Review: The 4-Hour Workweek
I just finished The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss and I was decidedly underwhelmed. I was excited about the book and put a library hold on it before the local library even had its copies in. I’d read positive things about it elsewhere and was looking forward to reading it.
The 4-Hour Workweek Mantra
The book can be summarized in a sentence. The 4-Hour Workweek Mantra is: “Figure out a product to sell (preferably via the internet) that you can completely outsource, then go on extended foreign trips.”
Isn’t that easy?
Following the steps in this book, you can quit your job if you choose to live the life of what Ferriss calls the ‘New Rich.’ Now admittedly, he does actually provide steps for realizing his plan. At the end of key chapters, he provides resource lists for various products and services he advocates using.
The problem is that there’s a big gap in the ‘figure out a product to sell’ section. He lists three possibilities - resell a product, license a product, or create a product. Why didn’t I think of that? He recommends creating an information product and cites Carlton Sheets and Tony Robbins as people to emulate. Oh, ok, I’ll just do like Tony Robbins did.
The Other Sections of the Book
Other than the ‘mantra,’ there are actually some useful chapters in the book. He covers personal outsourcing - using virtual personal assistants to reduce work and personal chores - and that was pretty neat. There’s a section on getting your boss to agree to a remote work arrangement that I think could be used in the margins. He also has chapters on time management, information overload, and what to do with all your newly-found time.
Overall
The book has some strengths. Ferriss includes lots of specific resources for the things he talks about. His personal anecdotes are engaging and interesting. And some of his techniques are useful for everyday people. There’s a lot to like about his idea that instead of a 30-year retirement at the end of your life, you should take it in 1-2 year increments throughout your life.
My main problem with the book, though, is it smacks of ‘get rich quick’ to me. I don’t expect him to provide a list of untapped markets or products no one’s thought of that I can use, but some sort of process for product creation would be nice. You can’t advocate starting your own business and give the instruction, ‘go think up a product.’ At least not to me.
The writing also strikes me as ‘I’m so great. You should be like me.’ Ferriss tells us early and often about how cool and accomplished he is. How he’s been the overworked business owner and has seen the other side. It gets old fast.
Overall, some neat, but not very original, tips and a lot of bluster.
June 13th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
Ferriss spoke at South by Southwest, the audio of which is available here.
My impression from the podcast is that it might just work IF you own your own business, which happens to be selling herbal enhancers online. He seemed to be rather condescending to those sorry souls who work for others.
June 14th, 2007 at 11:03 am
I am reading this book now. If you have a business selling products and you’ve never thought about automating the business this book will be very useful.
The working from home ideas are based on the 80/20 principle. Even when you are not tied to a desk you still have to work AND maintain the higher levels of output that you used to negotiate the arrangement. I haven’t done it personally so I don’t want to be too hard on the idea. The better idea IMHO is to create a business that is easily automated and not worry with an employer.
I do like some of the questions at the end of the chapters, there are a few interesting twists to some common ones we’ve all seen before.
I would get it at the library or used or swapped etc if I could do it again.
I give it a 6 out of 10
June 17th, 2007 at 8:23 am
I was psyched about this book, but these reviews are souring me on it. Tim seems to be very accomplilshed, both in business, in tae kwon do or whatever martial art he’s into, and now as a blogger and writer. But he does seem really high on himself.
I completely agree that for 99% of people, a book saying “Go into business for yourself!” is just not enough to help most people actually accomplish it.
June 20th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
He basically won the tournament by working around the rules. Got super-dehydrated before weigh in, then hydrated up. Pushed people out of the ring-three times of this and it’s counted as a TKO. Hmm. Wasn’t impressed with that. Actually disappointed to be honest.
Similar ideas for business are in The E-Myth.