 2008-11-11 - Can we all have it all?
Can we all have it all? I just don't know... this guy's story is amazing. The tips are priceless... I don't see my work week trimming down to 4 hours though, any time soon... Still, I loved his humor, his style of writing (which is witty and inspiring), and his lust for living.
 2008-11-09 - Great resources, expands thinking, one caveat
I was recently looking over my Amazon reviews and realised that the only time I bother writing a review is when I really love or really hate a book. This one falls into the "really love" category.
Although I am a business owner, I really do love what I do, so working four hours a week isn't really my goal. Giving myself the option of buggering off to Fiji or Buenos Aires or Vietnam and being able to run my business by remote control for a couple of (or few) weeks, however, really does appeal.
With that in mind, I found a ton of great ideas and insights in this book, and overlaying those insights and ideas onto my own goals and ethics, I have accomplished a lot.
I wouldn't have heard of Elance if it weren't for this book, and have now outsourced about 90 jobs to people who have done them better than I could have and let me spend my time doing the stuff I do best. In the book, much is made of how cheap many Elance suppliers are ($2 an hour an up), but I never had the stomach for hiring someone at starvation wages, so hire at higher rates.
I wouldn't have heard of many productivity tools - at least not some of the better ways to us them - like LogMeIn and Skype with SkypeIn and SkypeOut. These have been godsends when I work overseas and on holidays.
Finally, it just shook me out of the "it's my business, so I have to do it all myself" mindset. I've developed a sideline business that pretty much runs itself, have other people doing the non-core parts of my business, and have much sleeker communications options. Travelling is easier. Holidaying is easier.
As for Tim Ferriss, I will say he comes off in this book as something of an uber-selfish egomaniac. I'm pretty okay with that. As I said before, he's got a lot of good ideas and I'm willing to learn from anyone. I (and you) don't have to worship at the mantle of his apparent mindset, and have definitely found room for many of his techniques in my much different lifestyle.
I've given this book as a gift about 15 times, now, and that's the warning I always include with the book. The good news is that everyone I know that has read it has enjoyed the way it expands their vision about the options they have and the resources they have available.
So, with that one small warning in mind, I give it five stars.
2008-11-07 - Used it to help teach kids about money...good book
A lot of useful information for people looking to escape the old model of making a living. I was able to use of this information in helping myself create a booklet to help parents teach their kids about money How To Raise Kids So They Don't End Up Broke! (Kindle Edition) and it's a great resource for outsourcing your life.
2008-11-02 - I Now Have Two Copies
A good friend of mine bought this book for me as a gift. I read it from cover to cover. While on assignment, I remembered a section of the book that I wanted to reference so I bought another. I wasn't looking to work 4 hours a day or live anywhere but as I read the book I realized in-spite of the title, it was very helpful. As an inventor and entrepreneur, I know that some of the knowledge in the book would have cost me a fortune if I hired a consultant. I structured my company's infrastructure using the author's advice. So far, I'm pleased with my results. If you're looking to start an internet based business or sell anything via the internet, this book would be a valuable resource if nothing else a very interesting read. -JW
 2008-11-01 - Tosh
picked up this book after seeing so much about it in the press.
It's simply tosh.
He offers views on time management, outsourcing, automatic business processes, and travel, that any half-intelligent individual knows already...unless like Ferris you exhibit misanthropic tendencies, e.g. live on a low-information diet, never read a newspaper, only take emergency phone calls, avoid e-mail, divert customers to call centres and don't socialise or belong to any community.
If you want to run an online vitamin supplements business this book may hold some value. Otherwise, use your time more effectively, and save yourself some money. Take it from me.
The one star is only for including Thoreau's seminal work Walden, or, Life in the Woods (Dover Thrift) on the reading list.
Now that is a book worth reading.
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