Tim Ferriss is a smart guy, he’s done a lot in a relatively short time, and he seems like he’s got a sense of humor. The 4-Hour Workweek is well-written, has a lot of good information, and addresses a real problem in today’s society. But for all that, something about the book seems a little too calculated. And a man who wins an athletic competition by exploiting a loophole in the rules — and then brags about it (in print, no less!) — is just a bit too smug for my taste.
Maybe that’s just me, though. Certainly there is a lot of value in the book (and on Ferriss’ accompanying website), and I found myself agreeing more than once with Ferriss’ view of what’s valuable in life. Calculating free time along with income, the distinction between relative and absolute income, the benefits of travel and language learning… All of these are important in my own life, and I’d be a hypocrite to dismiss them in this book. But I have to wonder if we’re seeing the start of a new sort of imperialism, this one based on the power of the Internet.
Ferriss’ basic idea is this: Find or create a product that you can market effectively over the Net. Do some testing to tweak things for maximum profitability, then outsource everything possible to get and keep the ball rolling. Website design, marketing metrics, production and distribution… all of it can be done from your home if you have a computer and you’re connected. And there are companies in places like India that will do a bang-up job for you for $5/hour.
This is the point I just can’t make up my mind about. Doing things this way strikes me as living like a British colonialist in 19th century India. Just issue the orders; everything else will be taken care of by the servants. The only real difference is that you’re operating at a considerable geographic remove. Furthermore, not everyone in the world can do what the book recommends, since these guys lying around in hammocks need to have someone to outsource to.
On the other hand, $5/hour is a good wage in India (at least for the moment), so why shouldn’t they be allowed to earn it? It’s a real question.
Bottom line, I think that most people, especially most young people, should read this book. It will likely change your thinking about work, the role it plays in your life, and just exactly how much of your life it should take up. Ferriss’ answer is: not much, and in that, at least, I completely agree with him.
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