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The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich Paperback – 6 Jan. 2011

4.4 out of 5 stars 26,371 ratings

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Purchase options and add-ons

A new, updated and expanded edition of this New York Times bestseller on how to reconstruct your life so it's not all about work

Forget the old concept of retirement and the rest of the deferred-life plan - there is no need to wait and every reason not to, especially in unpredictable economic times. Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, experiencing high-end world travel, earning a monthly five-figure income with zero management, or just living more and working less, this book is the blueprint.

This step-by step guide to luxury lifestyle design teaches:

* How Tim went from $40,000 dollars per year and 80 hours per week to $40,000 per MONTH and 4 hours per week
* How to outsource your life to overseas virtual assistants for $5 per hour and do whatever you want
* How blue-chip escape artists travel the world without quitting their jobs
* How to eliminate 50% of your work in 48 hours using the principles of a forgotten Italian economist
* How to trade a long-haul career for short work bursts and frequent 'mini-retirements'.

This new updated and expanded edition includes:

More than 50 practical tips and case studies from readers (including families) who have doubled their income, overcome common sticking points, and reinvented themselves using the original book as a starting point
* Real-world templates you can copy for eliminating email, negotiating with bosses and clients, or getting a private chef for less than £5 a meal
* How lifestyle design principles can be suited to unpredictable economic times
* The latest tools and tricks, as well as high-tech shortcuts, for living like a diplomat or millionaire without being either.

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From the Publisher

4 hour work week
4 hour work week

Forget the old concept of retirement and the rest of the deferred-life plan - there is no need to wait and every reason not to, especially in unpredictable economic times. Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, experiencing high-end world travel, earning a monthly five-figure income with zero management, or just living more and working less, this book is the blueprint.

4 hour work week

4 hour work week

4 hour work week

Product description

Review

It's about time this book was written. It is a long-overdue manifesto for the mobile lifestyle, and Tim Ferriss is the ideal ambassador. This will be huge ― Jack Canfield, co-creator Chicken Soup for the Soul

The book that has caught the imagination of overworked America ―
Sunday Telegraph

This is a whole new ball game. Highly recommended. -- Dr. Stewart D. Friedman, Adviser to Jack Welch and Former Vice President Al Gore on Work/Family Issues, Director of the Work/Life Integration Project, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Stunning and amazing. From mini-retirements to outsourcing your life,
it's all here. Whether you're a wage slave or a Fortune 500 CEO, this
book will change your life!

-- Phil Town, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of "Rule #1

The 4-Hour Workweek is a new way of solving a very old problem: just how can we work to live and prevent our lives from being all about work? A world of infinite options awaits those who would read this book and be inspired by it! -- Michael E. Gerber, Founder & Chairman of E-Myth Worldwide and the World's #1 Small Business Guru

Timothy has packed more lives into his 29 years than Steve Jobs has in his 51. -- Tom Foremski, Journalist and Publisher of SiliconValleyWatcher.com

Thanks to Tim Ferriss, I have more time in my life to travel, spend time with family and write book blurbs. This is a dazzling and highly useful
work.

-- A.J. Jacobs, Editor-at-Large, Esquire Magazine, Author of "The Know-It-All

If you want to live life on your own terms, this is your blueprint. -- Mike Maples, Co-founder of Motive Communications (IPO to $260M market cap), Founding Executive of Tivoli (sold to IBM for $750M)

Tim is Indiana Jones for the digital age. I've already used his advice to go spearfishing on remote islands and ski the best hidden slopes of Argentina. Simply put, do what he says and you can live like a millionaire. -- Albert Pope, Derivatives Trading, UBS World Headquarters

This engaging book makes you ask the most important question that you will ever face: What exactly is it that you want out of work and life, and why? Tim Ferriss is a master of getting more for less, often with the help of people he doesn't even know, and here he gives away his secrets for fulfilling your dreams. -- Bo Burlingham, Editor-at-Large, "Inc." magazine, Author of "Small Giants: Companies That Choose To Be Great Instead of Big"

From the Back Cover

Forget the old concept of retirement and the rest of the deferred-life plan - there is no need to wait and every reason not to, especially in unpredictable economic times. Whether your dream is escaping the rat race, experiencing high-end world travel, earning a monthly five-figure income with zero management, or just living more and working less, this book is the blueprint.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vermilion
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 6 Jan. 2011
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0091929113
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0091929114
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 409 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.5 x 3.1 x 21.5 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 26,371 ratings

About the author

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Timothy Ferriss
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Tim Ferriss has been listed as one of Fast Company‘s ‘Most Innovative Business People’ and one of Fortune‘s ‘40 under 40’. He is an early-stage technology investor/advisor (Uber, Facebook, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ others) and the author of four #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, including The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef and Tools of Titans. The Observer and other media have called Tim ‘the Oprah of audio’ due to the influence of The Tim Ferriss Show podcast, which is the first business/interview podcast to exceed 200 million downloads. Tim received his BA from Princeton University in 2000, where he focused on language acquisition and East Asian Studies. He developed his non-fiction writing with Pulitzer Prize winner John McPhee and formed his life philosophies under Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburo Oe. He is far dumber than both. Tim enjoys bear claws, chocolate croissants, writing ‘About’ pages in third person and neglecting italics.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
26,371 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book to be a seriously great read that opens their minds to different ways of thinking and is filled with interesting ideas. Moreover, they appreciate its effectiveness in working smarter, not harder, and find it engaging and humorous. However, the information quality receives mixed feedback, with some finding it quite interesting while others describe it as complicated. Additionally, opinions on value are divided, with some considering it well worth the money while others say it contains nothing of value.

335 customers mention ‘Readability’316 positive19 negative

Customers find the book readable, with one mentioning it's particularly suitable for long journeys.

"Loved the book!! Really openedy mind to possibilities I hadn't considered before" Read more

"...management, outsourcing, and passive income, it’s a must-read for anyone seeking freedom and financial independence." Read more

"...As a package, it's still VERY good, but the second half is quite obviously more US-centric and didn't leave me with as many moments where my jaw was..." Read more

"...For less then £10 it was an enjoyable read and you have to credit Tim for what he does and has achieved." Read more

309 customers mention ‘Inspiration’285 positive24 negative

Customers find the book inspiring, noting that it opens their minds to new ways of thinking and provides life-changing insights.

"Loved the book!! Really openedy mind to possibilities I hadn't considered before" Read more

"The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss is an eye-opening guide that challenges traditional work-life norms, offering practical strategies to escape the..." Read more

"Great book to start a nomadic life." Read more

"...This is a unique little book which has opened my eyes in many ways, forcing me to ask the difficult questions, and take control of my destiny...." Read more

30 customers mention ‘Interest’24 positive6 negative

Customers find the book engaging with surprising and challenging concepts, and one customer mentions it contains dozens of life and career-changing methods.

"...little book which has opened my eyes in many ways, forcing me to ask the difficult questions, and take control of my destiny...." Read more

"...while i found this to be quite interesting and helpfull , i fear others will not enjoy it such a manner. but for me it was pretty great...." Read more

"Tim Ferriss is a fantastic author with his engaging narratives, anecdotes and use of "thinking outside the box" and deconstructing social..." Read more

"...The author comes across as arrogant/hard to like at times." Read more

17 customers mention ‘Effectiveness’17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book effective, appreciating its advice on working smarter rather than harder and getting the right things done, with one customer noting that the principles have worked for many people.

"...lessons can be applied to different parts of your job to help you become more effective and in theory reduce how much you work...." Read more

"...The principles in this book are the real gold though - work smarter, outsource and keep improving...." Read more

"...Life Style Design book where you will learn how to come up with workable plans to escape your 9 to 5 job...." Read more

"An eye opening book with lots of great tips on how to work less and be more efficient...." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Humor’9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it twice as funny, with one customer noting it's well written and detailed, while another describes it as a fairly light-hearted read enriched by amusing anecdotes.

"...Why not work less and live more now? Enriched by amusing anecdotes, sprinkled with inspiring quotes and bursting with practical advice about how to..." Read more

"A great holiday read, very apt to read Tim's ideas & story whilst laid on a sun lounger around the pool in the sun at Mexico with waiters bringing..." Read more

"...This is it. The frank, funny and honest approach just cuts through all the junk...." Read more

"This is a fairly light hearted read and just keeps you thinking, if nothing else about the status quo in your life...." Read more

31 customers mention ‘Value for money’18 positive13 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's value, with some finding it well worth the money while others consider it a waste of money and say it contains nothing of value.

"...income, it’s a must-read for anyone seeking freedom and financial independence." Read more

"...is "yes", this book is not aimed at you and it is not worth buying at any price. Go join a Yoga school or learn to meditate. 2...." Read more

"...In the book, there is also included a dream line which helps you in the financial side to achieve whatever you want to achieve...." Read more

"If I could put zero stars, I would. This book was a waste of money...." Read more

18 customers mention ‘Information quality’0 positive18 negative

Customers find the information quality of the book complicated, with one customer noting it is very general without any details.

"...from a laptop which IS of interest to me, but the information here is so outdated (2007!)..." Read more

"...albeit getting a bit long in the tooth now and some of the information needs updating - does anyone use a fax any more?..." Read more

"...Yes, many of the ideas are hard to implement but many are not and the concepts are without doubt empowering...." Read more

"The 4-hour Workweek is an eye-opening book, but it makes it look to easy...." Read more

Escape Your Life!
5 out of 5 stars
Escape Your Life!
Amazon recommend I read this book, so I took it's advice and did. You know that snapshot of time when all the questions you have been wanting answered suddenly come into focus and produce an aha moment? That's what it was like reading Tim's book. Rarely do you read a book that is written as a true blueprint for change. This is it. The frank, funny and honest approach just cuts through all the junk. If you actually follow the steps through and take action, then your life will be transformed. The complimentary chapters on the website only enhance the book and are just packed full of tips and how to's. I'm off to do some decluttering. Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did. Thanks Tim!
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 May 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Loved the book!! Really openedy mind to possibilities I hadn't considered before
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 January 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss is an eye-opening guide that challenges traditional work-life norms, offering practical strategies to escape the 9-5 grind and create a more flexible, fulfilling lifestyle. With actionable tips on time management, outsourcing, and passive income, it’s a must-read for anyone seeking freedom and financial independence.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 April 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Great book to start a nomadic life.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 October 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This has been sitting in my "to-read" shelf for a while, but I finally bought it when I was reminded about it by a friend. Even though i'd heard a lot of critical acclaim for this, I set my expectations low: just another self-help book.

    Well, I'm happy to say that I was wrong. This is a unique little book which has opened my eyes in many ways, forcing me to ask the difficult questions, and take control of my destiny. When I usually read something like this, I expect to pick up one or two useful ideas or thoughts which might help change my life in small ways. But this felt, ESPECIALLY in the first half of the book (i.e., the first 2 sections), like it was throwing legitimate interesting and potentially life-changing questions at me every couple of pages. I've NEVER experienced something like that before.

    Like other reviewers, I was a little underwhelmed by the second half. As a package, it's still VERY good, but the second half is quite obviously more US-centric and didn't leave me with as many moments where my jaw was dropping or the gears in my head were turning.

    I'd recommend this to anyone. I'm currently in the process of throwing it at my partner and telling all my friends and family about it. No matter what age, I think we can all learn something useful from this.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 October 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Just finished this book and personally I would rate it as 'ok'.
    There are many fair, in-depth reviews here on Amazon so I'll just add my own opinion...
    The good points are; it does make you think about your current day-to-day work\life balance along with the daily distractions of social media, phones, constant email, higher-priority priorities etc and the need to minimize these in order to enjoy our free time.
    The bad points are; it is very US orientated, many of the websites or products mentioned no longer work and they all point to Tim's website which are presumably referral links (pay-per-click is one of the things he covers in the books)

    For less then £10 it was an enjoyable read and you have to credit Tim for what he does and has achieved.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2012
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The title of this book was the first thing to grab my attention and it was recommended read on a podcast I was listening to. I'll be honest, Ferris' journey was extreme and I'm sure it is mush easier to take the steps he did when you have a few million dollars in your bank account as he did. That said, he does raise some really thought provoking questions of priorities and self-imposed limitations, it really did stop to make me think why, when I actually have the means, was I not doing at least some of the things I thought that I would do if I won the lottery? A thought that led to me booking a fabulous exotic holiday, moving house and starting yoga. There are plenty of examples in the book of people who were not millionaires who have managed to make this happen in their own lives.

    His thoughts and advice on automation of work and outsourcing are a useful tool for anyone looking to relieve workplace stress. The idea of asking for reduced hours or flexible working might seem really scary but, I suppose, if you don't ask you don't get. If you're still not sure on this principle I would recommend reading The Aladdin Factor as that covers this area in much more depth.

    I personally think everyone should read this book at least once a year, just to remind themselves not to get stuck in the humdrum of mundane living and it's a must read for anyone looking to work for themselves or retiring soon. I bought my parents a copy in the hope that it would entice them to spend their retirement doing fun, exhilarating things that they've always put off before... the idea of tango lessons in Argentina was definitely appealing to them.
    21 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 December 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Not had chance to read the book yet but was please with the service of getting the book and look forward to reading it.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 November 2023
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Some really good general tips and advice that most people could apply to their job would be very beneficial and time-saving. However, some of it is quite specific to roles in sales or business.

    There are many great references and information sources, however, these are US-based and some are likely to be outdated now.

    I enjoyed the writing style, I found it easy to read, and straight to the point and liked that he doesn't sugarcoat things and says what a lot of people have probably thought themselves. His style is very much like Marmite you either love it or hate it.

    Overall I enjoyed the read. It was thought-provoking and inspirational. A solid 4-star read, but it didn't make 5 stars due to - being US specific (I'm UK), and being a touch repetitive, would be very good to have a new post-Covid update with more worldwide resources.
    19 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Pabi Masimene
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in South Africa on 17 June 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Would really recommend this book, one of those you can read multiple times over your life
  • jkdyml
    2.0 out of 5 stars not new?
    Reviewed in Sweden on 29 June 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    came slightly worn out?
    Customer image
    jkdyml
    2.0 out of 5 stars
    not new?

    Reviewed in Sweden on 29 June 2023
    came slightly worn out?
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer image
  • It's great
    5.0 out of 5 stars 👍
    Reviewed in Poland on 18 December 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The book is absolute 10 but I wouldn't recommend it as the first book to read it's too long for the first book. It will make you bored and you won't read other books 📚
  • Seth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Plus the title made it sound like it belonged on an infomercial and not in my ...
    Reviewed in the United States on 31 May 2015
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I had seen the uber-orange cover of The 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss all over: Bookstores (duh!), backseats of cars, airplane terminals, frat houses and more. Yet despite its proliferation into the hands (and Kindles) of millions of people all over the world, and its catchy headline, I had yet to read it. In fact, I had no inclination to read it whatsoever.

    Quite frankly, I had no idea what it was about. Plus the title made it sound like it belonged on an infomercial and not in my book collection.

    Things changed when I started listening to the Tim Ferriss Show podcast just a few weeks ago. The podcast is fantastic and I haven’t been able to stop listening to it; I highly recommend it.

    From what I’ve noticed, if I enjoy reading someone’s articles or website, I generally enjoy their podcasts (the same holds true vice-versa). So when I saw that it was available for only $1.99 on Kindle I didn’t hesitate one bit.

    Can I really only work 4 hours?

    That’s what everyone wants to know. For the most part, no it is not feasible for most. In fact, Tim repeats in his podcasts and presumably other mediums that The 4 Hour Workweek is not to be taken literally. Rather, it drives the point home of what the book is really about: Optimizing your time, eliminating distractions, and finding passive streams of income to allow you to do minimal work while having maximum freedom.

    It’s a solid concept. In fact, there really is little basis for the traditional 9-5 schedule:

    How is it possible that all the people in the world need exactly 8 hours to accomplish their work? It isn’t. 9– 5 is arbitrary.”

    The idea behind this book is to essentially turn the idea of working hard on its head:

    Being busy is a form of laziness— lazy thinking and indiscriminate action. Being overwhelmed is often as unproductive as doing nothing, and is far more unpleasant. Being selective— doing less— is the path of the productive. Focus on the important few and ignore the rest.”

    Many books of this nature are simply filled with fluff, woo-woo, and other law of attraction platitudes, but The 4 Hour Workweek is absolutely filled to the brim with productivity tips. This makes the book worth the price of admission alone (that goes for the full price hardcover too!)

    There are a few concepts that he really stresses throughout the book and that will allow you to eliminate and optimize.

    The first of which is the 80/20 principle, also known as the Pareto Principle. This principle states that 80% of results (profit, happiness etc.) comes from 20% of output. Once Tim discovered this principle, he applied it to his nutritional supplement company so that he could focus on the select few clients that brought him the bulk of his income, and to eliminate the pesky customers who were nothing but trouble.

    Sure, it cost him some income, but it allowed him to reduce his stress exponentially and freed up a plethora of time.

    A second major principle is Parkinson’s law, which states:

    … that a task will swell in (perceived) importance and complexity in relation to the time allotted for its completion. It is the magic of the imminent deadline. If I give you 24 hours to complete a project, the time pressure forces you to focus on execution, and you have no choice but to do only the bare essentials. If I give you a week to complete the same task, it’s six days of making a mountain out of a molehill.”

    The best approach to Parkinson’s Law is to

    1. Limit tasks to the important to shorten work time (80/ 20).

    2. Shorten work time to limit tasks to the important (Parkinson’s Law). The best solution is to use both together: Identify the few critical tasks that contribute most to income and schedule them with very short and clear deadlines.”

    There are a plethora of other tidbits of wisdom throughout, such as:

    Check e-mail twice per day, once at 12: 00 noon or just prior to lunch, and again at 4: 00 P.M.
    At least three times per day at scheduled times [ask] the following question: Am I being productive or just active?
    More is not better, and stopping something is often 10 times better than finishing it.
    Getting Your Own Personal Assistant

    One of the most engaging and laughable topics in the book was the chapter on virtual assistants (VA). I say laughable because it’s actually incredibly feasible to have a 3rd world virtual assistant, and I couldn’t help myself from laughing at the idea of having a team of Indians heeding my every beck and call.

    Consider this:

    If you spend your time, worth $ 20-25 per hour, doing something that someone else will do for $ 10 per hour…”

    Makes sense. Plus there are other good reasons to consider getting a VA:

    Getting a remote personal assistant is a huge departure point and marks the moment that you learn how to give orders and be commander instead of the commanded. It is small-scale training wheels for the most critical of NR skills: remote management and communication.”

    The Original Internet Entrepeneur

    When I began to read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, I noticed something: I had read this before. But it wasn’t because Aurelius was plagiarizing content 2000 years in the future, rather it was the inverse.

    I’ve noticed this phenomena with The 4 Hour Workweek in that much of the content seemed all too familiar with the Digital Nomad and lifestyle design communities and advice of today. But seeing as it was written originally in 2007, one could say it was the first of its kind.

    In fact, the proliferation of internet entrepreneurs are likely a result of this book.

    On that note, look where Tim Ferris is today. He’s not lounging on a beach in Guatemala making money off his supplements. Rather, he’s busting his ass in Silicon Valley helping startups turn into massive success stories.

    This is no fault of his; I just think many readers of this book and these internet entrepreneurs lose sight of this. They get caught in finding ‘passive income’ and settling for 1-3K a month; just enough to make do in a foreign country of their choice.

    This is what I wanted for so long, but now this doesn’t seem like enough. I’d much rather be doing what Tim is doing now as opposed to what he recommend in his book.

    Don’t Follow This Book Like the Gospel

    Again, the 4 Hour Workweek isn’t designed to be taken literally. This is a pattern throughout the book.

    In fact, much of the information regarding internet marketing and asking a boss for a remote work agreement is completely useless for me and may be for you. Yet, overall I was really impressed with the book. There was plenty of solid, actionable advice throughout. In fact, I’ve already marked this book down as one I will have to read again to internalize the concepts that stood out to me.

    http://masculinebooks.com/2015/05/26/the-4-hour-workweek-by-tim-ferriss/
  • Moses Casas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in Japan on 6 June 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Good deal