(CNN) — Author Stephen Covey, whose The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People sold more than 20 million copies, died today at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said. He was 79.
Covey’s family issued a statement saying he died from residual effects of an April bicycle accident.
“In his final hours, he was surrounded by his loving wife and each one (of) his children and their spouses, just as he always wanted,” the statement said.
Covey was “one of the world’s foremost leadership authorities, organizational experts and thought leaders,” according to a biography posted on the website of his 2011 book, The 3rd Alternative.
Other best-sellers by Covey include First Things First, Principle-Centered Leadership, and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, according to the biography.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been named one of the most influential management books by several organizations, including Time and Forbes magazines. The audio book is the best-selling nonfiction audio in history, according to the website.
Named in 1996 as one of Time magazine’s 25 most influential Americans, according to the biography, Covey “made teaching principle-centered living and principle-centered leadership his life’s work.”
