The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
Written Saturday, January 20, 2008, probably in Los Angeles (LAX)
I got The 4-Hour Workweek on Wednesday, and while finding out the company I work for had been acquired for a billion dollars, I proceeded to read this book to see what all the hype was about. Despite the busy schedule at the meeting, I managed to finish reading all 300 pages using in-between toilet breaks, and airport layovers. Its Saturday now, and am I any wiser?
Tim’s book is great if you’re interested in starting an online retail business. Its interesting if you get turned on by the word drop-shipping. Its definitely interesting if you’re into hiring virtual assistants in 3rd world countries.
The whole mantra that is sold in the book is to outsource your life. Hardly applicable to the career path I (or most of my open source loving hippie counterparts) can apply.
Sure, there are some good general tips on reducing information overload. Reading less email. Becoming more efficient. However, its nothing new, per se.
Would I recommend it? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean you can’t buy The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
Some select quotes follow.
‘What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attnetion of its recipients. Hence, a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it.’ – Herbert Simon, recipient of Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics, and the A.M. Turing Award
A great example of perseverance: when Tim was in college, if he received less than an A in anything, he’d spend about 3 hours asking questions of his lecturers, to ensure that he understood his class, and to discourage the lecturer to ever want to provide him with a lesser grade, unless there was real reason to do so.
‘The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.’ – Bill Gates
‘If you must play, decide on three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time.’ – chinese proverb
‘I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.’ – Woodrow Wilson
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Timothy Ferriss’ book is a wonderful read. I’ve also come across another author who is excellent. His name is Timothy Laskis and he wrote a book called, Finding Your Costa Rica: 5 Powerful Steps to Personal, Professional and Financial Succcess.
I was skeptical at first, but he has a great personal story and his style of writing is very personal. I’m just now beginning to follow his steps. I’ll keep you posted.
Christina
The 4-Hour Workweek seems very interesting, but I’m not sure if it’s for everyone… aside from Timothy Ferriss, is there anyone who’s made it big with this kind of lifestyle?
Thanks for the review and recomm though, I’ll check it out…
More power!
Cheers!