• The 8th Habit

  • From Effectiveness to Greatness
  • By: Stephen R. Covey
  • Narrated by: Stephen R. Covey
  • Length: 14 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,886 ratings)

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The 8th Habit

By: Stephen R. Covey
Narrated by: Stephen R. Covey
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Publisher's summary

In the more than 15 years since its publication, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has become an international phenomenon. Tens of millions of people in business, government, schools, and families have dramatically improved their lives and organizations by applying the principles of Stephen R. Covey's classic book.

The world, though, is a vastly changed place. The challenges we all face in our relationships, families, professional lives, and communities are of an entirely new order of magnitude.

Being effective as individuals and organizations is no longer merely an option. But in order to thrive, innovate, excel, and lead in what Covey calls the new Knowledge Worker Age, we must build on and move beyond effectiveness. The call of this new era in human history is for greatness; it's for fulfillment, passionate execution, and significant contribution.

Accessing the higher levels of human genius and motivation in today's new reality requires a sea change in thinking. The crucial challenge of our world today is this: to find our voice and inspire others to find theirs. It is what Covey calls the 8th Habit.

So many people feel frustrated, discouraged, unappreciated, and undervalued, with little or no sense of voice of unique contribution. The 8th Habit is the answer to the soul's yearning for greatness, the organization's imperative for significance and superior results, and humanity's search for its "voice". This groundbreaking audiobook of next level thinking gives a clear way to finally tap the limitless value-creation promise of the Knowledge Worker Age.

Covey's new audiobook will transform the way we think about ourselves and our purpose in life, about our organizations, and about humankind. Just as The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People helped us focus on effectiveness, The 8th Habit shows us the way to greatness.

NOTE: On the cover and in the introduction, the audio mentions that a free bonus DVD is included. It is NOT included with this audio; however, you're able to stream the content for free after signing up at the following FranklinCovey website: www.StephenCovey.com.

Listen to Stephen Covey's groundbreaking The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
©2004 FranklinCovey (P)2004 FranklinCovey

Critic reviews

"If organizations operated with Covey's ideas - and ideals - most people would undoubtedly find work much more satisfying." ( Publishers Weekly)

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What listeners say about The 8th Habit

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

A Real Disappointment

I liked the Seven Habits so much that I listened to the audio book twice and read the book once, so I was really looking forward to the 8th Habit. Unfortunately, it was so bad that it hurt my respect for Covey. First off, as other's have noted, it's a watered down rehash of the 7 Habits coupled with lots of nebulous talk about "finding your voice". Second, half the time I had no idea what he was talking about as the book is so laden with meaningless business speak (working at a higher level, exercising true leadership, finding a new paradigm, coping with the knowledge worker age and on and on and on). By now, I have Covey's (preachy) formula down pat: 1. read a vignette (in an overly earnest fashion) about some mystery individual overcoming adversity, 2. talk about how it fits some numbered principle, 3. relate the principle to the teachings of the great books and minds of yesteryear and 4. invent a cute little word pneumonic to go with it (intimate means "look into me"). I would recommend sticking with 7 Habits and never touching this book. Another good book in this area that's high on substance and low on fluff-speak (as in zero fluff-speak) is Man's Search for Meaning, probably the best book I've read in the "learn about life" category. Actually, I've moved completely away from books written by self styled "leadership" teachers and into biographies about leaders handling difficult situations (The Last Lion (Churchill), Lincoln, Washington, etc.). I've learned about a hundred times more about life and humanity from Founding Brothers and Team of Rivals than I did from this book. Thumbs down.

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99 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Next level understanding!

I am a professional leadership teacher and speaker. I have studied leadership for 10 years. Once every few years a book comes along that raises the understanding of even the most avid student of leadership. This book accomplishes that task and more. Honestly, I have found most of Stephen's books since 7 Habits to be somewhat prosaic. This book is something entirely different. I urge you to not just get the audio version, though. Invest in the book and then digest the book. The re-reads contain many defining moments for students, parents and business leaders.

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78 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

It really does take it to the next level

Upfront, I'll admit to being a big fan of Stephen Covey. That said, I wouldn't consider myself a disciple or anything and I think I can write an objective review. This is without a doubt, life changing material for those who are ready to understand it. The 8th Habit is all about taking us from independence to interdependance on a whole new level.

I found it to be particularly relevant for today's world and today's challenges. I'd definitely recommend it.

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43 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Not to much new compared to the seven habits

If you read "the seven habits" and expect a quantum leap in coveys thinking, you might be disappointed. it's more a modernization of his previous book. if you are new to covey this is a good place to start

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22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Nothing New

I'm a fan of Covey. I loved the 7 habits, and was excited to hear about the 8th habit, which I thought would help me inspire and encourage others. This book is just a review of the 7 habits, though. One explanation of the habits was enough.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Pure Magic

Inspirational stuff as usual from Stephen Covey. No short cuts, no quick fixes but some great advice on how to achieve great things. Not just thought-provoking, also action-provoking, a guidebook for living. Covey also has a good voice for delivering his work which makes the book very enjoyable listening.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

The Purpose-Driven Habit?

Covey is too talented, too revered, to put out a "me too" book like this. Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life covered the same ground first, and covered it better.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Lead others so they become more effective as well

The previous book of 7 habits was to make you effective. The 8th habit goes further by helping you to lead others so they become more effective as well. It pushes the principles further from people to organizations. Something is repeated but new perspectives are added or more interconnections explained. It suggests new tools for empathetic discussion, leading communication in a way so you are able to uncover synergies and how to lead companies or communities towards greatness as well.

Interesting quotes:
– Values are like fingerprints. Nobody has them the same but you leave them on everything you do.
– A range of what we can do is limited by what we fail to notice.
– Intuition tells the thinking mind where to look next.
– The problem is never how to get new innovative ideas into mind but how to get the old ones out.
– Discipline is the price we pay for making a vision a reality.
– It is a greater compliment to be trusted than to be loved
– Low trust is the greatest hidden tax.
– Trust is glue of life. Trust is a glue in a company.
– Lying make the problem part of the future, truth make the problem part of the path.
– You can not hold people responsible for results if you supervise their methods.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Such a disappointment

While a decent book, this title falls far short from the standard set by 'The Seven Habits'. 'The Eigth Habit is a basic re-hash of 'The Seven Habits'.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The 8th Habit

Phenomenally good book. Certainly the best 'self improvement' book I've read in the past few years. Covey has really done taken his work to a new level of excellence.

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6 people found this helpful