A review by greden
The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss

4.0

The 4-Hour Work Week is a guide on how to design your lifestyle and how to achieve the freedom to do so. The book focuses on living richly instead of earning more, using as little time working as possible, primarily by outsourcing and delegating.

Ferris is fighting against the industrious spirit gone astray, namely that we tend to work not because it's necessary, but because we are addicted to it. How else are we going to spend our time and prevent an existential breakdown? The biggest challenge is that with the liberty of time we're overwhelmed by the number of choices, and if we're not used to it, crumble under the responsibility.

"Sundays kill more people than bombs." - Charles Bukowski.

The problem is that for the vast majority of people, free time is more harmful than good, and the typical default is drugs, parties, and video games.

Even if you were able to stay away from the drugs and distractions, and have a lifestyle where you write poetry, dance, and drink lemonade under a palm tree all day while reading Shakespeare, eventually existential dread will creep up.

I'm glad Ferris dedicated a large chunk of the book to the existential questions. It seems that one of the most pressing tasks of humanity these days is learning how to cope with freedom.

While the book is packed with practical information, from where to find virtual assistants, product development, how to negotiate remote work, etc... it was also an inspiring read. Tim Ferriss is a remarkable cat, and his positivity and love of life shine through his writing. Definitely a recommended read.