I just read the book and was feeling a little awkward with some of the ideas there. So I tried to search for reviews of this book and found yours.

I agree, the book is enjoyable and worth reading BUT you need to know how to pick up what’s good and important from those that are simply not possible and practical for your life.

But, that IS the reality for a lot of people. Most people don’t work somewhere where they just have to get X, Y, and Z done. They are also required to work a certain number of hours each week. At least 40, often more. VISIBILITY To the boss, not PRODUCTIVITY, seems to be key. If the goal is to have a more balanced life, how does increasing productivity help that, if you are going to be expected at the office anyway?

Anyone who can answer that with something other than “work for yourself” (which not everyone can, or wants, to do) has found the holy grail.

1. Mini-retirements: changing your idea of retirement from something that happens once at the end of your career to something that happens many times during your career.

2. The idea that by traveling you could dramatically reduce your cost of living, and thus afford these “mini-retirements”.

I do think the author comes off as a bit obnoxious, but that may just be good marketing. And I think the particular techniques in his chapter “A is for Automation” worked well in 2004-2005, but would be substantially harder to do today. All told, I would compare this book to “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”. Both are inspirational and both force you to change your perspectives. But I don’t know that I’d follow the specific entrepreneurial advice in either.

Cheers,

I even use it when watching TV or a movie. If I find myself not truly enjoying whet I am watching, where in the past I would still watch just to see the end, I stop and watching, I simply stop and use my time more effectively even when I am wasting time.

Regards from Spain

I personally recommend the book for its somewhat controversial principles such as the author’s call to demolish our retirement-worship culture and our life-long delayed gratification patterns.

It is a good book to read and also filled with practical ideas.

At any rate, I am currently reading this book. I like it a lot but went into the book knowing full well that Tim is a borderline psychopath (not necessarily a bad thing).

I think it has a lot of very inspiring parts. One that you didn’t mention was the whole business about “Parkinson’s Law” which Tim explains is that the amount of time a task takes is directly proportional to the amount of time alloted. I find this very true in my work and have made changes (i.e. I set a deadline for myself, I do not stick to our group’s deadline). I also like the bit reminding us that “you are going to be working 9-5 for the next 40 years”. Ugh! By the way, is it a business-job thing to work 9 to 5? I have had several engineering jobs and never once had the luxury of counting lunch (if you take it or not) as an hour. It’s either 8-5 or 9-6 in all places I have worked.

It was basically the same conclusion I got to, but nice to hear from someone else. :) Thanks!

I just got this suggestion from a business partner who has read the book – “I think the people who don’t like the 4 Hour Work Week can’t get past the “it’s not possible” feeling. You, on the other hand, have already defeated that and I think will enjoy the book.”

I have both the print and audio-book version and really enjoyed it. I have implemented some of the productivity tips and am busy searching for a viable muse (or muses).

I instituted many of the “liberation” elements prior to reading the book – such as negotiating a 4-day/week remote work arrangement with my employer and outsourcing most functions of a small private professional practice I run on the side.

Taken with a grain of salt, I feel many of the recommendations in the book can significantly free up time (and energy) to devote to other pursuits.

I’ve read the book, and listened to the audio – both great, IMO.

Some of the comments above do apply, but I also believe the marketing and hype doesn’t take away what might be the best part of the book: giving unhappy, overworked cubicle dwellers a new way to think about work and life.

While the solutions in the book might not work for everyone, I think it should be required reading for anyone who’s miserable in their current work. Sometimes it only takes one idea to help people make a change for the better!

So saying the 4 hour work week won’t help you work 4 hours a week (or anywhere near) but might make you more productive at work is a pretty strong indictment of it. Noone would be buying the book if it was called a representative title. Makes me resentful to spend money on such a fraud, however if it’s at the library maybe.

Thanks for the great review. And this is *exactly* how I’d describe it. For me, that’s not a problem, but I know people who avoid the book just based on its title, for example.

I liked the idea of personal outsourcing. In fact, I tried a little 4-hour workweek experiment:

The 4-hour workweek applied: How I spent $100, saved hours, and boosted my reading workflow
http://ideamatt.blogspot.com/2007/08/4-hour-workweek-applied-how-i-spent-100.html

I continue looking for other ways to apply the 80/20 principle, which was clearly a big influence on Tim Ferris (I’m reading Koch’s book now). I’d like to hear about experiments you’ve tried.