Highly Effective Teens Book

7.  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey

Type: Book Review
Title: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
Author: Covey, Sean
Publication/Year: Simon & Schuster, 1998
ISBN: 9780684856094
Ages: 13 and up
Grade: Level 7 and up
Pages: 268

Readers Annotation: Read the 'Ultimate Teen Success Guide' as your guide to the 7 habits for use in school and in life.  As others have put it, this is a true gift for the teenage soul.  Split up into chapters for easy bookmarking, each section is easy to locate and review for future reading.

Plot Summary: Similar to the Habits of Highly Effective People, this is the teen version of that series created by his son, Sean Covey.  A 'self-help' book for teens that want to improve their poor habits, this book has plenty of suggestions and funny stories to keep you interested.  In this book, the 7 Habits include: "Be Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind, Put First Things First, Think Win-Win, Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, Synergize, and Sharpen the Saw."

Critical Evaluation: What I love about this book for teens, is that the content is simple enough for this age group. The suggestions to follow don't seem too far-fetched that they are unable to follow in their young and busy lives. What's also great is that this book was made especially for teenagers and features a lot of cartoonish drawings and very simple to follow steps and lists.

I really like the main ideas, and how these simple techniques and habits can be easily applied to various situations.  Even if a reader is unable to apply all of the rules, they can do something small like being proactive in the everyday choices that they make, and I'm sure it will make a different in their life.

Even adults like myself can read this book and still find useful habits to practice everyday.  However, for better able to serve teenagers, the book should not have so much writing, because I'm assuming that it can deter from them actually getting to the good points of the book.  A great and recommended read to any teenager.  

Book Talking Ideas: An idea about teens and following similar habits of effective people, in the hopes that they become effective and successful.

Challenge Issues: Teenagers need to worry about their homework.  Some of these strategies may not be as effective as they are advertised.

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Teenagers the the freedom to read anything they want.  These ideas are simple enough and are written specifically for teens.  Also, these techniques can be effective for any teen and in any situation or assignment.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.