Book Cover

This is the single most powerful investment we can ever make in life - investment in ourselves, in the only instrument we have with which to deal with life and to contribute. We are the instrument of our own performance, and to be effective, we need to recognize the importance of taking time regularly sharpen the saw in all four ways.

# Review

I usually find self-help books a tad distasteful but I decided to read this one anyways because it’s perhaps one of the most influential books of the genre and I have been recommended this book from various sources. In the book, Covey explores different principles and rules that he has discovered through his personal and professional life. Covey constructs a framework for people to live a fulfilling lifestyle while maintaining healthy relationships with one’s environment.

Covey brings up a plethora of different ideas on topics ranging in diversity from parenthood to religion. I do get the feeling that Covey is throwing everything at the wall and hoping something sticks; some ideas did stick for me, including:

• The concept of Production/ Production Capability balance. The idea is that one has to balance prioritizing maximizing short-term rewards with investing for the long term. The anecdote Covey uses is a goose that lays golden eggs; while getting the golden eggs is a positive but one has to also take care of the goose to ensure that it can keep laying eggs for the long term.

• Covey also borrows from other philosophical schools such as the idea of personal Kaizen, or of continuous self-improvement. Covey stresses the importance of inside-out change versus that of the traditional outside-in change. Covey stresses the importance of changing one’s internal paradigm and focusing on character ethics as opposed to the conventional self-help which is focused on fixing the more superficial personality ethics such as behaviour and appearance.

• The idea of an emotional bank account really resonated with me. The emotional bank account is a metaphor for goodwill within personal relationships. Positive actions such as acts of service and keeping promises contribute to the bank account while negative actions such as not listening to one another and being disrespectful withdraw from the bank account. To have a healthy relationship, one should always endeavor to have a positive balance in the bank account.

Overall the book is clearly dated, even with the new infographics being added. Many of the experiences Covey describes may not be relevant to the audience today nor to the audience personally. I also felt like the book emphasized quantity over quality and overly relies on consultant lingo, making it monotonous to read.

# Conclusion

A lengthy read with a ton of content and only a few ideas that resonated.

# Overall rating: 7.4

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