// Book comparison
7 Habits of Highly Effective People vs The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Which should you read? A side-by-side comparison of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey and The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
by Stephen Covey
★ 4.9/5
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
by Ben Horowitz
★ 4.9/5
At a glance
| 7 Habits of Highly Effective People | The Hard Thing About Hard Things | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9/5 | ★ 4.9/5 |
| Pages | 381 | 304 |
| Reading time | ~9.5 h | ~7.6 h |
| Published | 1989 | 2014 |
| Author | Stephen Covey | Ben Horowitz |
| Category | Strategy & Management | Startups & Entrepreneurship |
| Publisher | Free Press | HarperBusiness |
Choose 7 Habits of Highly Effective People if…
- → You're interested in strategy & management.
- → You want the higher-rated book (4.9/5).
Choose The Hard Thing About Hard Things if…
- → You're interested in startups & entrepreneurship.
- → You prefer a shorter read (~7.6 hours).
- → You want the more recent perspective (2014).
Key takeaways — 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
- ✓ Focus your energy on your Circle of Influence—the things you can actually control—to increase your personal effectiveness and proactive leadership capacity.
- ✓ Adopt a Begin with the End in Mind philosophy by defining your organization's core mission before making tactical decisions, ensuring all efforts are strategically aligned.
- ✓ Practice Synergy by valuing the differences between your team members, leveraging their diverse strengths to create solutions that are better than any individual could achieve alone.
Key takeaways — The Hard Thing About Hard Things
- ✓ Understand the difference between Peacetime and Wartime Leadership, recognizing that a crisis requires a shift from collaborative consensus to directive, high-velocity decision-making.
- ✓ Manage Your Own Psychology during 'The Struggle', recognizing that the ability to stay calm and objective when the organization is at risk is a leader's most critical strategic asset.
- ✓ Prioritize The Truth in your organizational communication, ensuring that bad news travels fast and that every employee understands the reality of the firm's strategic challenges.
The verdict
If you want the higher-rated, more acclaimed read, start with 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. If you specifically need startups & entrepreneurship, The Hard Thing About Hard Things is the better fit. Both summaries are free — no signup required.
❓ FAQ
Is 7 Habits of Highly Effective People or The Hard Thing About Hard Things better? +
7 Habits of Highly Effective People has the higher reader rating (4.9/5 vs 4.9/5), but "better" depends on your goal. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People focuses on strategy & management, while The Hard Thing About Hard Things focuses on startups & entrepreneurship. See the verdict below.
Which is shorter, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People or The Hard Thing About Hard Things? +
The Hard Thing About Hard Things is shorter (304 pages, ~7.6 hours) compared to 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (381 pages, ~9.5 hours).
Should I read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People or The Hard Thing About Hard Things first? +
If you want the quicker, higher-rated read, start with 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Otherwise read whichever matches your current goal — both summaries are free on BookHubs.