined commenter rereads it annually, calling it 'very complete, very practical.' No displayed excerpt disputes the ideas themselves.
Why does Reddit make fun of people who recommend The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?+
Because of how often it gets deployed as a cure-all. The ↑94 comment mocks the exact phrasing, 'the only thing that works is Seven Habits,' and a separate joke (↑93) pokes at readers who spend more time reading about the habits than practicing them. The mockery targets the recommending, not the book.
Should you read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People more than once?+
At least one visible reader thinks so. The ↑149 r/getdisciplined commenter says they read through it annually, calling it 'very complete, very practical' each time. That's a single account, not a fleet-wide habit, but it's the only rereading pattern shown in this data.
Is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People better than Getting Things Done?+
The one list that names both (↑180) doesn't rank them; it puts GTD first as 'the classic productivity system, start here' and files The 7 Habits right after as a self-help classic worth reading early. They're positioned as a pair, not competitors.