A brash, but entertaining and thorough look at redesigning your life

A few months ago, I made a joke about my job at a web design firm. Someone asked how I get so much done and I replied, “I actually outsource everything I’ve done to a buddy in India.” Everyone laughed because that was absurd… or was it?

Tim Ferriss doesn’t seem to think so. In fact he thinks it’s absurd to live the kind of lives most Americans live nowadays: 80-hour weeks to earn a lot of money to buy a lot of things we don’t need and get drunk on the weekends. Ferriss’ life is a bit different- he’s lived the typical thrill-seeker’s existence since his epiphany years ago including kick-boxing, globe-trotting, enjoying mini retirements, racing motorcycles, and working very little to pay for it all.

In Ferriss’ brash but often funny writing style, he focuses on the important things in life (time, experience, learning, thrill) and shows how you can make the most out of yours by following his path of eliminating all the time-wasting things we do in American business life and outsourcing the rest to India. What’s left is time that you can use to live again. Note: if you think living includes being cooped up in a cubicle all week, this book is not for you.

Ferriss made his life what it is and he thinks that others can too except that most people think the greatest achievement is impossible, so everyone is working for the mediocre. He thinks this makes the mediocre the hardest to achieve and leaves the real prize for those who aren’t afraid to go for it. He says, “It’s easier to pick up the one perfect 10 in the bar than the five 8s.”

Two glaring weaknesses are that Ferriss touts his ability to go against the grain and do things that aren’t conventional, yet he stresses that you will be successful in his scheme only if you “follow the instructions!” He instructs, “no reading books (except for this one)…” Also, Ferriss describes what he knows, which is an incredible story, but unless you want to develop or improve on a product (services aren’t included in his plan), you may find it difficult to do the bold steps he suggests. He does explain in detail how to get your boss to let you work remotely, which can apply to most people stuck in a cube, but the easiest way work remotely is if you are an entrepreneur. Ferriss also started his 4-hour workweek only after becoming wealthy, which is the difficult part of the whole scheme.

Fortunately for other authors, Ferriss leaves room for techniques to help the reader capitalize on the system, making my book, “How to Take Advantage of the People Who Are Trying to Take Advantage of You,” a great complement (see technique #50 for an interesting parallel).

Can everyone attain the lifestyle of the new rich (NR)? Probably not. Most people aren’t ready to leave the comforts of their lives and go for the new gold (time). However, everyone should read this book, which provides a wealth of inspiration and detailed resources to help you get to your life goals. Until you achieve those goals, you should at least stop wasting time and start living more. This book can help.

– JSB Morse