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Business books are entertainment, not strategic tools

(theorthagonist.substack.com)
593 points ZeroTalent | 7 comments | 09 May 25 20:51 UTC | HN request time: 0.636s | source | bottom
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abetaha ◴[10 May 25 00:49 UTC] No.43942334[source]▶
I am always amazed how most business book authors take a simple idea that could be described in one page, and turn it into a 200+ page book with popularizing narrative. What's more amazing is that the ideas are usually commonsense, but due to human nature are seldom practiced.
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1. bdangubic ◴[10 May 25 02:09 UTC] No.43942700[source]▶
“7 habits…” made an empire from 7 common-sense things in a book form :)
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2. monkeyelite ◴[10 May 25 02:49 UTC] No.43942849[source]▶
I actually think that's one of the better ones - not in terms of business, but personal/family organization. Have you read it? Spoilers: it's not a list of 7 tricks to put in your daily schedule.
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3. bdangubic ◴[10 May 25 03:12 UTC] No.43942944[source]▶
ugh it was mandatory read at a place I did my internship looooong time ago :) read the 8th habit out of curiosity what can that be that deserves an entire book by itself
4. codeproject ◴[10 May 25 03:31 UTC] No.43943010[source]▶
The writer's children actually inherited his empire and even wrote a book called Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens. I always wondered—if the original book was so powerful and effective, wouldn't the greatest beneficiaries be his own kids? With their father's guidance and the principles from the book, they should have achieved remarkable success. After all, you can't find a better coach than that, and it's hard to beat such a winning combination. Yet, the result is that his child ended up making a living by writing a book telling others how to succeed—rather than demonstrating that success firsthand.
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5. rolfkip ◴[10 May 25 05:48 UTC] No.43943487[source]▶
7 Habits is a self-help/business-focused reconstruction of Covey’s more theologically-founded book Spiritual Roots of Human Relations. If you want Covey’s foundational thoughts on the subjects in 7 Habits, that will be the more informative read.
6. WheelsAtLarge ◴[10 May 25 07:29 UTC] No.43943868[source]▶
I agree they are common-sense, even the author said so, but the problem is that people don't come up with the habits until after they need them. If you know the habits and put them into practice early on, they make a difference. But like anything, they only work if they are put into use. I suspect that the best way to use them is to write them on a card and review them often - no book needed.
7. monkeyelite ◴[10 May 25 13:09 UTC] No.43945340[source]▶
Sean:

> He later earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. Covey was the starting quarterback on BYU's football team during the 1987 and 1988 seasons, where he led his team to two bowl games

> Covey worked at Deloitte and Touche consulting in Boston, followed by Trammel Crow Ventures in Dallas.

Stephen junior:

> He received an MBA from Harvard Business School

> He is the father of NFL wide receiver and return specialist Britain Covey.