18 May

A Pre-Emptive Book Review

I’m intrigued. Art of Money has recommended a book called Four-Hour Work Week (pictured left, with affiliate link cunningly inserted, mwa-haha). I haven’t read it yet but I clicked the Amazon link and spent too long reading the reviews. Then I went to Timothy Ferriss’s website to read more.

He sounds extraordinary. I’m going to buy the book, and I promise to use your affiliate link, Jon, but before I blog about anything I have actual knowledge of I thought it would be worth taking a preliminary look at this “life-changing” book near the top of Amazon’s Bestseller list, and at the so-called “Indiana Jones of the Digital Age”. I want that title! Or perhaps, “The Garfield of the Digital Age.”

Interesting Facts About Timothy Ferriss (as reported on his website):

  • He speaks six languages
  • He’s been a cage fighter in Japan
  • He holds a Guinness World Record for Tango
  • He’s an actor, an author, a wealthy businessman, a keen traveler and sportsman
  • He’s 29, just like me. Only blonder and wealthier.

Things I have already learned from Timothy Ferriss:

  • Outsource everything overseas. Hrm. I seem to have outsourced myself overseas.
  • Don’t work too hard. Okay then.
  • Check your email only twice a day at the most. Now that’s just insane and impossible. Can’t be done.
  • Learn to tango. I tried this once in Argentina but it was a disaster. The only world record I would accomplish is treading on one person’s toes the most times in under a minute.

First impressions from learning about Timothy Ferriss:

  • I want to be just like him! But that’s not really true. I can’t stand sports, I already travel a lot, I’ve already learned six languages (though I can only claim fluency in two tops), and I would get tired doing all that stuff. But I would like to write a book and work more effectively and inspire people.
  • He’s talked himself up. Probably, but browsing his blog there’s a fair amount of video evidence that suggests he has actually done all the stuff he says he has. Crikey. Although the tango world record didn’t look hard.
  • He’s super-media savvy. He even has a page on his site offering to let bloggers interview him. Aww, what a nice guy!
  • He doesn’t need coffee. He has more energy than a caffeinated puppy.

Okay, so I’ll read the book and report back. Anyone else read it yet?