Tim Ferriss has become the maven of making life simpler. The nine-to-five got you down? Here’s how to trim your toil to four hours a week. Want to become a better cook? Here’s how to prepare anything from sushi to spaghetti with the aplomb of a master chef–and in the process pick up a “meta-learning” technique that can also help you learn a new language or sharpen your athletic skills.
It’s not surprising that our time-starved society lapped up Ferriss’s short, easy-to-digest guides. Since The 4-Hour Workweek hit bookshelves in 2007, it and Ferriss’s subsequent titles have sold millions and inspired a legion of devoted fans who tune in to hear the man himself on his weekly podcast. Ferriss built his brand on hacking everything from sleep to sexual performance in no time, a project that’s been aided and abetted by the rise of Facebook, Twitter, and other social channels that deliver “insights” from experts in 140 characters or a well-timed GIF.
Ferriss is far from alone in his effort to extend a self-helping hand to multitudes who are desperately seeking salves to succeed in every aspect of their lives. For all the potential benefits that lie between its covers, this new book’s most essential service may be in shining a light on the limits of the “four-hour” phenomenon.
On the surface, Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice From the Best in the World, looks to be a departure from the franchise. It’s over 600 pages long and densely packed with the musings of over 100 celebrities, athletes, tech founders, and other recognizable thinkers. Where is the shortcut to wisdom?
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