The 4-Hour Workweek – Fact or Fiction ? (Book Review and Giveaway)

Work 4 Hours a week and rest 36. Sound too good to be true? Maybe it is and maybe it isn't.

Tim Ferriss in The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, makes a good case that you can do it. Do I think you can? Sure, if you are willing to work hard enough and make bold moves.

My favorite quotes from the book:

"The perfect job is the one that takes the least time."

"Inactivity is not the goal. Doing that which excites you is."

"By working only when you are most effective, life is both more productive and more enjoyable".

"Make it more painful for the company to fire you than to grant raises and a remote working agreement."

"Develop the habit of nonfinishing that which is boring or unproductive if a boss isn't demanding it."

A new definition of success. Ferris' definition of success is having the time, energy, and money to do what you are passionate about. He tells a great story about a Harvard M.B.A. who meets a Mexican fisherman while on vacation. The fisherman is content with making enough money to live and having plenty of time to spend with his family and friends. The M.B.A. talks to him about how he could expand his operations and . .  . one day retire to a Mexican fishing village. It's not about the money it's about having the life that is most fulfilling to you.

A new timetable for success.  The idea is to create work arrangements or a business that gives you the money you need with the least amount of time invested by you. He encourages you to run your life like an entrepreneur with a penchant for outsourcing. Outsource everything! (Workers from India can be hired for $4-$15/hour to do many tasks).  In addition, he gives great examples and strategies about how to create these arrangements and businesses. Do you want to work part or fulltime from home? He has the answers. Do you want to create a business that runs on autopilot? He has the answers. How soon can you do this? Next week? Probably not. Next year? Maybe. Within 5 years? Almost certainly.

Way above average. This is not your run-of-the-mill, rah-rah, self-help book. It's an eye-opening look at the possibility of crafting the life you want sooner rather than later. He goes deep enough that you can take this book and begin to implement his ideas. I highly recommend it.

Book Giveway Contest. I have one copy of the book to give away. To enter the contest, leave a comment with your personal definition of success. At the end of the week, I'll pick the best one and send them the book (anywhere in the USA).

Other Reviews

• Foolish Book Review: The 4-Hour Workweek
• Practical Blogging - Just finished The 4-Hour Workweek
• Sacramento Executve: The 4-Hour Workweek

This post also appears on CE On Time .

Comments

[William]

Success: To sit before a November fire and dream of February palm trees.

[Mike St. Pierre]

Hi Craig, great post!

Here's my definition of success: to make the most of the gifts, time and resources that God has given to me. I believe that when we maximize what we've been given, those around us will benefit and lives can experience change.

Mike

[Craig Huggart]

William:

You are entered! Thanks for the comment.

I like your thinking.

Craig

[Craig Huggart]

Mike:

You are entered! Well put. I'm tracking with you.

Craig

[Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur]

Hi Craig,

My definition of success: Trying to do what God wants of me each day regarding raising my children and contributing to society via my work, both paid and unpaid. I may not ever be successful in the world's eyes, but I will live the life God created me to live.

[Craig Huggart]

Patrice:

Family is where it really counts. Great thoughts.

You are entered.

Craig

[Frank]

I think Micah says it best -- success is "to do the right and to love goodness and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 7:8). If I can do that, then I am successful!

[Tiffany Young]

It sounds like a smart book to me. People (me included) rush around all day long and end up waiting around on others. If we all just did our part and could get on with it when we were done life would be great.

[Craig Huggart]

Frank,

That pretty much sums it up.

Thanks for your feedback. You are entered!

Craig

[Craig Huggart]

Tiffany,

You are so right! Thanks for your comments.

Craig

[Michael from Pro Blog Design]

Success is being able to raise your kids in the same, or better, surroundings that you were.

At least, that's how I would judge it in the long-run. :)

[Sandeep]

Success is living a life of happiness and instilling the same in others. [Now ask me to define happiness ;-)]