Critique Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Critique - Research Paper Example The book is a natural follow up for the regular readers of Stephen Covey who have already been introduced to his unique life philosophies and ideas on effectiveness and ambition. Covey is famous for his book ‘Seven habits of highly effective people’, which is considered to be the one of the most influential books on personal development and strengthening of the 1990s. Stephen Covey, an MBA from Harvard started his professional life as a college professor at Brigham Young University and during his tenure cultivated, organized and codified his thoughts and philosophies on the ways to achieve the best out of life. These were taught through seminars and conferences and eventually Stephen Covey became the co-founder of the Franklin-covey organization which works towards finding practical solutions to the problems faced by businesses and organization through the application of Covey’s ‘principle-centered’ approach to management and leadership. Touted as one of Times magazine’s 25 most influential Americans, Covey has conveyed his principled life message through his many books and annual seminars; that success in life is achi evable if we adopt central principles of ethics, empathy and resource management in both our personal and professional lives. The books provide a framework for cultivating the frame of mind to allow the adoption of these principles and they have resonated greatly with people in all ages and occupations. Covey’s seven habits have found almost a cult like following in fields as diverse as academia, Church groups and the corporate culture. Subsequently all his follow up books seem to have been directly or indirectly written to support and provide further instructions for his original readers. Titles such as Such as seven habits of highly effective families and living the seven habits provided further insight into the philosophies while the Third alternative is a more thorough

Discuss the character of Achilles in Homers Hiad Essay

Discuss the character of Achilles in Homers Hiad - Essay Example Thus, Achilles can be seen as suffering an existential crisis in which he has to fight for glory, which his ultimate pursuit in life, and he knows his quest will cost him his life. A born soldier adept in the art of killing, Achilles also wants to pursue glory, like many other Greek heroes. This perception of the virtue of life takes him to Troy, to fight one of the most significant wars in human history. It becomes relevant here that before coming to Troy his mother, the sea-nymph goddess Thetis has warned him that he will die in the war. An ordinary human may have been intimidated by this situation, but Achilles decides to continue the pursuit of glory rather than avoid his death. The basic problem of his existential crisis stem from this decision and defiant nature that does not want to cringe at the dictates of the gods or the designs of fate. Thus, as befitting a hero of immaculate courage, Achilles leads his men to the battle and fights it with valor, driven by his quest for glory. The usual heroes one encounters in epical stories are God-fearing men, who acquiesce to the dictates of fate and the gods. However, Achilles seems to a person who rather will pursue the glory that belongs to heroes, who do what they must do to attain it, irrespective of what the gods have decided as his fate. Similarly, he does not acquiesce blindly to his leader but revolts when Agamemnon bruises his honor by taking his prize, Briseis. This makes him a character that has both positive and negative traits that mark the nature of normal humans as opposed to legendary heroes. Similarly, he defiles the dead body of Hector as an act of vengeance for killing his most beloved person, Patroclus. Usual heroes, considered as kind and forgiving, do not display such traits and, thereby, Iliad portrays Achilles as the first true individual who has both problematic characteristics. On the other hand,