My next book and subject to attack: The Four-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss. Why did I get this book? I read his blog which has very original ideas related to successfully taking in massive amounts of information or otherwise controlling the flow of it in order to actually achieve what we all give up ourselves into technology for: a simple and enjoyable life.

Essentially, from what I know about the book and its philosophy is that it will offer ways for you to distance yourself from trading time for money by working on systems for your business instead of doing work directly. He also lays out ways to only check your email a couple of times a day (or in a more recent post, never check your email by teaching other people to think like you and respond for you). There is a theme in his message about outsourcing tedious and time-consuming tasks.

What do I expect out of this book? Well, while it seems a big more geared towards CEOs or entrepreneurs on their way to businessdom, I still know that I can soak in and apply some of his ideas to other random areas of my life. I fear the idea of a businessman hippie although I do enjoy checking and responding to emails throughout my working and playing day; it is seemingly a part of my reputation as a worker/nerd/geek. I also respect professors and professional contacts who will respond to my emails within a few hours, or at least the same day. Any other professional contacts who take longer than a day or two to respond, I can’t really take them seriously in life or in mind - just an effect of growing up in these modern days I suppose.

My thoughts on this topic can be summed up by: laid back and meditative, but idly spinning ideas and communicating to others. Of course, we will see what I actually get out of the book.