The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

First, an introduction:

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX3eJRwJqlc[/pro-player]

The New Edition

You see the cover. You turn its back and read:

WARNING: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU WANT TO QUIT YOUR JOB

Brilliant. I did want to quit my job when I picked up this book. But yes, it might really and irrevocably encourage and motivate you to quit even if you don’t. You see, this is a business book that tells you everything you want to know if you do not want to be stuck in an office from 9 to 5. And even that 9-5 was an old time ago wasn’t it? Most people I know would consider 9 to 5 a positive change in lifestyle because usually they work at least 2-3 hours more than that, lose a couple more to the commute and if they are really, really “lucky”, they don’t work on Saturdays.

I had a job that required me to be there from 9 to 6.30 (minimum) and put in hours on Saturday as well (from 10 to 5). The pay wasn’t great but OK. It had certain advantages and it wouldn’t look bad on the resume. It was a small firm and the industry was pretty OK with employees dressed in jeans (although my old-fashioned boss would just love it if I wore suits, really). And there is a bonus to working long hours as well as working on Saturdays. It doesn’t leave you much time to spend your salary. So you can save money, which was why I got the job in the first place. But after having worked there for 5.5 months, having read Timothy’s book and being no longer able to resist the dreamer in me, I quit. Truth is, I would have quit without this book eventually but it speeded up the process and I am glad.

The great thing about this book, it informs you in a very entertaining and interesting manner. It is such a page-turner, you would think you were reading a thrilling work of fiction. But just because it is a fun read, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t attack it with bookmarkers and magic markers. Ferris doesn’t just tell his own life story. He talks about all the steps you can take, the resources you can use and everything you should consider. He even talks about insurance for the self-employed. So he literally leaves you no excuses to reconsider your life. If you are actually enoying the office life with the cubicles, supervisors, the bosses, the hours, codes, the culture…..Fine, by all means don’t read it. Or read it and find about a very interesting entrepreneur.

Now, he is not only an entrepreneur. It is not like he quit his day job to set up his own office and be his own boss. He did it, so he could have more time, more money and more freedom. He literally found a way to work as less as possible and work whenever, wherever. Hence the picture of hammock on the cover…And no, Timothy doesn’t just outsource and sits down on his butt (although you can, if you prefer the lazy life). He uses this time and money to do whatever he wants. Such as being a Chinese kickboxing champion. Learning Japanese. Starring in Japanese shows (yes, speaking Japanese), being a Tango champion in Argentina. Traveling the world…He does all this and more. Learns things from scratch and excels at them; while most of us try to figure out a way to balance career with social life, barely finding time and money for the things we always wanted.

He doesn’t offer a get-rich quick scheme. You do have to work. But instead of slaving away, you will be working efficiently towards the life you always dreamed of. Oh, and even if Tim is pretty well off at the moment, he is not loaded like an A-list Hollywood star. But it doesn’t matter. He also shows you the tricks to live like a millionaire even if you aren’t one. And he was 30 when this book was first published.

So, he is one of my idols. In fact, he might be The Idol. If you are a dreamer who wants to really enjoy to path to his/her dreams, Tim is The Man and this is The Book.