Hi Steve,
As you know, visual messages are so important in marketing, and as others have said, at the end of the day the cover of your book has a impact on your sales, for better or for worse. Even though there is an element of subjectivity in all design, there are clear psychological principals in affect here. You probably knew that but it bears repeating because, while I believe this is a strong cover, there are some areas where big improvements could be made, and quite easily. I have over 7 years of layout and graphic design experience, so I've had time to develop and understanding of when the pixels begin working against us.
The red/blue combination is rather harsh on the eyes and even conveys a subliminal medical feel to it. As others have said, the 'p' in 'development' hangs over the 'a' in 'smart' which looks very unprofessional. Also, your name in the cover is bold in all capital letters, which is good, but the font lacks sophistication.
CHAKRAS:
Overall, the cover's color scheme is what works against you the most. Looking at this from another perspective, the red in your book cover symbolizes the base chakra associated with survival, instinct, and security. In fact, the colors of red and yellow are subliminally tied to food and survival in most cultures which is why you see them in many modern fast food restaurants around the world. It all contributes to a psychological effect.
Conversely, green creates a sense of harmony and calm in the cover. And after I did this, I found out that green symbolizes the heart chakra.
I realize that you're not designing the book cover, but I know
you are the one who creates your reality and can offer suggestions to the publisher. You are the one who taught me to ask "Is this me?", so I ask you: Is this Steve? Should the image of your first book be anything less than a reflection of you?
At the end of the day, one cover communicates an urgent feeling and one communicates a calming feeling. Which do you want associated with your words?
(The font used for your name is Adobe Garamond Pro Bold.)