The 4-Hour Workweek

Written and narrated by Leigh Martinuzzi

Who doesn’t want to work less, live anywhere and escape the monotonous nine to five?

The book title caught my attention and after reading the first few chapters it was hard to stop. Tim’s thoughts, ideas and inspiration capture the imagination while taping into our dreams. What is truly important in life? What matters to you? And how do you want to truly live your life? Ferriss’s words draw out answers to questions like these as a mosquito draws out blood.

Tim talks about joining the “new rich” and this means forgetting about the old ways of the world. Lifestyle ideals and the fundamentals of how we should conduct our lives are forever changing.  Tim challenges old paradigms and perspectives giving us all greater reason to believe in freedom. To choose ourselves before accepting the typical and nowadays less common pathways of the status quo. Essentially a book to help inspire us to create our own journey.

I believe Tim’s work has been a catalyst for the modern-day movement amongst many entrepreneurs and younger generations. People are choosing to leave the nine to five cubicle jobs and forty-plus year career’s and instead focusing on living more fully now while also doing more meaningful work. Sounds too good to be true and perhaps for many of us it is, however, it makes a great deal of sense.

Lifestyle design and life hacking fill the pages within. Wikipedia describes life hacking as any trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method that increases productivity and efficiency, in all walks of life. Life hacking can be seen as the modern-day appropriation of the Gordian Knot, an inspired and ingenious way to ‘think outside the box’. If you are a fan of Ferriss’s work and listen to his podcast and other talks you will appreciate his ability to approach things systematically and from different angles and perspectives. It’s one thing I admire about the guy.

In the search for our Hidden Why, this book pushes the boundaries and forces the reader to reflect differently on where we are currently in life and where we want to go.  Start by asking yourself how you want to be and then start challenging the norm. Why can’t we live I live with greater purpose? Why can’t we enjoy the work we do?

Forget the 50 hour a week job working for someone else or doing something you cannot or do not appreciate only to retire at sixty. The best years to live life fully, travel and enjoy those things most important our now, not after sixty-five when we are older, tired and less able. Live life today in the present moment, do what you enjoy and find creative ways to make a living.

Although personally for me the book was more an inspirational piece on lifestyle design Ferriss also shares many ideas on how to create this path. Tim’s four principles are definition, elimination, automation and liberation and he shares many examples and case studies throughout. He also shares a bunch of tools and resources along the way and sets you with challenges to help further stretch you and push you outside your comfort zone.

This book isn’t really about creating a 4-hour workweek, although Ferriss did it, more so and inspirational, practical and straightforward guide to help spin your world around so you can start living a life you desire.

The book is available in hardcopy or you can download the audiobook. It is one that you could easily listen to time and time again as it’s a powerful and inspiring message.

If this book sounds of interest you can purchase The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich here.

Please leave your thoughts, comments & questions below.

Peace, passion and purpose…

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Further Reading and Resources 

TED Talks: Ideas worth spreading

Psychology Today: Psychology Today is devoted exclusively to everybody’s favourite subject – Ourselves

Life Hack: Tips for Life

Elite Daily: The Voice of Generation Y

Four Hour Work Week: How to escape the 9-5, live anywhere and join the new rich.

The Minimalists: How to pursue a minimalist lifestyle and be happier.

Mind Hacks: Tips and Tricks for Using Your Brain

Rich Roll: Plantpowered Wellness Advocate

The Art of Charm: Build confidence, feel comfortable and networking differently.

American Psychological Association: The largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United State

The Art of Manliness: Encouraging men to be better husbands, fathers, brothers, citizens.

Tiny Buddha: Simple wisdom for complex lives.

Brain Pickings: An inventory of cross-disciplinary interestingness, spanning art, science, design, history, philosophy, and more.

Mind Body Green: Lifestyle media brand dedicated to inspiring you to live your best life.

Zen Habits: Find simplicity and mindfulness in life.

Creative NonFiction: “true stories well told.” 

Addicted 2 Success: Motivation & Inspiration Website full of quotes and inspiring articles for entrepreneurs.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree: science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome at life.

The Positivity Blog: Practical articles on happiness, self-esteem, productivity and social skills.