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 | The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
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 2008-08-27 - Don't Be Embarrassed, If the Title Interests You, Read It
The book's title is provocative on purpose, but Ferriss delivers excellent ideas about life and work. You don't have to agree with everything he says, and you don't have to implement all his suggestions to benefit. For me, the point of the book is to look at your work differently. When you do that, you can make different decisions that will benefit you, as opposed to the instinctive "work, get promoted, retire" plan.
Examples: 1. I was trying to get a management job, to get more money and more power in my company. Now I realize that job would decrease my hourly pay and limit my ability to enjoy life. 2. I want to move to a different city, but fear moving my family, cutting roots, only to get to the new place and realize it was a mistake. Now I'm planning to rent a house in the new city and go live for two weeks or more, doing my job as I normally do. My family will know if they like living there, and my boss's experience of my services will not change.
Is this book for everyone? No book is for everyone. However, most of us have to work and most of us would rather be doing something else. If Ferriss's ideas sound good to you, but you can't implement them now, you can move toward a position where you can implement them. He's realistic about this. He lays out methods for training yourself to work remotely, as well as a detailed plan for negotiating with your boss.
I can't validate all of Tim Ferriss's claims, but I can confirm that some of what he recommends in this book IS POSSIBLE. I'm doing it, and I'm not an internet millionaire or an ivy-league graduate.
I recommend the print version, rather than the audiobook, because of all the URLs he includes for further study. You may want to check out Ferriss's talk at Google, on YouTube. He addresses some of the ethical and moral objections people bring up in the negative reviews here.
2008-08-27 - I Bought It Twice!
I liked it so much I bought both the audio and print versions. I have already begun putting it to use and have gotten tremendous value for a very small investment. I tell everyone they have to read this book!
2008-08-26 - Much Needed for Most of America
I have almost nothing but praise for this book. My copy is wearing out. This book is excellent and well written, but very easy reading. Tim has led an exciting life and has a ton of passion to see others buy into his way of life. Many of the tips are not just practical and time-honored, but Tim gives step-by-step details of how to achieve what he has achieved. Good stuff, solid "self-help" type of material.
Now the criticism. The section on Automation, which is key to the whole New Rich lifestyle, may lead some people to become disillusioned because it is not as easy as it seems from the book. That said, Tim is the only person out there that gives step-by-step product testing which has been quite effective in helping to narrow some product/service ideas. I have also used them in my 9-5 job to help narrow my marketing focus.
2008-08-26 - Creating the Life You Want to Live
This is an amazing book where I rediscovered the fact that life is short and not doing what you love is a waste of precious time. That being said not all jobs are rewarding or satisfying, but the energy and your self expression you bring to that job makes all the difference in the world. The ideas presented in this book are definitely not your traditional ones around the work place. Here Tim Ferris presents a whole new reality of what the work place can and has become for many people. One of discovering ways to work less hours, make more money and spent more time in activities outside of your workplace you like to do, ie traveling. You could say it's all about how you spend your time...quality vs quantity.
In reading Tim's book I was reminded of 2 brilliant authors named Ariel and Shya Kane who also present a non traditional approach to achieving and maintaining enlightenment without the previously conceived approach or need for years of working on yourself. Where you live life with a centeredness and ease no matter what life circumstances arise. The Kane's book titles include "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation,"Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment" and "How to Create a Magical Relationship." I highly recommend all these books. Life is way too short to not be living it as your heart desires.
 2008-08-24 - Read this only if you intend to quit your job
The key takeaway is about living life to the fullest & having mini retirements early on, instead of leaving it all for the end - something that several books talk about. There are some good insights into outsourcing your life. However, I didn't find the book very practical.
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