The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Why I'd hand it to you

Stephen Covey argues that lasting effectiveness starts with character, not technique. His seven habits, from being proactive and beginning with the end in mind to seeking first to understand, move from personal responsibility to working with others. The time management matrix alone has helped a lot of busy people sort urgent from important. It also works surprisingly well for thinking about family life. The downside is that it is dense and its late-1980s corporate style can feel dated and preachy. It is a book to work through slowly, a habit at a time, rather than read in one go.

— Matt Jordan