Tim defines work as “stuff that you don’t want to do, (but you do it anyway to make money)”
According to you (and I agree), most people define work as “[akin to] slavery, toiling and punishment. Work is seen as something you have to do to pay your dues”

So, what you’re saying here is: Most people agree with Tim’s definition of work.

Then you state that Tim’s definition is too narrow.
But most people agree with Tim.
Words are typically defined by what most people think. (“duck” only means “duck” because people believe that that’s what it means)
Thus, it’s not that Tim’s definition is too narrow, but rather that your definition is too broad!

Where you say “work”, most of us would say “activity”

So when Tim says we’ve got to do less work, you interpret this to mean that we should do less activity, i.e. have boring lives. This leads you to write: “Sure, you’d have a lot of free time, but is that really what you’re looking for? Just free time?”

Of course not! Ferris devotes a whole chapter to the pursuit of meaningful activities once work (what you would call “chores”) has been minimized. That chapter is called “Filling the Void”. Here’s a quote: “Isn’t more time what we’re after? Isn’t that what this book is all about? No, not at all. [...] For some, the answer will be working with orphans, and for others, it will be composing music. I have a personal answer to both – to love, be loved, and never stop learning.”

It seems to me that you and Tim agree on almost everything! The only thing you disagree on is the definition of “work”. And for that you call him a liar.

It just doesn’t make sense.

It seems that to make his point he has to redifine everything. I guess he thinks it depends on what the meaning of “is” is.

I’m reading the book now and have loved it so far. I don’t think we need to take the idea of a 4 hour workweek as literal, a 14 hour workweek might be more realistic, or even a 24 hour workweek. Some people who have built wealth in their lifetimes have 1hr work weeks.

What I found as I started reading the book is that Ferris is like most of us, he looks to get more done and wants to enjoy life as well, in an over extreme way. I personally don’t care about sports that much or all that other stuff he talks about in his bio. HOWEVER, I would like to take more time to enjoy myself and vacation in places like Fiji or California, spend more time with friends and family and do other things I’ve always wanted to do etc etc.

This doesn’t mean that we have to view work as something to eliminate. I think I’d want to do what I was doing even if I was FI. I actually have plans for a mini retirement(image that at 19:D), coding open source projects and contributing my skills for nothing in return(both as servitude and because I love doing it). I could do this at home, at an office or laying on the beach with a cigar and a laptop.

I AGREE with you that work is sacred, but there are different definitions of work as well: no one says it has to be 4hrs and no one says it has to be 40hrs a week. Some work takes longer than other work. Some people’s work is building their wealth, other people’s “work” is ruthless discipline for a shot at the Olympics. I might agree with you more than I agree with Tim’s view on work. I like his no bs view: “don’t focus on the minutia” but most people would be bored out of their skulls with Tim’s life, basically because most people haven’t got a clue what to do when they don’t have work. And that can be OK, but not when there’s other things in life out there that should be enjoyed.

Overall if you take bits and peaces out of this book and apply it to your own work/career life you can benefit. You don’t need to live his life but I believe something valuable can be taken from this book. Somehow it’s almost like E-myth. The only thing I get confused on is this concept of working only 4hrs a week, up front he presents it as a novel idea, once you’re in the book you realize this is nothing new, people have been finding ways to leverage their time and resources for years and years. And the fact that he used the Internet doesn’t make it any newer an idea, it’s just another way to make money. Just as realistic as, 100 years ago, creating a car company and selling model T’s or starting a bank.

It all depends on where you want to go, what you’re working for, and what else life has to offer you/what else you want to experience.

Enjoyed reading your article:)

Cheers, and Happy New Year!
Clinton Skakun

Work is no more sacred than it is a chore; it’s opinion akin to “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

I can respect your opinion; it’s what YOU think of the 4HWW. Try to be a little more mindful, however, that what may not work for you won’t work for someone else.

Your opinion does not prove something to be a lie.

However, none of the ideas are new and some of his assertions are plain wrong, for example, to suggest that the 80/20 principle has been forgotten is just plain silly.

In spite of all of this and without the desire to leave my current job (or work only 4 hours a week) I am in the process of trying to implement the techniques described.

I can tell you that it isn’t easy, in large part because old habits are hard to break.My idea is simply to gain a little extra income every month and not to become a millionaire so I’m not aiming for a mega-business but it’s still tough going..

The real challenge isn’t breaking old habits though. Instead it is developing the business idea into a viable business. Mr Ferriss advocates an informational business rather than products but that basically means writing a book – not a simple task.

I’m still battling through it though because I reckon that I can achieve a small passive income by implementing the ideas. So, it won’t be a 4 hour work week for me but perhaps I’ll be able to take the family away from the city a few more times a year.