The 4 Hour Work Week Book Review by Timothy Ferris

I sat at my gym on the outside upper deck over looking The San Diego Skyline, after finishing the audio version of Timothy Ferris’ “The 4 Hour Work Week”, and I had to give pause for a few minutes and start to do an assessment of my own life, goals and direction I am headed. I’m not happy that I am not further along in my goals, but I am happy that I have a good start on my four hour work week,  I just wish I was further along in the trail.

After going to his website and signing in and watching his videos of him in real life doing the things he talks about, or walking the talk, this guy is the real deal and is putting it all out there for all of us to grab. After reading this mans book, I want to be doing the things I want to do, like he does. That simple. I know several other bloggers I watch and read who are doing the same type of thing, and I long for the life of the New Rich. I’m already living this way but on a smaller scale. I am looking for this book to help me move along at a quicker pace.

I am happy at 45 I have already got a start on this path with several things in place making me the money to survive in this world and bad economy. I am Lucky, that I got rolling when I did, because I am not sure where I would be right now had I not started my online entrepreneurship when I did. The economy pretty much wiped out my day job as an I.T. Consultant and Network Engineer. My Clients couldn’t pay me and my income from that pretty much went from 40-50k to 20k or there about, but I haven’t really looked at the damage yet, and I am not sure I really want to.

What I am seeing now, is an upswing in my income from online enterprises and have been able to maintain my previous lifestyle so far with just the income from the things I am doing online. This is a good thing because I am only doing a “few” things so far. I can only imagine when I have several more in place, on autopilot and am doing nothing but walking with my daughter to the park everyday planning my escape to China, for my hike up Wu dang Mountain. The birthplace of Chinese Kung Fu and my personal quest for self indulgent fulfillment.

The Good

“The 4-Hour Workweek“ or 4hww is a GREAT read and an excellent audio. I listen to it in the car, at the gym and at home sometimes but I usually just listen to it in the car and at the gym. I liked the audio because the tones and inflections of the spoken word, make it that much more memorable, and hilarious as all hell. I mean I would listen to it at the gym and when I would start laughing people would turn around and stare at me, it was really funny at times.

4hww starts with Tim’s story, of living the 9 to 5 hell many of us have and still do, fortunately, I do not anymore. The book is broken into chapters but the chapters are contained in steps 1-4. His chronology of how things happened and why we need his book. Yes if You want freedom from the drudgery of 9 to 5, you NEED this book, it’s mandatory reading.

Step 1: D is for Definition, it defines some terms, theoretical situations which I know some people will have a hard time grasping. There’s always someone who has a hard time grasping because they can’t wrap their heads around certain actions and realities. But if you have an open mind and can see things in action you will have no problem with his definitions and realities. This book is for real.

Step 2: E is for Elimination, which talks about eliminating things from our life that suck the life and time out of us. To automate and eliminate. Email for one, has been the bane of my existence as I have over 20, yes I said over 20 accounts I check daily, or used to check daily, I don’t anymore. Phone calls that meander along with not much to accomplish but waste time and breath. The hem and haw’ers, that want your help and suck the life and time from you like the vampires they are and how to deal and get rid of them.

Step 3: A is for Automation, which talks about outsourcing things that we should never do again, unless we really want to. Income on Autopilot, finding what he calls the muse, a “Thing” that we flirt with and it brings us income. Our “Muse” our passionate little friend who gives us that which we long for, how to test it, and put it on autopilot.

Step 4: L is for Liberation, liberation from the previous life of the office automaton, disappearing from that life, mini-retirements and adding life after subtracting work. Most of us will definitely freak out after that happens, because of our “conditioning”, and he definitely walks us through how to deal with life after there is no work involved. One thing that he talks about is service to others. Helping others in need and making our life more meaningful. If any of you have ever helped out at a soup line or given food out to the homeless at Christmas or Thanksgiving, then you know how good it feels. Service to others is important, but not necessary, but I personally can guarantee you it will help to keep you sane, after adding life after subtracting work.

The last chapters which are not labeled as chapters are appendages that have all the needed referenced materials, companies, phone numbers, websites  and all the needed forms or anything else he talked about and he answers ALL THE QUESTIONS. His website also has a forum and additional chapters, which are available to people who won the book or audio, because there’s a secret password on a certain page, to get you into the forum and additional chapters.

If you haven’t read this book yet you are in Luck. There is a newly revised book with additional materials and you can still get it for less than $20 American. The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated is a must have and should be considered a Tome for the New Rich. While reading his blog there was a video, well several really, but one was made for the history channel and if you want to see this man in action, walking his talk you should definitely see this video.

The Bad

The only bad I can say is I now have to go buy the new edition as it has case studies from other New Rich and How they Did It. In his first printings, Timothy had a small few to choose from as examples aside from himself. Now that his book has been out for a while there’s been a lot of people step forward to share their story about how they did it. Of course buying his book all over again is something I would rather not do but I am going to do it knowing how good the first printing was. That is the ONLY bad thing I can think of about this book.

I can’t say enough about this book other than I am already reading and listening to it all over again, and need to get the new edition. I’ve started on my quest for another new, highly profitable “Muse” as he calls them, and I have set in motion the process of getting my passport. I’m heading to Wu dang Mountain in China, the birthplace of Chinese Martial Arts to fulfill a life’s Dream. I know this book has already changed my life and there’s a lot to learn, so reading is several times will have to happen for most of us.

I hope that this review has been helpful for many and that you find fulfillment in your journeys. If you intend on buying it please use my affiliate link here to The Four Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris.

UPDATE: 7/3/10 I recently downloaded the New Expanded and Updated version of 4hww, and liked the new case studies chapters and such, the thing I didn’t like was the way it was read. The narrator, Ray Porter, didn’t have the pizzaz he did in the first reading. I really liked teh first reading and it made me laugh out loud many times.  While the second reading is still good, it just didn’t have the punch the first reading did. Don’t, NOT  get it because of this, it’s still good, this is just a personal observation or preference of mine.

Enjoy,

Sincerely,

Larry Clark