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My favorite book ever! The title is misleading....July 31, 2010 Spunk Brophy(Southern California) I held off from buying this book for a couple years, because the title made me think it was something other than what it is. Finally, I broke down and bought it during one of my travels, and it is now my absolute favorite book. (I buy 20-30 books a year).
It's not really about working only 4 hours a week, but rather, making the decision to LIVE NOW, rather than later when you're old and decrepit. The info and examples are extremely helpful in showing you how.
I've been a member of the New Rich since I quit my high-paying cubicle job to rep my husband's art career. At the time, it seemed CRAZY to do that... but my life has been RICH ever since, as we've traveled the world extensively at our leisure. All on a small income...
This book has helped me take my New Rich habits to the next level - instead of just traveling our usual 8 weeks out of the year overseas, I'm now planning a 6 month trip to Spain with husband and child. It's been a dream of mine, and though I've always known it's possible, this book has helped push me to do it sooner rather than later.
After all, who wants to wait until they're 70 to hike and surf around Europe?!
Simply geniusJuly 25, 2010 Vic Finally, someone intelligently illustrates the absurdity of the retirement life model. This book obviously isn't for everyone, but it just might change your life.
Life and Game ChangerJuly 25, 2010 sush The Tim Ferris book four hour work week is a truly gripping read. The book looks at the way you do things and how you can do them easier. A great read and makes you do things differently. Some of the opinions he gives on saving time,Doing exercise scientifically etc really rock. If he was part of the world i come from he would have been called Guru/Master--and the question 2 him would be "Master teach me Kung fu"..Whats cool is he probably will be able to do so in 3o days.. The book is a must read.
Packed with Excellent Info for New Rich WannabesJuly 23, 2010 richsinglemomma 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3DBCS94PODIXC This is my take on Tim Ferris' book The 4-Hour Work week. It's really changed my thinking about work and life balance. As a single mom life can be pretty crazy but with this book I see the light for a brighter future.
Tim Ferris' Ode To SlackerdomJuly 21, 2010 WCUPROF 4 out of 5 found this review helpful
In "The 4-Hour Workweek", Tim Ferris tells us that anyone can live life like a millionaire by adopting the philosophy of the New Rich - working the minimum amount of time necessary, having maximum freedom and mobility, and starting a niche business that runs by itself. If you are unsure as to how to accomplish this ideal, "The 4-Hour Workweek" provides a step-by-step recipe. Enticing? Absolutely! But after a few chapters, the book seems more like an infomercial than a literary work.
Ferriss spends the first four chapters of the book redefining success in his own terms. The New Rich, he writes, "negotiates a remote work agreement to achieve 90% of the results in one-tenth of the time, which frees him to practice cross-country skiing and take road trips with his family two weeks per month. " The New Rich.... "aim to distribute `mini-retirements' throughout life instead of... the fool's goal of retirement." Furthermore, the New Rich, "ask for forgiveness, not permission. If it isn't going to devastate those around you, try it and then justify it". To many, it will seem that Ferriss is advocating self-centeredness and lack of concern for others. Poor ethics; however, does not preclude a book from becoming a best seller.
In the next section, the author instructs us on improving our productivity. He advocates doing only the 20% of tasks that "contribute most to income" and to schedule those "with very short and clear deadlines". He advocates a low information diet, avoiding time consuming people, learning to say no, and refusing to multi-task in order to apply the minimum amount of time to the absolute minimum of tasks. In Ferriss' view of the world, it appears the grasshopper is the hero of the fable; not the hard-working ant.
Chapters 8 - 13 offer a number of interesting ideas for putting one's life on easy street. Ferriss outsources much of his work and personal tasks to India or China. He tells us that "there are a million and one ways to make a million dollars" and presents his recipe for accomplishing this as: 1) Pick an affordably reachable niche market, 2) Brainstorm a product idea 3) Market test your concept and 4) Rollout your product while simultaneously outsourcing the operations to reduce your time requirements. Enticing? Yes, again; but can there really be niche, low maintenance businesses out there for everyone?
In the remainder of "The 4-Hour Workweek", Tim Ferriss advocates manipulating your boss into permitting you to work remotely using a variety of unsavory tactics. The objective is to obtain "unrestricted mobility" and to "work wherever and whenever you want." In this way, one can take trips and vacations while still being paid by an employer.
Lastly, and perhaps most believably, Ferriss addresses what to do when one becomes part of the New Rich, only to find that "emptiness and boredom" await them. He offers common platitudes such as taking a learning mini-retirement, performing charitable work, and volunteering. By this time, readers might just be wondering whether the Ferriss way is really the smart way at all. Certainly the conventional wisdom of hard work, integrity, and servant-leadership would more reliably lead to a fulfilling sense of self-worth and accomplishment.
The title of this book is catchy and the proposition interesting. However, from the recommended unethical tactics to the ultimate goal of leisure and boredom, there is little in this book that is worthwhile. The fact that it made the New York Times best seller list and received a host of endorsements from notables is a sad testimony to our times.
