This blog post will share the first chapter in my new book, Tools of Titans. It’s been nearly five years since my last book.
But before we get to that, a short story…
Three weeks before my book deadline, I was burning the midnight oil on rural Long Island. I’d set up a treadmill desk and purchased endless supplies of yerba mate tea, powdered MCT oil, and other assorted goodies to keep me sharp at 3am.
Joining me in the insanity was Kamal Ravikant, a close friend. He’d just finished his first novel and volunteered to help proofread chapters with fresh eyes. During our first day together, we rotated between reading, editing, and sauna breaks.
Kamal was uncharacteristically quiet, which made me nervous.
Had I screwed up the structure? Were the profiles hard to read? He kept his eyes on the screen, and I kept my insecurities to myself. We continued into dusk and, soon, it was dark outside. Eventually, we popped a bottle of wine in the living room to relax for 30 minutes before diving back in. It was at this point that I couldn’t help myself — I asked Kamal how his proofing was going. He paused, smiled, and looked at me:
“You know, Tim, I’ve given The 4-Hour Workweek and The 4-Hour Body to specific friends. One might want to start a business, another might want to lose a few pounds. But my God… This book applies to everyone.”
I smiled and he took a swig of wine:
“I mean, look,” he pointed at his phone, “I’ve been taking notes on new things to do and try, starting tomorrow. I’ve ordered 11 things on Amazon Prime so I can start using them as soon as I get home. There is so much gold here. The truth is that I feel like I’ve already improved. I’d buy it for anyone, even my mom.”
Flash forward to today — I couldn’t be happier with how Tools of Titans has turned out.
Just three notes before the sample chapter:
– Even if you’ve heard every podcast episode, there is a ton of new content in this book. New recommendations and details from past guests, new “guests” you haven’t heard, new content from me, and much more.
– I rarely make direct “asks,” but I will here. If you’ve benefited from any of my work in the past, including the blog (700+ free posts) or podcast (~200 free episodes), please grab Tools of Titans for yourself and consider it for your family, friends, or employees. It’s one hell of a holiday gift. I can promise you that. It delivers.
– I am NOT planning on doing an audiobook version anytime soon. More to come on this, as I have some crazy ideas, but suffice to say: don’t wait for audio. Please grab the print and/or ebook version, and don’t miss the illustrations.
Now, please enjoy this little sample to whet your appetite…
READ THIS FIRST—HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
“Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can’t see from the center. Big, undreamed-of things—the people on the edge see them first.”
— Kurt Vonnegut
“Routine, in an intelligent man, is a sign of ambition.”
— W.H. Auden
I’m a compulsive note-taker.
To wit, I have recorded nearly every workout since age 18 or so. Roughly 8 feet of shelf space in my home is occupied by spine upon spine of notebook upon notebook. That, mind you, is one subject. It extends to dozens. Some people would call this OCD, and many would consider it a manic wild goose chase. I view it simply: It is the collection of my life’s recipes.
My goal is to learn things once and use them forever.
For instance, let’s say I stumble upon a picture of myself from June 5, 2007, and I think, “I really wish I looked like that again.” No problem. I’ll crack open a dusty volume from 2007, review the 8 weeks of training and food logs preceding June 5, repeat them, and—voilà—end up looking nearly the same as my younger self (minus the hair). It’s not always that easy, but it often is.
This book, like my others, is a compendium of recipes for high performance that I gathered for my own use. There’s one big difference, though—I never planned on publishing this one.
As I write this, I’m sitting in a café in Paris overlooking the Luxembourg Garden, just off of Rue Saint-Jacques. Rue Saint-Jacques is likely the oldest road in Paris, and it has a rich literary history. Victor Hugo lived a few blocks from where I’m sitting. Gertrude Stein drank coffee and F. Scott Fitzgerald socialized within a stone’s throw. Hemingway wandered up and down the sidewalks, his books percolating in his mind, wine no doubt percolating in his blood.
I came to France to take a break from everything. No social media, no email, no social commitments, no set plans . . . except for one project. The month had been set aside to review all of the lessons I’d learned from nearly 200 world-class performers I’d interviewed on The Tim Ferriss Show, which has more than 90,000,000 downloads. The guests included chess prodigies, movie stars, four-star generals, pro athletes, and hedge fund managers. It was a motley crew.
More than a handful of them had since become collaborators in business and creative projects, spanning from investments to indie film. As a result, I’d absorbed a lot of their wisdom outside of our recordings, whether over workouts, wine-infused jam sessions, text message exchanges, dinners, or late-night phone calls. In every case, I’d gotten to know them well beyond the superficial headlines in the media.
My life had already improved in every area as a result of the lessons I could remember. But that was the tip of the iceberg. The majority of the gems were still lodged in thousands of pages of transcripts and hand-scribbled notes. More than anything, I longed for the chance to distill everything into a playbook.
So, I’d set aside an entire month for review (and, if I’m being honest, pain au chocolat), to put together the ultimate CliffsNotes for myself. It would be the notebook to end all notebooks. Something that could help me in minutes but be read for a lifetime.
That was the lofty goal, at least, and I wasn’t sure what the result would be.
Within weeks of starting, the experience exceeded all expectations. No matter the situation I found myself in, something in this book was able to help. Now, when I’m feeling stuck, trapped, desperate, angry, conflicted, or simply unclear, the first thing I do is flip through these pages with a strong cup of coffee in hand. So far, the needed medicine has popped out within 20 minutes of revisiting these friends, who will now become your friends. Need a reassuring pat on the back? There’s someone for that. An unapologetic slap in the face? Plenty of people for that, too. Someone to explain why your fears are unfounded… or why your excuses are bullshit? Done.
There are a lot of powerful quotes, but this book is much more than a compilation of quotes. It is a toolkit for changing your life.
There are many books full of interviews. This is different because I don’t view myself as an interviewer. I view myself as an experimenter. If I can’t test something or replicate results in the messy reality of everyday life, I’m not interested. Everything in these pages has been vetted, explored, and applied to my own life in some fashion. I’ve used dozens of these tactics and philosophies in high-stakes negotiations, high-risk environments, or large business dealings. The lessons have made me millions of dollars and saved me years of wasted effort and frustration. They work when you need them most.
Some applications are obvious at first glance, while others are subtle and will provoke a “Holy shit, now I get it!” realization weeks later, while you’re daydreaming in the shower or about to fall asleep.
Many of the one-liners teach volumes. Some summarize excellence in an entire field in one sentence. As Josh Waitzkin (page 577), chess prodigy and the inspiration behind Searching for Bobby Fischer, might put it, these bite-sized learnings are a way to “learn the macro from the micro.” The process of piecing them together was revelatory. If I thought I saw “the Matrix” before, I was mistaken, or I was only seeing 10% of it. Still, even that 10%—“islands” of notes on individual mentors—had already changed my life and helped me 10x my results. But after revisiting more than a hundred minds as part of the same fabric, things got very interesting very quickly. For the movie nerds among you, it was like the end of The Sixth Sense or The Usual Suspects: “The red door knob! The fucking Kobayashi coffee cup! How did I not notice that?! It was right in front of me the whole time!”
To help you see the same, I’ve done my best to weave patterns together throughout the book, noting where guests have complementary habits, beliefs, and recommendations.
The completed jigsaw puzzle is much greater than the sum of its parts.
WHAT MAKES THESE PEOPLE DIFFERENT?
“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.”
— Pierre-Marc-Gaston de Lévis
These world-class performers don’t have superpowers.
The rules they’ve crafted for themselves allow the bending of reality to such an extent that it may seem that way, but they’ve learned how to do this, and so can you. These “rules” are often uncommon habits and bigger questions.
In a surprising number of cases, the power is in the absurd. The more absurd, the more “impossible” the question, the more profound the answers. Take, for instance, a question that serial billionaire Peter Thiel likes to ask himself and others:
“If you have a 10-year plan of how to get [somewhere], you should ask: Why can’t you do this in 6 months?”
For purposes of illustration here, I might reword that to:
“What might you do to accomplish your 10-year goals in the next 6 months, if you had a gun against your head?”
Now, let’s pause. Do I expect you to take 10 seconds to ponder this and then magically accomplish 10 years’ worth of dreams in the next few months? No, I don’t. But I do expect that the question will productively break your mind, like a butterfly shattering a chrysalis to emerge with new capabilities. The “normal” systems you have in place, the social rules you’ve forced upon yourself, the standard frameworks—they don’t work when answering a question like this. You are forced to shed artificial constraints, like shedding a skin, to realize that you had the ability to renegotiate your reality all along. It just takes practice.
My suggestion is that you spend real time with the questions you find most ridiculous in this book. Thirty minutes of stream-of-consciousness journaling (page 224) could change your life.
On top of that, while the world is a gold mine, you need to go digging in other people’s heads to unearth riches. Questions are your pickaxes and competitive advantage. This book will give you an arsenal to choose from.
PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DETAILS
When organizing all of the material for myself, I didn’t want an onerous 37-step program.
I wanted low-hanging fruit with immediate returns. Think of the bite-sized rules within these pages as PEDs—performance-enhancing details. They can be added to any training regimen (read here: different careers, personal preferences, unique responsibilities, etc.) to pour gasoline on the fire of progress.
Fortunately, 10x results don’t always require 10x effort. Big changes can come in small packages. To dramatically change your life, you don’t need to run a 100-mile race, get a PhD, or completely reinvent yourself. It’s the small things, done consistently, that are the big things (e.g., “red teaming” once per quarter, Tara Brach’s guided meditations, strategic fasting or exogenous ketones, etc.).
“Tool” is defined broadly in this book. It includes routines, books, common self-talk, supplements, favorite questions, and much more.
WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?
In this book, you’ll naturally look for common habits and recommendations, and you should. Here are a few patterns, some odder than others:
- More than 80% of the interviewees have some form of daily mindfulness or meditation practice
- A surprising number of males (not females) over 45 never eat breakfast, or eat only the scantiest of fare (e.g., Laird Hamilton, page 92; General Stanley McChrystal, page 435)
- Many use the ChiliPad device for cooling at bedtime
- Rave reviews of the books Sapiens, Poor Charlie’s Almanack, Influence, and Man’s Search for Meaning, among others
- The habit of listening to single songs on repeat for focus (page 507)
- Nearly everyone has done some form of “spec” work (completing projects on their own time and dime, then submitting them to prospective buyers)
- The belief that “failure is not durable” (see Robert Rodriguez, page 628) or variants thereof
- Almost every guest has been able to take obvious “weaknesses” and turn them into huge competitive advantages (see Arnold Schwarzenegger, page 176)
Of course, I will help you connect these dots, but that’s less than half of the value of this book. Some of the most encouraging workarounds are found in the outliers. I want you to look for the black sheep who fit your unique idiosyncrasies. Keep an eye out for the non-traditional paths, like Shay Carl’s journey from manual laborer to YouTube star to co-founder of a startup sold for nearly $1 billion (page 441). The variation is the consistency. As a software engineer might say, “That’s not a bug. It’s a feature!”
Borrow liberally, combine uniquely, and create your own bespoke blueprint.
THIS BOOK IS A BUFFET—HERE’S HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF IT
RULE #1: SKIP LIBERALLY.
I want you to skip anything that doesn’t grab you. This book should be fun to read, and it’s a buffet to choose from. Don’t suffer through anything. If you hate shrimp, don’t eat the goddamn shrimp. Treat it as a choose-your-own-adventure guide, as that’s how I’ve written it. My goal is for each reader to like 50%, love 25%, and never forget 10%. Here’s why: For the millions who’ve heard the podcast, and the dozens who proofread this book, the 50/25/10 highlights are completely different for every person. It’s blown my mind.
I’ve even had multiple guests in this book—people who are the best at what they do—proofread the same profile, answering my question of “Which 10% would you absolutely keep, and which 10% would you absolutely cut?” Oftentimes, the 10% “must keep” of one person was the exact “must cut” of someone else! This is not one-size-fits-all. I expect you to discard plenty. Read what you enjoy.
RULE #2: SKIP, BUT DO SO INTELLIGENTLY.
All that said, take a brief mental note of anything you skip. Perhaps put a little dot in the corner of the page or highlight the headline.
Could it be that skipping and glossing over precisely these topics or questions has created blind spots, bottlenecks, and unresolved issues in your life? That was certainly true for me.
If you decide to flip past something, note it, return to it later at some point, and ask yourself, “Why did I skip this?” Did it offend you? Seem beneath you? Seem too difficult? And did you arrive at that by thinking it through, or is it a reflection of biases inherited from your parents, family, friends, and others? Very often, “our” beliefs are not our own.
This type of practice is how you create yourself, instead of seeking to discover yourself. There is value in the latter, but it’s mostly past-tense: It’s a rearview mirror. Looking out the windshield is how you get where you want to go.
JUST REMEMBER TWO PRINCIPLES
I was recently standing in Place Louis Aragon, a shaded outdoor nook on the River Seine, having a picnic with writing students from the Paris American Academy. One woman pulled me aside and asked what I hoped to convey in this book, at the core. Seconds later, we were pulled back into the fray, as the attendees were taking turns talking about the circuitous paths that brought them there that day. Nearly everyone had a story of wanting to come to Paris for years—in some cases, 30 to 40 years—but assuming it was impossible.
Listening to their stories, I pulled out a scrap of paper and jotted down my answer to her question. In this book, at its core, I want to convey the following:
- Success, however you define it, is achievable if you collect the right field-tested beliefs and habits. Someone else has done your version of “success” before, and often, many have done something similar. “But,” you might ask, “what about a first, like colonizing Mars?” There are still recipes. Look at empire building of other types, look at the biggest decisions in the life of Robert Moses (read The Power Broker), or simply find someone who stepped up to do great things that were deemed impossible at the time (e.g., Walt Disney). There is shared DNA you can borrow.
- The superheroes you have in your mind (idols, icons, titans, billionaires, etc.) are nearly all walking flaws who’ve maximized 1 or 2 strengths. Humans are imperfect creatures. You don’t “succeed” because you have no weaknesses; you succeed because you find your unique strengths and focus on developing habits around them. To make this crystal-clear, I’ve deliberately included two sections in this book (pages 197 and 616) that will make you think: “Wow, Tim Ferriss is a mess. How the hell does he ever get anything done?” Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. The heroes in this book are no different. Everyone struggles. Take solace in that.
A FEW IMPORTANT NOTES ON FORMAT
STRUCTURE
This book is comprised of three sections: Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise. Of course, there is tremendous overlap across the sections, as the pieces are interdependent. In fact, you could think of the three as a tripod upon which life is balanced. One needs all three to have any sustainable success or happiness. “Wealthy,” in the context of this book, also means much more than money. It extends to abundance in time, relationships, and more.
My original intention with The 4-Hour Workweek (4HWW), The 4-Hour Body (4HB), and The 4-Hour Chef (4HC) was to create a trilogy themed after Ben Franklin’s famous quote: “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
People constantly ask me, “What would you put in The 4-Hour Workweek if you were to write it again? How would you update it?” Ditto for 4HB and 4HC. Tools of Titans contains most of the answers for all three.
PATTERNS
Where guests have related recommendations or philosophies, I’ve noted them in parentheses. For instance, if Jane Doe tells a story about the value of testing higher prices, I might add “(see Chase Jarvis, page 170),” since he explains in depth how and why he chose to “go premium” with his pricing as a photographer from day one.
HUMOR!
I’ve included ample doses of the ridiculous. First of all, if we’re serious all the time, we’ll wear out before we get the truly serious stuff done. Second, if this book were all stern looks and no winks, all productivity and no grab-assing, you’d remember very little. I agree with Tony Robbins (page 210) that information without emotion isn’t retained.
NON-PROFILE CONTENT AND TIM FERRISS CHAPTERS
In all sections, there are multiple non-profile pieces by guests and yours truly. These are typically intended to expand upon key principles and tools mentioned by multiple people.
YOUR SEND-OFF — THE 3 TOOLS THAT ALLOW ALL THE REST
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is recommended by many guests in this book. There is one takeaway that Naval Ravikant (page 546) has reinforced with me several times on our long walks. The protagonist, Siddhartha, a monk who looks like a beggar, has come to the city and falls in love with a famous courtesan named Kamala. He attempts to court her, and she asks, “What do you have?” A well-known merchant similarly asks, “What can you give that you have learned?” His answer is the same in both cases, so I’ve included the latter story here. Siddhartha ultimately acquires all that he wants. Bolding is mine:
Merchant: “. . . If you are without possessions, how can you give?”
Siddhartha: “Everyone gives what he has. The soldier gives strength, the merchant goods, the teacher instruction, the farmer rice, the fisherman fish.”
Merchant: “Very well, and what can you give? What have you learned that you can give?”
Siddhartha: “I can think, I can wait, I can fast.”
Merchant: “Is that all?”
Siddhartha: “I think that is all.”
Merchant: “And of what use are they? For example, fasting, what good is that?”
Siddhartha: “It is of great value, sir. If a man has nothing to eat, fasting is the most intelligent thing he can do. If, for instance, Siddhartha had not learned to fast, he would have had to seek some kind of work today, either with you, or elsewhere, for hunger would have driven him. But, as it is, Siddhartha can wait calmly. He is not impatient, he is not in need, he can ward off hunger for a long time and laugh at it. ”
I think of Siddhartha’s answers often and in the following terms:
“I can think” → Having good rules for decision-making, and having good questions you can ask yourself and others.
“I can wait” → Being able to plan long-term, play the long game, and not misallocate your resources.
“I can fast” → Being able to withstand difficulties and disaster. Training yourself to be uncommonly resilient and have a high pain tolerance.
This book will help you to develop all three.
I created Tools of Titans because it’s the book that I’ve wanted my entire life. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Pura vida,
Tim Ferriss
Paris, France
###
Tools of Titans is available at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon, iBooks, Indiebound, Indigo, and more.
The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for "Best of Apple Podcasts" three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it's been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.
Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That’s how we’re gonna be — cool. Critical is fine, but if you’re rude, we’ll delete your stuff. Please do not put your URL in the comment text and please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name, as the latter comes off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Brian Oberkirch for the inspiration.)
Very excited for this, Tim. Christmas will be a little earlier this December!
Please tell me you will have each chapter narrated by the person the chapter is about, or a variable such as a friend or a business competitor of theirs, for the audiobook???
Is this just the top hits from the podcast in book format?
“Even if you’ve heard every podcast episode, there is a ton of new content in this book. New recommendations and details from past guests, new “guests” you haven’t heard, new content from me, and much more.”
“Hain’t we got all the fools in town on our side? And hain’t that a big enough majority in any town?”
― Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
As soon as I saw this post, I went to Amazon and pre-ordered it. I’ve come back just now to read the article. Can’t wait to get this one as soon as it ships!
All three of your previous books have individually led me to either create or participate in a successful venture. Looking forward to the fourth. Thank you in advance!
Just Preordered! Great post.
Truth is I neither have the time or patience for long books or podcasts. But because your podcasts have opened up a new world and changed my life for good I gotta buy this book. Keep up the good work Mr. Ferriss.
PS: I have read the notes of your ‘4 hour work week’ & ‘4 hour body’ on Mr. Derek Sivers blog. But this one I am gonna BUY!
Love.
Looking forward to reading it, Tim!
Tim, thank you for the sample! I can’t wait for this to release! Pre-ordering tonight!
Like a kid at Christmas. Can’t wait to read AND use this book. Thanks for writing it! A true fan here who quit his day job and built his dream job based on your writing.
Congratulations, Lance! And thanks in advance for putting the book into action. There is plenty to test.
Tim, this book looks fantastic
I’m not sure there’s anyone else who could have pulled this off. I can’t think of anyone who’s put in as much time to finding shortcuts as you
What is the section of the book you need to reread most and why does it resonate most with you in particular?
Thanks very much for your help over the years. I’m currently 4 houring my life and not sure how I could even contemplate it without your books
Cheers
Tom
Thanks, Tom. I most reread the “Wise” section, as it helps me to recalibrate, slow down, and appreciate more. Achievement isn’t much if you’re constantly dissatisfied or rushed, and that section helps me like a regular medicine. It’s a good philosophical reset for me.
So excited! Sounds amazing Tim!
Hey Tim,
Can’t wait for my copies, but in the words of M-A “This too shall pass” and mid Dec will be upon us. I have just booked an apartment on the beach at Surfers Paradise for a week between Christmas and New Year and plan to spend that time reading (and surfing) ToT!! All the best
Michael Cornelius
[TIM: Thanks, Michael! I removed your email and phone to avoid you getting spammed by bots. Enjoy the surf!]
On 26 October 2016 at 10:42, The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss wrote:
> Tim Ferriss posted: ” This blog post will share the first chapter in my > new book, Tools of Titans. It’s been nearly five years since my last book. > But before we get to that, a short story… Three weeks before my book > deadline, I was burning the midnight oil on rural Long ” >
Just booked an apartment in Surfers Paradise for a week over Christmas/New Year and plan to spend it reading ToT (maybe the odd surf as well)! Very well done Mr Ferriss.
Must be at least 650 pages or so. This thing will be a damn behemoth. So excited to start reading it!
Here you go (Amazon)
Hardcover: 704 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (December 6, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1328683788
ISBN-13: 978-1328683786
Nice. Buying now. And the offer still stands to come on my podcast. My audience loves you.
Ben Greenfield and Tim Ferris together on a Podcast? That will be Legendary. You two would make an exciting and informative Podcast.
WOW! another success recipe book of being Healthy, Wealthy and Wise.As Tim has aptly remarked that this new book is the sum of his previous books.
I will be happy to give away 5 TOT to the Tim Ferris blog readers. I will request Tim to hold any kind of competition (just for fun) and the five winners will get new book free.
Yes please. 😊
me too
You have given so much in your podcast Tim and it’s free. I look forward to giving you some cash for something that will I know prove invaluable. Seems like a beautiful deal.
With much gratitude.
Josh Wakely.
🙂
Been a fan since day one! Placed my order for the Kindle version of “TOOLS OF TITANS” on October 1st! Can’t wait!
Leon McKee
Way to get me excited. It’s not available yet asshole! Hook me up with an advance copy?
Congratulations Tim. I’m very excited to read your new book. I pre-ordered the day it was available for pre-order. Thanks for sharing a preview.
Thank you Tim for another gift! Your work is invaluable.
Thanks, Gabriel (and all) for the kind words! I can’t wait for you all to crack this one 🙂
Tim
Mr. Ferris,
Your new book is fantastic and a worthy culmination of your previous books. Great work and thank you for sharing your experience.
I recently underwent brain surgery for a tumour removal. my mindset in the lead up to the diagnosis to the surgery and then recovery has been greatly aided by the learnings from the fourhourworkweek podcasts. Once I came across it my life has step changed because my mind has changed.
I cannot wait to get this book! Thanks for adding so much value Tim.
Brilliant way to sum up all that you’ve accomplished and learned over your lifetime. thank you for taking such good note for yourself and sharing with us all.
Just pre-ordered it! Truly transformative work my friend, keep it up.
Hey Tim,
This looks awesome and I love the format. You are quite the provocateur. Thanks for the thoughts; thanks for the hustle. Any plans for an audio version?
-Brent
Stoked to read this book. Long time fan, big time practitioner.
When writing this and your other books, what is the biggest sacrifice you had to make to reach the finish line? Was there anything you wouldn’t sacrifice?
@Tim Ferris | When will this be available in India?
Wow, so excited after reading this. Been a fan, and a beneficiary, since stumbling across 4HWW all those years ago and can’t wait to get into ToT. I have loved all your work, you make it fun as well as useful which I think helps explain your stickability.
Question, as a Brit I’m interested to know whether the version to be sold in UK is written in American or British English. Do you know?
I am thinking, I am waiting, and while yes, I am fasting, I have also come to realise in the last few months that an otherwordly sort of resilience and ability to endure pain does not a successful faster make. My definition of what you call ‘fasting’ was almost word for word the same as yours for years, yet I was forced to redefine it in recent months.
Our preservation instinct will keep us hanging in there long past all logical reason and one has only to look at the average crack addict or heroin junkie to know the stength inherent in the human condition. Your definition of fasting Is easily interpreted as an ability to endure.
But to endure and consciously prosper at the same time, rather than waiting for life to cease dishing out cheap shots before making the move, that is a different story.
And in my experience it requires an increase in personal culpability on top of what you have outlined to become a successful faster. One has to be able to man up and not just suffer or withstand the vicissitudes of life, but own them too and that, my friends, takes what Umberto Robina most eloquently describes in Vice City as ‘Big Cojones’.
You mention the book will have illustrations – will the Kindle version of the book be able to display everything ok? Cheers
Yessir! Should be fine.
The captivity of this blog post speaks volumes for the book.
Thanks, Tim!
Been putting off preordering, but this post pushed me over the edge. Looking forward to reading and rereading it.
Before even reading the first chapter, I pre-ordered the book. As someone who reads very little, it’s surprising for me to buy any book, but after reading all three of this books predecessors I felt I couldn’t miss out on the structured, entertaining and valuable information contained within your writing Tim! 4HWW changed everything for me and led to me quitting my job and building a successful online business.
Your books have a way of inspiring clarity in the readers mind, hopefulness in their hearts, and a burning passion in their drive.
Thanks Tim! Looking forward to this one.
Hi Tim, Love the podcast and keen to read the book – do you know when & where it will be up for pre-order in Australia (ebook preferred)? Cheers, Paul
Pre ordered through Kobo in Australia – looking forward to 6 December!
Amazing Tim, I ordered it the first day it came out and I’m extremely excited to go above and beyond of where I’m at today’s. Specifically, a 24 year old six figure earner at a software organization to making as much or more but with time and freedom! Enjoy your pain au chocolat
Finally! Was thinking about it the other day. Pondering when the next book will come out. You have had such an amazing impact on me and others with your books. And in carrying on with today’s theme: Thank you, Tim, for torturing yourself, yet again, long enough to give us another amazing book.
#Excited!
Pre-Ordered this the second I saw it on Amazon. If its 1/2 as good as it sounds I can see me buy this for a lot of people!
You are insanely amazing Tim. Such good content ! Seems like you have already taken the red pill and came back to free millions from the Matrix :). Thanks for genuinely impacting lives in a positive way.
Just ordered this one.
I pre-ordered this book on Amazon a long time ago. The most frustrating part for me is waiting until December when you see Tim post pics holding the damn book. If you show the energy and enthusiasm to buy the book during the pre-order phase you should get the book 2 weeks before the general public…
Looking forward to Christmas… Which this year shall be December 6th!
Yesss my kitchen table has been wobbly for months, this should do the trick!
jk jk Love the books/podcast Already have it on preorder
Nav and Peter as Bertram and Dinesh from Silicon valley?? anyone?
Hi Tim. Big fan of your podcast and just started reading 4 hour workweek. Starting to notice that I am headed down the road of being the fat bald man in a red bmw and am ready to make a change. However, am stuck at wondering what to do if I am not sure what my real goal is or what excites me…but I definitely don’t want to avoid finding it by keeping to my current status quo path. I know there is soemthing better out there. Thoughts or advice on how to find it? Thanks!
Tim, I have gotten so much out of your podcasts and books over the years. Life changing. I just placed order for several copies of your new book. Can’t wait.
Your one-of-a-kind. Don’t ever stop.
Super excited to get this book… been looking forward to it since you teased it on the podcast a few weeks ago. December 6th, please come soon!
Audible?
Seriously. That would be great.
Ordered!
Hey Tim,
I just wanted to say that after reading this first chapter, it’s clear that over the last 5 years you’ve taken your writing craft to the next level. Clear, relatable, actionable. I’m excited to read more. I wouldn’t be surprised if this book goes on to define your work even more than 4HWW. Thanks again for sharing.
Cheers,
-Daniel
Oh I can’t believe it! A new book! You’ve made Christmas come early this year Mr. Ferriss. Thank you for doing what you do Tim, from the heart.
Lincoln
Hi Tim, Your work inspires me. I just pre-ordered your book from Amazon, even though the shipping costs to Nigeria is more than the list price. I’m sure the value from reading it will more than make up for the cost.
I have a big problem Tim! I would like to only buy your book once – but I normally read on my kindle (because of the ability to take notes) but this is a book that I really wanna have on display on the shelf.. it looks awesome probably amazing content.
How can I get your book im a hard book and also in my kindle ;-))))
Ordered already, you are doing great job Tim. More God’s work than certaing GS people 🙂 Keep it up
Pre-ordered. I’ve been a big fan since 4HWW. If you DO do a an audiobook, please narrate it yourself Tim – you have a great voice for it
Have you read The Glass Bead Game by Hesse? Great book (like Siddartha) in which a major theme is around “synthesizing” the concepts from art/literature/math/science into a game. I believe it’s his greatest work & the game is similar to how I view your job (synthesizing into daily life the routines/techniques/ideas of world class performers). Can’t wait to read Tools of Titans 🙂
Why is the kindle version more expensive than the paperback?
BAM! Ordered. Can’t wait for the full tome
Have pre-ordered. It will be available on Amazon India from 7 Dec. I am a silent consumer of your wisdom. Have immensely benefited from all those advises coming from or through you and putting many of those in practice while I am working on my first book. I now feel there are many inside me. Thanks for all your effort.
I thought Voltaire said, “Judge a man not by his answers, but his questions.”? *scratches head
preordered!
Ok, sir, just ordered copies of Tools of Titans to give as holiday gifts. And a digital copy for me! Thank you for the great insights in the podcast, blog, and books. You consistently show me new ways to be a better man, husband, father, and entrepreneur. Much appreciated!
Tim, excited for the book though I really wish you would do the audio, so many of us just don’t have time to put our nose in a book for several ours. I’ve listened to 20 audio books so far this year, but have only read 1. Reason is I can listen (and not read) while in the shower, driving to a meeting, walking to work, cutting the grass, working out at the gym, walking the dogs, feeding the baby, etc… Perhaps this an others may convince you!
Excellent – looking forward to the new book!
In the interim, I thought I’d pass on some productivity & mindfulness tools that Tim has already recommended in the past and I think anyone would benefit from:
– Download a guided meditation app s.a. Headspace and commit to 10-20 minutes of meditation per day, preferably in the morning.
– Get ‘The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living’ and read/listen to 1 chapter (~1 to 2 minutes long) each day, preferably right after your guided meditation session.
– For tasks of any sort, try the Pomodoro Technique.
Purchased!
Screenshot: http://www.clipular.com/c/5612757269610496.png?k=KA9I8-dfF7acNS1dF4IfZH2l384
Tim, In Nov 2007 I read 4HWW upon being laid off from a job. Direct Result: 2 months later started my first two online businesses simultaneously. Sold them both a few years later very profitably.
I always give you credit for inspiring the journey and refer to you often on my podcast, though I also joke that it should have been retitled “The 4 Hour Sleep Week”
So first, Thank You.
Second, let me know the best way to help you get the book in more hands for the official launch.
I wanted to thank you for being an experimenter, but more importantly an experimenter that records all the information. We are all benefiting from your life experiments and I am grateful for you being here. We bought the 4HB. My wife immediately started reading the chapter on sex and stated “everyone should be required to read this”. I have a feeling the Tools of the Titans is going to be the same way…pull from different chapters at different times…when the student is ready, the teacher shall appear. Thank you again.
Hi Tim,
I will definitely be buying your newest book on Amazon! Will there be a book tour with signings?
In reality how approachable are you? I crossed paths with you last winter in the SLC airport, and you looked like you were having a heavy conversation on your cell. I still kick myself for not shaking your hand or getting a selfie, but I didn’t want to be one of “those” people. You have to have some groupies.
I still have dozens of your podcasts to listen to, so this book maybe a better alternative. And I want you to get paid…
Thanks for all the great content,
John
Done… Awesome post. I give one or more of your books away every Christmas as they have changed my life multiple times. Hope the Audible version is swiftly after 😉
Just pre-ordered my copy of TOOLS OF TITANS. Cannot wait to get my hands on it! Thank you, Tim for all that you do. You’ve helped propel my dreams into the here and now – and I’m now teaching others how to do it too. Cheers! Molly
GROSSARTIG! 🙂 Die dunkle Jahreszeit kann kommen Endlich ein neuer Backstein auf dem
Lesetisch.
Ok tested your German enough 😉 If you would ever like to do a german drunk dial or an interview in germanglish: I am at your service, Sir!
The book looks terrific, Tim, but you need a better editor! As a professional writer and editor, at once glance I see a half-dozen easy fixes in what you’ve posted here. I’m a big fan of the podcast and interviews you’ve done, and I’ll probably buy the book. But what you put into the world deserves to be polished prose. Just one example:
“Within weeks of starting, the experience exceeded all expectations.”
Just before that sentence you mentioned that you only set aside one month for the project, so “within weeks of starting” isn’t saying anything noteworthy.
A better editor would’ve helped you remove a handful of clichés and smooth out awkward constructions like the one quoted above.
I love your books and I am excited for this one.
I follow your diet for more than half a year now, lost 7 Kg and I never had a diet have so much impact and such immediate results as yours.
I guess I´m stuck in analysis paralysis right now since there is so much input from your books and other areas of my life that it is hard to focus on one thing at once, I don´t know how you are able to handle and process this much information at once. Anyhow, I will definitely buy your book and I am curious as to how you´ll manage to improve my life again!
*BTW the tab icon on the sells page shows the wordpress logo, in case you want to fix that*
I love your books and I am excited for this one.
I follow your diet for more than half a year now, lost 7 Kg and I never had a diet have so much impact and such immediate results as yours.
I guess I´m stuck in analysis paralysis right now since there is so much input from your books and other areas of my life that it is hard to focus on one thing at once, I don´t know how you are able to handle and process this much information at once. Anyhow, I will definitely buy your book and I am curious as to how you´ll manage to improve my life again!
*BTW the tab icon on the sells page shows the wordpress logo, in case you want to fix that*
Pre-ordered! Looking fwd to gold!
Thank you very much Tim, I really enjoy your podcasts.
I realize this “pre-order” nonsense has become typical but I don’t do it. Both the blog post and the web page for the book say it is “available”. It is not. It will be available on December 6th. I’ll buy it then and may even gift it as I have with your others, but I don’t appreciate being mislead. Be honest with me and let me decide what to do with the truth.
Hi Tim, congrats on the new book! Will you be doing a tour to promote it? I live in San Fran. Thanks for letting readers know if we can catch you live, Rachel
Thank you. 4HWW changed my life, seriously. I’m ready for the next phase now… Tim, thank you for your generosity, commitment, and care for the people you share this planet with. What have I done for anyone today????
I read a lot of books – have to say this is one that’s got me super excited! Look forward to getting this one in my hands.
Ordered! Looking forward to reading this over the summer break here in NZ!
Very excited to receive this new book Tim, I truly believe it will be life changing as your others have been.
Cheers!
Brewster Kump
Jupiter FL
Tim, i dont think there has been an individual who has been as influential on my life as you have been. Your books, blog and podcasts have had a profound impact on my daily practices and successes. Cannot wait to get my hands on this book and study it. Pre-ordered!
Hi Tim,
I’m a big fan too and would love to read the ebook.
It’s annoying to pay and be tied to this or that eco system.
Any chance to buy a non drm version?
Hi Tim,
Congrats on the book, can’t wait to read.
Will you be doing a book tour where we can come hear you talk about the book, do signings? I’m here in San Fran. I’m sure others would like to know.
Thanks!
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
Yep, I’ll be doing some fun stuff in SF, no doubt 🙂 Hope to see you then!
Tim
Super! Have fun with the launch!
(from a fellow author) 🙂
Hi Tim,
I too can’t wait to read and share this book with my friends and family. How would you feel about getting your book translated into Mongolian? It’s not a huge audience, it’s a country with a population of 3 million people and the non-English speaking-book-reading population is even less. Regardless, I’d still love the opportunity to be the one to share these awesome ideas, messages, tools etc. with our people. I’d love to hear from you on this.
Thanks so much,
Muki
As one of the 11% of chicks listening: big gratitude not just for the content of what you offer, but the many lessons embedded in the essence. This sample chapter is not only enjoyable to read and informative; it’s also a mini writing manual and book proposal blueprint at the same time. This is so valuable to me in the final stages of my current proposal (book 2, but much harder than the first). Thank you for your generosity of spirit, your inspiration, and your frequent (and helpful) reminders to hew close to our own work without worrying about what anyone else thinks and even, with a little tendency to court disfavor. There’s a life primer in there, at least for me.
Gratitude,
Bo
I am at a loss for words, except that I am SUPER EXCITED for this book! Thank you for this gift Tim!
Hi, Tim, do you know when “Tools of titans” will be translated into french ??
*Cries* when I see how much it costs to get to South Africa. Why no audiobook Tim Tim? WHY?!
Bought it anyway because You’re a BAMF Tim Ferriss! Estimated Delivery Date: “Dec. 20, 2016 – Dec. 26, 2016”
You can always get the e-book like I did, that removes the shipping cost 🙂
I pre-booked the book the second I saw your post on Facebook about it. I have definitely not heard all the podcast or read every blog post but I know you ALWAYS deliver and the other books have been phenomenal so I knew this would be just as good right away + all the free and awesome value you give, I felt it was the little I could do to pay you back, even if this book would suck! But…it won’t. Keep being awesome Tim!
I look forward to reading this Tim, thanks ! I read the full email as soon as I got it, I’m a big fan of your podcasts!
Gracias !!!
Amazing, got a hardcover version and a kindle version
Pre-ordered, sounds amazing!
Hi Tim,
No hard cover version available for pre-order on Amazon UK?
Kindle version sounds like the way to go then! Odd however that the digital version is more expensive than the paperback version… but will gladly pay for the convenience of digital highlights and notes.
Really looking forward to this book!
OMG! I’m going to be 62 years old and I hope someone gives me you book for Christmas or my birthday. Hell I’m not to sure I can wait that long. Love you😘
I’m a newcomer to your podcast and I have lapped up every last one. I am so excited for your new book! It’s impressive that you didn’t even think you were going to publish this, but then it was so good you had to share it with everyone. I think that’s great! Keep up the good work!
Hi Tim,
Went to amazon.o.uk to buy Tools of Titans – and it was not available.
I can’t buy from amazon.com because I am in Europe, so disappointed.
BTW – lost 35lb on slow carb diet – thanks a million.
Ian
I love Everything you put out, especially listening to your podcasts while working out. Your messages let’s hit home, in the catergoiries of business, family, health, etc.
Question: do you recommend anyone (especially someone that puts out podcasts), that my kids can listen to. I have a very impressionable daughter (age 11), and i know she would benefit from these types of life lessons, if aimed more at children.
Appreciate all you do.
Keith Burgess
Read this announcement last night and couldn’t be more excited. Wow!! all The Wisdom in one place? Is it my Birthday? Thank you, Tim! Huge fan.
Pre-ordered! Can’t wait! Thanks Tim
The recent email post says that “Tool” IS available at Barnes and Noble. At the store, they say the book will not be available until Dec 6, FYI.
SO excited. Mahalo from Hawaii! 😉