This year’s Harding Read, selected by University President Bruce McLarty, is “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey. Unlike previous book selections, this year’s book is focused around leadership.
McLarty chose this book with hopes to help the Harding community establish seven habits that embody effective leadership. McLarty believes that all Harding students are leaders by nature and will step into leadership roles at some point.

“I think by being a part of a campus where this is the campus read, and we are talking about it all year long, a lot of leaders and a lot of people who don’t yet perceive themselves as leaders will be thinking consciously about how these things make you a better leader.”

Any senior Harding student can remember McLarty’s enthusiasm in 2016 about William Wilberforce and his story. McLarty carries on that enthusiasm in hopes that this year’s Harding Read will help students grow and become leaders throughout their daily college life.

Harding is driven by its community, and every community is backed by leaders. McLarty said he believes anyone can be a leader and this book can captivate students into making this community even stronger.
“I think, for believers, we read this, and every habit is rooted in Scripture,” McLarty said. “Every page is something where you are reminded of something Jesus said or that Paul wrote or that is in Proverbs because this is solid wisdom about leadership in life. I think these things make you a better person, but I think they are all things that make you a stronger leader.”

Senior business management major Michael Hammonds expressed his excitement about this year’s Harding Read.
“What I’m mostly excited for about reading this book is how I can better myself as an individual,” Hammonds said. “I’m excited about future chapel discussions regarding how we can be better leaders, and I hope that I can apply that to my life and essentially help this community grow even stronger than it is right now”.

Not only does “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” hold truths for becoming your best self, it is chock full of Christian principles that students at Harding can apply to their lives to live more like Christ.
“Make small commitments and keep them. Be a light, not a judge. Be a model, not a critic. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” wrote Stephen R. Covey in “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”