The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make: A Guide for Teens

I often buy books and leave them on the coffee table hoping my sons, 13 and 11, will pick them up and read them. They usually don't. But without a word from me, I have found both of them reading this book many times. I am pleased.

I got this book for my 14 year old brother, and flipped through it before giving it to him. I was impressed with the style of writing, and the pictures/cartoons, which are fun and enthusiastic, but don't seem childish. I bought several other copies to give to other teens that I know. My brother said that he really enjoyed the book. I wish I would have had a copy of this book when I was a young teen...there's great information to help teens in any situation.

I am impressed by what this book has to offer to teens and their parents. I was particularly impressed by the chapter regarding addiction. I have known several good teens who grew up to be unhappy adults because they chose to experiment with addictive substances. Perhaps one of my best friends would be alive today if he had read and applied the principles Sean teaches regarding addiction. Definitely worth a careful read.

This is the best book for young people I have ever read. Sean has shown amazing insite and has a unique way of relating to our young people. For the last few weeks I have gathered my family and spent time reading this book to them and everyone has enjoyed it. Thank you Sean for writing something that is helping kids and parents throughout the world Sam Bracken

The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make: A Guide for Teens by Sean Covey I have always been impressed by the published works of Stephen Covey, starting with his '7 Habits for Highly Effective People' which I read in the late eighties, followed by 'First Things First' & 'Principle-Centred Leadership' around the mid-nineties. I have yet to read his 'The 8th Habit'. The most productive assimilative experiences for me from his success philosophies are essentially the first three habits (Be Proactive, Having the End in Mind, & First Things First) plus the last one (Sharpen the Saw). Because of my work with teens, I came to appreciate also his son (Sean Covey)'s published works, mainly '7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens'. In my strategy consultancy work, plus creativity classes with adult professionals & training in the schools with secondary students, I often recommend '7 Habits for Highly Effective People' & '7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens' respectively as mandatory reading. The feedback I get from them is always tremendously positive. I have come to know about Sean Covey's new book quite by chance while surfing the net. I manage to grab a copy from my local bookstore. The book is again targetted at a teen audience. In a nut shell, the principal theme of the book is how to make smart decisions for life's journey from teeny hopper to adulthood. The book starts off with a timely refresher on the 7 Habits as well as a fun & cool experiment, The Ten Year Time Travel Experiment. It covers the six critical areas: - school: what are you going to do about your education?; - friends: what type of friends will you choose & what kind of friend will you be?; - parents: are you going to get along with your parents?; - dating & sex: who will you date & what will you do about sex?; - addictions: - what will you do about smoking, drinking, drugs & other addictive stuff?; - self-worth: will you choose to like yourself?; Personally, I enjoyed digesting the following three specific chapters, which I thought have been superbly crafted by the author. They correspond to the above critical areas. School: Here, I find the '7 Secrets to Getting Good Grades' exposition, especially Secret #7: Developing Smart Study Habits, to be an excellent piece. I often like to recommend to students to read the author's '7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens' & Adam Robinson's 'What Smart Students Know' in conjunction with developing smart study habits. The author goes beyond just schooling. I marvel at his graphic illustration of four important circles: each representing TALENT (what are you really good at?), PASSION (what do you love doing?), NEED (what does the world need that I can get paid to do?) & CONSCIENCE (what do I feel I should do?), overlapping each other as a process for finding your niche. To me, finding your niche is doing what you love & loving what you do! Parents: The 'Getting to Know You' Questionnaire, with one for t