The reviewer criticizes 'The 4 Hour Work Week' as a shallow, get-rich-quick guide that promotes a lifestyle of disengagement and exploitation of global labor. They argue that the book's advice is neither new nor revolutionary, and its success was more about timing and marketing than substance.
The reviewer expresses strong disdain for 'The 4 Hour Work Week,' describing it as a shallow and unoriginal guide that promotes a lifestyle of minimal engagement and the outsourcing of labor to the global south. They argue that the book's success was more about being in the right place at the right time rather than offering any groundbreaking advice. The reviewer also criticizes the book's premise that a 9-5 job is inherently unfulfilling, suggesting instead that many such jobs can be good and provide opportunities for learning and personal growth. They also take issue with the book's promotion of the gig economy and the idea that one job should be the sole source of fulfillment, which they find unrealistic and unhealthy.
Quick quotes
Ferriss had created a brand that was something like a Tony Robbins geared to the tech set, targeted to young creative people obsessed with efficiency.
Ferriss writes, “for most people . . . the perfect job is the one that takes the least time. The vast majority of people will never find a job that can be an unending source of fulfilment”.
It’s a similar to this idea floating around the heteronormative mythology that you should have your one partner fulfil your every need.