Everyday Greatness

Written along with very good Reader's Digest examples of stories about Courage, Attention, Meaning, Perserverance, and other virtuous qualities of man, Covey as well as a good collection of quotes from notable leaders, brings these virtues to you in a very compelling way. Get the book, read the stories and use the examples in your own lives to make a difference in your own unique way. Highly Recommended.

Be forewarned: EVERYDAY GREATNESS: INSPIRATION FOR A MEANINGFUL LIFE by Steven R. Covey; compiled by Donald K. Hatch is not a "typical" Covey book along the lines of his classic THE SEVEN HABITSOF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE. Rather, it is a collection of short pieces that originally appeared in READER'S DIGEST that Covey effectively brings together with running commentary. . . the "Reflections" section after each chapter made me do just that; i.e., think about what life is all about . . . I found the overall effect to be quite powerful. I also liked the "Further Insights" that provided quotes on the topic being discussed . . . among the ones that caused me to pause were these: * What do we live for if not to make the world less difficult for each other?---George Eliot; * It is more noble to give yourself completely to one individual than to labor diligently for the salvation of the masses.--Dag Hammarskjold; and * Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.--Victor Hugo. EVERYDAY GREATNESS is the type book that you'll often want to revisit . . . it would make a great gift for just about anybody . . . furthermore, it can also be a source for short read-aloud stories that can be appreciated by all ages--such as this one [from John Louis Feliciello]: * As a boy I often tackled a task full of enthusiasm, only to become discouraged quickly. One bright summer day my father showed me an experiment with a magnifying glass and a newspaper. When he moved the glass over the paper from one place to another, nothing happened. But when he held it motionless in one spot for a while, focusing the sun's rays, a hole appeared. I was fascinated, but didn't grasp the significance of the procedure. Father explained that the same principle applied in everything we do: That to make a success of our lives we must learn to concentrate all our efforts on the undertaking in hand until it is finished.

As a life long reader of Reader's Digest magazine, Condensed books and RD Select Books, I appreciate real life stories as well as good fiction. Stephen Covey has a way of striking to the core of life. With this combination, the reader is able to enjoy the experiences of others and then apply that to making their own life richer.

Written by the author of the bestselling "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", Everyday Greatness: Inspiration for a Meaningful Life is a guide to mentally transforming one's life through creating one's own dream, focusing on a purpose, and teaming with others as needed to make the vision a reality. Numerous insights, quips, and proverbs from famous people pepper Everyday Greatness, adding extra punch to its points on the virtues of humility, dedication, empathy, adaptability, and more. The core text draws upon the author's lifelong wisdom, alternating between overviews of positive traits to cultivate in oneself and vignettes written by others that lend a palpable dimension to life lessons. A highly recommended repository of insight and drive, that flavors its wisdom with subtle humor. "Originality is unexplored territory. You get there by carrying a canoe - you can't take a taxi." - Alan Alda

Exceeds expectations. Reaches well beyond The Book of Virtues or Chicken Soup series. It's inspiring, it's simple, it's entertaining. I purchased 8 copies. Homerun!