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A review by nithesh_123
The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
3.0
Three quick comments.
1. Advice given in this book is applicable to those who work on a laptop in a typical office environment. People who are labourers, hotel owners, barbers or plumbers can never dream of a 4-hour work week.
2. This book is targeted at US citizens who can leverage the dollar value to their advantage. An Indian IT guy will have to live in Bhutan or Nigeria if he wants to get benefits that Americans get when they apply Tim's advice.
3. The author does not assign any value to the intangible benefits of one's job. Money is the sole outcome of a job according to him. For example, a doctor would derive a lot of satisfaction from his or her job, but that doesn't count for much if your sole aim is to have a '4-hour workweek'.
Key takeaways of this book are listed below.
1. Apply 80/20 principle and focus on important tasks. Eliminate or outsource routine tasks like checking email etc.
2. Go for a low information diet. Don't watch news 24x7 and stress over things you can't change.
3. Don't work hard hoping for a happy retirement. Take mini-retirements if possible. Start a business and develop an alternate income source.
4. Once your side-business becomes successful, outsource redundant tasks and do important tasks that aid the growth or sustenance of the business. Quit your 9-5 job.
5. Use your free time to learn new things, bond with friends/family and enjoy life.
All of this sounds obvious and easy. But it is hard to internalise these ideas on your own. If you want to understand the details of this seemingly simple plan or 'lifestyle-design' read the book. It is well-written.
P.S: The last 100 pages in the expanded and updated version are not worth reading. Just skip it.
1. Advice given in this book is applicable to those who work on a laptop in a typical office environment. People who are labourers, hotel owners, barbers or plumbers can never dream of a 4-hour work week.
2. This book is targeted at US citizens who can leverage the dollar value to their advantage. An Indian IT guy will have to live in Bhutan or Nigeria if he wants to get benefits that Americans get when they apply Tim's advice.
3. The author does not assign any value to the intangible benefits of one's job. Money is the sole outcome of a job according to him. For example, a doctor would derive a lot of satisfaction from his or her job, but that doesn't count for much if your sole aim is to have a '4-hour workweek'.
Key takeaways of this book are listed below.
1. Apply 80/20 principle and focus on important tasks. Eliminate or outsource routine tasks like checking email etc.
2. Go for a low information diet. Don't watch news 24x7 and stress over things you can't change.
3. Don't work hard hoping for a happy retirement. Take mini-retirements if possible. Start a business and develop an alternate income source.
4. Once your side-business becomes successful, outsource redundant tasks and do important tasks that aid the growth or sustenance of the business. Quit your 9-5 job.
5. Use your free time to learn new things, bond with friends/family and enjoy life.
All of this sounds obvious and easy. But it is hard to internalise these ideas on your own. If you want to understand the details of this seemingly simple plan or 'lifestyle-design' read the book. It is well-written.
P.S: The last 100 pages in the expanded and updated version are not worth reading. Just skip it.