What’s Hot.
Packed with useful information; Inspirational ideas
What’s Not.
Examples might not seem applicable to every reader
The bottom line.
The 4-Hour Workweek motivates readers to get up and change their lives. This book might encourage you to follow those dreams you’ve been neglecting.
Timothy Ferriss believes that “You can have it all, really.” Seems too good to be true doesn’t it? Before you judge The 4-Hour Workweek by its cover and decide that it’s just another get-rich-quick self-help book, consider that it has topped the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek best seller lists. Normally, I’m not a huge believer in best seller lists, but there seems to be something solid behind Ferriss’ have-it-all philosophy.
Ferriss says there is no need to follow what he calls the “deferred life plan” of working most of your life to enjoy 20 years of retirement. Instead, he proposes creating a self-sufficient enterprise that provides an income source so that you have time to embark on a series of “mini-retirements.” Throughout the book, Ferriss focuses designing your life through goal setting, time management and efficient organization so that you can pursue what really makes you happy.
Most of The 4-Hour Workweek centers on Ferriss’ DEAL philosophy:
Define what you want out of life, and set goals that will help you reach your objectives.
Eliminate interruptions that prevent you from being efficient and productive. This section talks mainly about incorporating the 80-20 Principle, the concept that 80% of your productivity comes from 20% of your time, into your life.
Automate your business so that it generates income without tying you down with administrative duties. In other words, design a business that allows you to outsource the majority of tasks.
Liberate yourself. Instead of molding your life to fit conventional social constructions, make it what you want. Increase your mobility by designing a job that doesn’t require you work in an office for your entire career.
Ferriss calls the people who follow his DEAL principles the “new rich” because they have more time, income and mobility. He also believes readers should understand the difference between absolute and relative income. When thinking about annual income, you should consider your salary in terms of hours worked. A person who earns $100,000 a year and works 80-hour weeks earns less per hour than someone who makes $50,000 a year working 20-hour weeks.
Although the book does include sample e-mails, voicemails and real-life examples, it is primarily a personal account of Ferriss’ experience. Some readers might feel that the book as a whole is not incredibly applicable. With that said, readers should focus on the book’s big picture: redesigning your life to get what you really value. The 4-Hour Workweek will make you think deeply about your own life, and readers who can extract the tips that are most helpful to them personally will come away with a new sense of inspiration. However, if you aren’t prepared to do some soul searching, this isn’t the book for you.
