For some reason, that 4HWW really draws attention to itself, and as you mentioned, Mr. Ferriss deliberately titled his book in a provocative, even controversial way to stand up — be the purple cow, as Seth Godin says.

I’m guessing it worked.

But really, I am interested to read your future posts on LD ideas.

In the first decade of the 1950’s, our productivity increased enough that by about 1957, people could have worked roughly a 20 hour week, and led the same lifestyle of 1950. Instead, we chose to exchange that productivity for a higher standard of living, and a lot more stuff.

I don’t believe there’s a right or wrong there, but I think it’s important to recognize that what we face in terms of structuring our work lives is a choice - a conscious decision about the life we’d like to lead.

That’s quite a gift, when you think about it, and I think the real value in Tim’s book is in his attempts to get people to acknowledge that gift. Four hours may or may not be realistic for everyone, but the opportunity in this day and age to change your life is.

What I appreciate most about 4HWW are the lifestyle design concepts. I think the idea of being able to configure our lives in non-standard ways is an empowering one. I also believe that most people who have extreme distaste for it can embrace lifestyle design, or at least appreciate it. (I, for one, dislike the term “New Rich”).

In that spirit, I’m considering renaming this series “Daily Lifestyle Design Tips and Resources.” What do you think?

–Clay

P.S. I’d like to mention that I heard Tim talking once at a marketing conference, and he mentioned that his book was written to be controversial because that would spur debate and get people to buy his book.

@ Stephen: I agree that they way Tim presents this whole idea sounds a bit arrogant. But it is a way to catch people. On their dreams. You can spend your free time on charity, take your kids to the Disneyland etc.

My conclusion is simple - I would like to have 4-Hours-DAY-Work and I will use Tim’s suggestions to achieve that. Not only will it be great for my family but I will also have more time to think about others.

4HWW it is the recipe for escaping from a cubicle by PERSONAL OUTSOURCING. Usually it was - start your business, reach certain level of income, leave your job, be free. Tim’s approach is a bit different and it included outsourcing and base on a catch that once you outsource your life you can then travel and RELAX.

We work to much these days, we read to many email, we don’t have time to speak to our children, we process to much information everyday (and then we are prescribed Prozac=placebo so we can live a “normal” life!). It is a sort of generalisation but gives you the impression what I mean.

And finally, Tim presents a GREAT SHIFT in thinking that should especially be appreciated in a hardworking American nation (which in my opinion deserves more holidays) - you don’t have to work so hard and so long. There are ways you can reduce your time spent at work. You don’t have to jump on every train called occasion. Tim is happy to share his ideas about letting bad things happen. Today we think that lost opportunity is painful but maybe we won’t think this way in 30 years. We are addicted to be busy. If you are not busy then you are weird.

And the last thing - everybody knows that you can outsource production to India or China, but not many people talked about outsourcing your personal life before Tim.

Clay, I hope you will give away some free 4HWW books as I haven’t read it yet :)

Crops would not be harvested in time before they rotted, cows that one has lifted since they were calves would not be milked, etc.

All the more power to Mr. Ferris for living the life he wants (and drawing the residual income from his company, book, speaking engagements, etc.), but until we do something, say…solve the world’s energy needs (and have a energy-to-matter converter to provide everything else), I think people still need to work a bit more than 4 hours per week.

I know, I know, I’m taking 4HWW literally — I’m sure there’s more, and I’m certainly not against passive income streams, but the whole concept just sounds arrogant.

(At some point, I’ll probably have to go check out the book.)

Nice presentation. Tim’s article was great. Thanks again.

Shilpan