5 comments about Kaplan GMAT Premier Program, 2009 (Book & CD-ROM).

1. This is my first GMAT study guide, and the first standardized test study guide I've used in over a decade. The Verbal section was pretty good. It had a few frustrating errors but none that kept me from learning the material. The Math section, however, is awful. As others have mentioned elsewhere, why would the Kaplan folks ask you to check your answers using a calculator when it clearly says elsewhere in the book that you CANNOT use any kind of electronic device (including calculators) during the actual GMAT test?
   
   Math errors in the answer sections, test sections and even explanations abound. As I'm weaker in Math, such incompetence doesn't help me at all, and it's especially galling when you consider how much you pay for this book. The explanations also tend to be far more complicated than they should be, throwing in terms that are introduced LATER in the book. My husband provided me with far simpler and more understandable explanations to some of the terms and concepts.
   
   All in all, I wouldn't recommend this book. I'm going to slog through the rest of this and then pick up the Princeton Review as well as the book the GMAT folks themselves publish. I MIGHT try the Kaplan 800 series, but if their quality is anything like that of this one, I just might pass.



2. I used the Kaplan guide and the official GMAT study guide to prepare for the GMAT. I first went throught the Kaplan guide cover to cover. I found the math review to be very helpful, and some of the test taking tips were useful. However, once I began reviewing the official GMAT study guide it became apparent that the practice questions in the Kaplan quide weren't quite accurate reflections of what the actual questions would look like. Practicing questions is the key to success in taking the GMAT. I've read some reviews in which people say you should only study the harder questions in the official review guide if you are finding the questions too easy, but I disagree. The key to doing well is to understand how the question writers try to trip you up, and you can only get to this point by practicing as many questions as possible. I went through every question in the GMAT study guide and by the end I could really begin to anticipate what the question writers were looking for. I ended up getting a 740. To summarize: the math review and some of the tips in the Kaplan guide are somewhat helpful, but I wouldn't waste much time on their practice questions. The practice questions in the official guide are indespensable - complete every one and review your incorrect answers and you will do well.



3. First, I don't understand all the complaints about errors and typos. I did every problem in this book and understood the solutions when I read the answer explanations of problems I got wrong. I did not encounter errors. (I ultimately scored a 730.) I can't help but wonder if some of the "errors" people found were answers they just didn't understand. (A reviewer of the Official Guide here on Amazon proved that point by bringing up a specific example s/he quoted as the book's mistake, but other users explained why s/he was wrong.)
   
   Now, the problems are not all great, and that is why you need the official guide for most of your additional un-timed practice, but Kaplan was worth it for the computer practice: 4 full length timed practice tests and extra timed problem sections. With just the two free from gmac, I would not have learned to adjust my timing enough. ***Note** DO NOT uninstall or reinstall your Kaplan computer software, or try to install it on another computer, or "reset" your tests. It screws up ALL of the 4 practice tests and you will see repeat questions.****
   
   The Kaplan approach to writing the essays was useful. Most of their "techniques" I think are pretty obvious, but are still helpful reminders to read, such as the "picking numbers" or "working backwards" approaches to certain quant. problems.



4. I've heard that kaplan under calculates your CAT scores by 100 but when I actually did it, I found the practice tests pretty ridiculous. Its not because the questions are harder, but the fact that the scoring algorithm intentionally underestimates your score significantly.
   Ex: the official practice test gave me a 660, where as kaplan gave me a 560.
   
   Also the CAT math sections are full of errors. The verbal sections have a real problem it comes to double spacing. Its really annoying when you have spend time to distinguish between when the passage ends and when the actual question begins. I also found a reading passage where the final paragraph was full of wingdings and incomplete sentences. Some Critical reasoning questions are really unsolvable. I remember one question that assumed a higher draft pick always resulted in a better team winning record.
   
   Another problem I have with the test is the horrible explanations. Really really dissapointing, especially on sentence correction.
   
   Comparing Kaplan to Manhattan GMAT, which has really tough questions but also very detailed explanations, Kaplan seems to have been written by some of the most careless people ever. It really takes a lot of guts for a company to publish something that was this full of errors.



5. I purchased this book at the book store about a month ago. I made my decision after paging through many of the GMAT options and deciding this appeared the most comprehensive. My perception at the time that Kaplan was a high quality company also factored into my choosing it. After all, when I was in high school, Kaplan had the best reputation of all the test preparation companies. I was shocked by how bad this book is once I began working through it. The book is littered with typos, conceptual errors (no joke!), and conflicting statements. This book has caused me confusion, wasted time, and considerable frustration (both with the book and Kaplan itself). I have used a lot of different test prep books in the past and this was by far the worst.
   
   Another bad part is that when I asked for my money back they refused to give it because I don't have the receipt. I explained that I didn't keep the receipt because I knew I'd be writing in it and highlighting, etc; and there is no way that I could anticipate that a reputable company would put out a book of such low quality. This did not help. They explained that even if I still had the receipt there would have been a process for me to try to get any money back, that I would not be able to get all of my money back, and that I would additionally have to pay shipping and handling to send it to them.
   
   DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK - it is the worst test prep book I have ever used, and I've used over 10 for various tests over the years. What Kaplan has done by selling this book and continuing to sell it is borderline theft (considering that people like me have reported the countless errors, inconsistencies, miss-statements, etc). Kaplan continues to market and sell what it knows is a terrible and flawed product to unknowing and unassuming students. The only people who could have possibly given this book a 4 or 5 star review are either working for Kaplan or did not read the book carefully (especially the math section - which is almost half the book).

5 comments about It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff.

1. 
   I managed to quit smoking about 20 years ago, when I was smoking over 2 packs a day.It was something I had tried to do many times but without success. I tried every trick in the book,but before long I was back smoking as much as ever.Why couldn't I quit? No reason at all,I certainly enjoyed it and the enjoyment obviously exceeded my will power.As a matter of fact,I have not even become an anti-smoker and still enjoy the aroma of smokers;but have decided to let them do it.
   However getting rid of stuff,junk,clutter,or whatever you choose to call it has been a whole different matter--at least for me.
   The reason clutter collects is different for different people.However; the reason always boils down to one thing,at least for most people.Some people border on being compulsive or have a mental issue;but that is the exception.If you really want to see how bad that can be I suggest you read "Cadillac Jack" by Larry McMurtry;where you will find a guy who completely filled his house with bird nests.However; there are those who just don't want to throw anything away,keep it because it might come in handy,it's still good,someone might want it,etc.
   In my case ,I feel it is different.Don't we all.I have always been engrossed in hobbies and interests and along with these interests have come the "stuff".And why do I have it? Sure,I've spent money and time on it over the years;but I like it, and it has been a lot of fun collecting it.To each his own,I suppose.If you have time and money,you might as well enjoy it. Travel,Drinking,Sports,Gardening,Photography,Music,Reading,Shopping,Dining, or whatever you choose to do is fine;but in many cases, a natural result is the accumulation of stuff.
   It would be nice to be able to collect anything you wanted and have someplace to put it. Some wealthy people have had the luxury to do this ,but in the end they have to pass on and leave it all behind.And that has given the world its collections and museums.
   So,what about this book and the stuff it talks about getting rid of?
   Well,even if you are like me,with my personal library of over 7,000 books (and still growing),my collection of music,collection of rocks,minerals and fossils,collection of puzzles,collection of YO-YO's, ;You are going to be like me.We need all the help we can get and this book is filled with the help we need.
   By the way,I have been working at this,as much by necessity as desire.I have a few books similar to this one. See my reviews for "Clutter's Last Stand" by Don Aslett on December 29,2005 and "Clutter Control" by by the Editors of FC&A Publishing on February 15,2008;they are both excellent.
   So even for collectors,there is a lot of useful help in these books and we need to keep using the ideas ,if for no other reason than to help us keep it under control or to make room for something "new"
   
   I can still remember the wise words of my dear old Grandmother who once said;
   
   "Remember,everything you get,takes looking after"
   
   I guess it's OK if you enjoy your "stuff",but if you don't;
   
   GET RID OF IT!!!!
   
   This book will definitely help you get started.



2. Part of the book is good advice about how to change how you think about your life, your home and its spaces, and the functions and activities and possessions for each space, plus how to communicate with family members in this process. And part of the book is a collection of things you should do, e.g. go through each room and pull out unwanted items and either throw them out or donate to charity, store things near their point of use, and so on. I felt the book was a "good enough" treatment of the two categories; however, I personally had hoped for something deeper and more extensive about the psychological/cognitive aspects of overcoming chronic clutter and disorganization. (I am thinking the next book I'd like to read may be "It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys" by Marilyn Paul, Ph.D.)
   
   I would have appreciated a teeny bit more emphasis on trying to keep things out of landfills. Examples: You can donate to charity, give away on your local FreeCycle website, post a "free" notice on a nearby grocery store bulletin board. My local newspaper has mail-in forms for free classified ads for things people wish to give away free or to sell for less than $75.



3. Love Peter Walsh and listen to him on Oprah's radio station. I am an organizing freak type person. This book has lots of good "to do" type stuff but moreover, gets to the basis of why people collect and get overwhelmed. Has info on how to cut down junk mail/email. If you have "paper" issues, you can just look at that section. I got this as a reference book to keep. My favorite organizing book ever. Not for people who just want to go buy new cute boxes/files. Gets to the root of why people feel they need so much stuff. Tips on how to free yourself while saving important memories in another way.



4. This book is amazing. I haven't even finished doing all the things he's said to do (I'm not even through phase one) and already I've done so much to improve the clutter in my house. Don't pick up this book if you aren't ready to seriously de-clutter your home and your life. I've done parts of my living room and my home office and already brought a big tote to Goodwill and threw out or recycled a ton more stuff.
   One thing I did notice is that he never really mentions recycling things, at least not as much as he should. Also, he keeps harping on magazines being a huge source of clutter but those are my babies and I could never part with some of them.
   This book has made a huge difference and I can't wait until I get all the way through with everything he outlines in the book. I already feel like I can breathe and my ADD has improved dramatically.



5. I wish I could give this audiobook more stars! It is a wonderful read for anyone who has ever felt owned by their stuff. By following Peter's firm but kind guidance, I began a journey of decluttering that was a catalyst for great personal growth. Read this book/audio book. You will be so glad you did.

5 comments about Money, and the Law of Attraction: Learning to Attract Wealth, Health, and Happiness.

1. The Law of Attraction, as Abraham has said, is pretty simple. Applying it to the specific use of finances turns out to not be any different from the information Abraham has provided elsewhere.
   
   If you are already a proficient applier of the LOA in your life, you won't need this book - you'll find it to be more of the same message from Abraham. But if you feel drawn to it because you aren't satisfied with your financial situation, then this will definitely bring you added help in understanding and applying the LOA in your life.



2. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THESE CD'S. I HAVE ALL THE PREVIOUS ONES WITH ESTHER AND JERRY AND ABRAHAM AS WELL AND HAVE BEEN TO THEIR SEMINAR IN ATLANTA. THEY ARE SO UPLIFTING AND WILL TOTALLY CHANGE YOUR LIFE. I HAVE SEEN SUCH AMAZING CHANGES IN MINE. IT IS A WAY OF LIFE TO WORK TOWARDS FOR TOTAL PEACE OF MIND, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. IN THESE STRESSFUL TIMES WE ARE LIVING IN, LISTENING TO ABRAHAM SPEAK WHILE I'M DRIVING IN THE MORNINGS HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. I ALSO HAVE STARTED MEDITATING, WHICH I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER DO, AND THAT IS IS WONDERFUL AS WELL. I WOULD RECCOMEND THAT YOU START WITH THEIR FIRST CD'S AND GO FROM THERE. THESE LATEST ONES ARE MORE FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND AND HAVE BEEN STUDYING THEIR TEACHINGS FOR A WHILE.
   FABULOUS STUFF!!



3. Reading , better to say studying, the "Money and the law of attraction" , provides a different perspective of our life.
   What is so self understood by mainsteam that achievements are obtained only by struggle and hard work, appears suddenly as the wronge avenue.
   Our physical mind which stors and navigats all our thoughts is the only precursor for our "vibrational message" which inform our "Non Physical friends" to replicate into our reality.
   The "the conceived truth" is just an interpretation of our senses to the reality.
   Some people are believing in order to see, but the majority are seeing and then they are ready to believe..
   
   The book has confirmed my phylosophy of life about thinking and about fighting and struggling for my goals.



4. This book has been great....so far. I'm reading it slow, just taking in 3 or 4 pages a day. The information is foreign to the way I was brought up and I'm trying to change that. I'm learning that it's called pivoting. I am more aware when getting a negative thought these days and pivot that thought into a positive image in order to attract it to my being. I know it works, but I want it to come as second nature. We are children of the universe and as such, we need to control our minds in order to draw good things and good feelings into our lives.



5. Thank you for this book. This book is much more than "how to make money". It is about the energy you are putting out into the universe and how the universe is responding. Believe me, sometimes I have thought, "This doesn't work!" But I decided to give it a try. So, I meditated for about 15-30 minutes a day for the past week. Right now, I have been unhappy with my present position and want to earn more money. I wrote down all the things I like about my current position and also things that do make me happy at work in general. I also wrote down the salary I would like to make. Long story short: I got a job interview tomorrow...out of the blue!!! I submitted my resume to this agency MONTHS ago. I did not seek them out. All I did was meditate and write my desires down. Every time I had negative thoughts, I would correct myself and say, "You really are headed in the right direction. Don't worry. It is all going to work out." (Downstream thoughts.) Thank you!!!!

5 comments about The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter, & Miracles.

1. The Biology of Belief reinforced my belief that drugs do nothing but cause problems for the body. Bruce Lipton shows exactly what drugs do to the body which for myself was a vindication of what I believed for the last 20 years. It also gives great hope for the power of belief in providing a means to listen to the body and act on what you feel when the body speaks. It was very eye opening to find that beliefs are formed in new life before it comes into the world by the environment which it is exposed to. The Biology of Belief shows a new direction that the medical profession can at last provide guidance to their patients instead of the old paradigm of surgery and drugs. Thank you Bruce Lipton.



2. This is what I have been looking for for a very long time.
   Thanks!!



3. Bruce H. Lipton's book The Biology of Belief was written for the lay person. He took a complicated subject matter, added wit and a unique writing style to make this book an easy read.
   
   A cellular biologist, the author had an epiphany. He changed his belief in genetic predisposition to an understanding that it is our beliefs that control our bodies, minds and life. The books answers some intriguing questions like: Why is it that placebo's have the same effect as medicines? In another book a doctor who worked in African villages stated that his own epiphany was that the main difference between a Western trained medical doctor and the local witch doctor is a medical degree and the way they dress. Like that book, Lipton's explanation is that belief sets the bodies healing process in motion.
   
   The author explains New Biology, Smart Cells, Cellular "Mem-Brains," quantum physic discoveries, subconscious programming, growth versus fear, how parent's beliefs preprogram their children and much more.
   
   I recommend this book people who want to discover the magic of believing and the new developments in cellular biology that dispel previous scientific notions widely believed to be well-founded facts.



4. A bad self help book, not a science book. Amazon.com did the author an injustice by not categorizing this book correctly.



5. This book came promptly, I have heard much of it and can't wait to read it.

5 comments about What Color Is Your Parachute? 2009: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers (What Color Is Your Parachute?).

1. They call it the number one career book of all time, mainly because it released annually. Parachute is really a primer in career exploration. Other books add a ton of value after you get this foundation. Because of that, Bolle's is timeless for job seekers of all kinds. I feel that his book updated each year to meet the current trends in society is critical. He needs to address those issues, like the web, downturn in the economy and the like.
   
   The most critical part of the book is the self evaluation section which has been updated this year and which I am in the middle of, since I am looking into new avenues to use my skills. This is still a very structured process that can be used intutitively as well.
   
   Bolles asks you to write a few stories about yourself, then ask yourself, what did you like and dislike about those stories? What did you do well, where did you fail or feel challenged beyond your abilities? These are the critical areas of the book that take time to get through, yet you can evaluate yourself and understand what you like, it is what you do best, usually. However, additional education may even help you get over those hurdles. He has a section for those over 50, we change as we age. This is really a great tool for retooling your career sites and your direction.
   
   We excel what we are good at, according to Bolles, this method will help us discover what we are best at.
   
   I still recommended this book to my friends and others who are seeking to find out what makes them tick. Whether someone is in college, or someone is going through a long term transition after being in a job for a long time or moms returning to the work place, this book will be very instructive for you.
   
   One of his processes is very simple asking you to compare who you would most like to talk with or groups of people you would rather relate with. This is a standard set of tests for some very expensive career consulting, he gives it to you for the price of his book and the time to self evaluate. Then, he breaks down the possible job areas and skill sets related to these groups.
   
   Again, a worthwhile journey for anyone not wanting to wonder and wander any longer in the world of work.
   
   JOE SLEVIN
   Job Coach



2. I wasn't overly impressed with this book. It did give many of the basic information you would need to job hunt, but I was looking for something a little more than that. The best part of the book is the web sites that are provided.



3. He is unhappy in his job and I felt this book would be useful. I have not read it.



4. This was my first exposure to the Parachute series (never needed it before now). The "Hard Times edition" is right! This book shed light on other ways to keep and advance my career that I had never thought of! A member of the Internet Generation, I have been relying only on networking sites like LinkedIn and RiseSmart resume editing services and job searches. These have gotten great leads, especially because they're personalized, but Parachute will be a worthwhile supplement. All young professionals, whether targeting six-figure incomes like me or not, would do well to buy this book and study it!



5. Richard Nelson Bolles coined the phrase "Parachuting" as a way to describe bailing out of your current job in order to find the career you really want. He was so keen on sharing his insights that he self-published `What Color Is Your Parachute' for the first time in 1970.
   
   The now bestseller is updated with current practical job search information each year and is a constant source of relevant career change advice. Amongst other useful tips, Bolles points us towards the most effective ways to search for jobs, how to approach prospective employers, and even how to find our own true calling.
   
   So many of us know how it feels to be stuck in a dead end job with that dreaded feeling of entrapment. This book is the key to the escape hatch! And its many satisfied buyers are a longstanding testament to the fact.
   
   This is one of the first places anyone should look to seek guidance on leaving an unsatisfying job in search of greener pastures.
   
   Danny Iny
   Author of the free eBook "Forget Everything You Know About Looking For a Job... And Actually Find One!"
   HuntingToHired, [...]

5 comments about Now, Discover Your Strengths.

1. This was required for a class I was taking in college to get my EdS degree, but it was one of the best books I read in the program. This book helps people discover their own strengths and encourages them to accentuate those strengths while trying not to focus on any weaknesses. It's a great self-help book that I'm glad I had to read because it truly enhanced my life.



2. Fantastic book as an individual read or as a team in the work environment. Easy to read and understand and at the end you have the results of the Strengths Finder Survey and a concrete set of steps to help you begin assessing your current work and personal decisions so they "play to your Strengths" Every Manager should have their team read this and share their strengths.



3. I bought this book NEW at a bookstore that was going out of business.
   
   I was really enjoying reading it until I got to Chapter 3, which directs you to go online and take their StrengthsFinder test using the "unique" code on the jacket of the book.
   
   I was disgusted to learn that someone has already used the code (or so I am told by the FAQ on the site). Then I realized that this entire book, which reads remarkably fast and could probably be condensed down to 50 pages, is just a tool to get people to go to the site and "upgrade" to the latest version of the online test. How can you do that? Can you buy access separately? Nope. You HAVE to buy a book to get a code. And of course, when you get your book there's no way to ensure that someone hasn't already peeked inside the jacket and grabbed the code.
   
   At least I paid a discount price for the book, but I'm not really interested in reading any further, nor in buying their latest "upgraded" book.
   
   What a fantastic marketing tool to ensure that lending or selling the book is useless. When I say "marketing tool," I'm referring to the person behind this debacle.



4. This a good book if you want to rethink what you are doing with your life. Stephen Covey integrates some of this kind of thinking in the Eight Habits.
   
   Share this with your kids in high school, and definitely before they head off to college.
   
   Dave



5. In an ocean full of bigger fish it can be difficult to stop living on the offense and consider our own strengths. How will you stand out amongst the other 200 people at that job interview if you yourself have no idea what your strengths are? And if you don't know what you are good at, are you applying for the best job for yourself in the first place?
   
   `Now Discover Your Strengths' is the follow up to Buckingham's previous book `Break all the Rules'. This book focused on identifying and using your natural talents. Rather than working on overcoming weakness, which serves to create focus on what we are not good at, `Now Discover Your Strengths' teaches us to work on our strengths. In fact, to build our lives around them.
   Once your strengths are identified it becomes much easier to find a fulfilling career that will continue to last - after all, you'll be doing something you're good at!
   
   Danny Iny
   Author of the free eBook "Forget Everything You Know About Looking For a Job... And Actually Find One!"
   HuntingToHired, www.HuntingToHired.com

5 comments about What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful.

1. Book should be named "Common Errors Even Successful People Make". It was a list of poor behaviors that would get most people fired - quickly. I was disappointed as I expected it to elevate my game. Instead, it listed many poor behaviors that anyone with a sense of self would not engage in.



2. A book full of common sense on "How not to be a Jerk". Unfortunately, if you are a jerk, you are probably not going to read the book.



3. As an executive coach, I ask clients to identify what of the 20 habits they are guilty of. The book becomes a safe, third-party place to see yourself in the mirror and be aware of how your behavior affects others. Recently a client sent me an email titled "That Darn Marshall". He said it took him 20 minutes to rewrite an email without the words "no", "but", or "however"...but he did it and the response he got back was positive.
   
   I've seen NASA engineers who don't think about giving recognition try the 5 pennies exercise and now they regularly give valid praise and graditude to those around them. People really do want to look good in other's eyes and sometimes a busy successful person forgets that. Marshall's book both identifies areas in which we can strengthen and gives practical & simple tools to apply immediately.
   
   It's a terrific book about how to get better results faster!



4. What a wonderful book! Marshall Goldsmith's book should be on the "must read" list for anyone who truly wants to improve their relationships. It moves immediately beyond pop psychology and provides simple, doable, clear, and concise instructions on how to change the irritating and destructive habits that cause problems between people. Written for the business executive, Goldsmith's methods work just as well for the little league coach, the small business person, and yes, the husband and wife. This is your opportunity to get the advice for which top CEO's are paying thousands of dollars, and you get it for the price of a book. To top it off, Goldsmith is an immensely readable writer. Don't pass up the opportunity. Oh yeah, once you get the book, put it to use.



5. Goldsmith brings us a fabulous leadership text for leaders at any and all phases in their career. From a youngster just out of MBA school, or a seasoned CEO, all people looking to improve will find value.
   
   The highlights:
   --People fail to implement change because they are too busy.
   Change isn't easy, but it is ever-present in today's society. If you want a 'change' to happen in your personal or professional life, you must make it at the top of your list. Goldsmith soars as he describes the importance of making a commitment to changing a part of your behavior.
   
   --There is a HUGE gulf between understanding and doing.
   Leadership isn't just memorized out of a book, or absorbed through a leadership seminar. This book gives concrete examples of how you can build a plan of action for growing as a leader. Gain a thorough understanding of leadership best practices and then you have no excuses -- it is time to ACT.
   
   I can make this promise. This book will shake your cobwebs and get you back on path to being a confident, courageous, and effective leader.
   
   Dan Naden
   Naden's Corner

5 comments about Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life.

1. I received the book very quickly, I needed it for school and got it in time. It was like new if not new.



2. The book opens up awareness of possible change(s) that are needed in ANY organization. GREAT eye openner



3. This is a great book. The seller was very quick to mail my order and the service was excellent. A+++++++



4. I am surprised that more people are not raving about this simple book that uses simple concepts that can be so amazingly powerful. Recognizing how we deal with change, and really understanding what that means in our lives, can be one of the most powerfully moving experiences, and life altering events.
   
   I was so impressed with it at work, I made my whole extended family (even those in Iran) read it. They all enjoyed it, and some even made significant changes in how they look at their lives as a result.
   
   How do you handle change, and what can that mean for you? Read the book and find out - and share it with friends and family!



5. I share most of the sentiments other negative reviewers have expressed about the book. It's insulting to every employee's intelligence (if they have any), although it was a nice way to waste several hours (it took me about 15 minutes to read the book, but we spent hours having meetings and group talks about it led by management). Just thinking about it now makes me glad to be out of the corporate realm and in a small private office.
   
   Everything in this book should come as common sense to any employee worth their paycheck. And it's not necessarily the right way of going about things, although having a positive attitude always helps you out regardless of what situation you're in. But blindly following change does not always make you a good employee, and that's where this book steers its readers wrong. Having respect for your supervisors is important, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't question their ideas & motivations, or provide feedback on the changes they've chosen to implement. Believe it or not, this can be done respectfully and intelligently - this book makes it seem as if any protests you make or concerns you express just translate to 'heming and hawing', so quit your whining and get back to work. This kind of black and white outlook damages professional credibility and relationships and really just makes the environment an unpleasant one to work in.
   
   That said, I would love to see what the writers from The Office could do with this material.

5 comments about The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich.

1. This book has a lot of positive advice that can be used. As with any other lifestyle books, it's not easy to take on everything the author says verbatim. It is easy, though, to take some of the aspects of this and apply it to life.
   
   This book has a ton of inspiration! It definitely keeps a workaholic like myself, aware of just what I'm spending my work time on. It's help me to realize that some of the work I do can be outsourced. I've implemented that part of the book with satisfactory results.
   
   Sharing his love for travel, I do agree that the traditional two weeks per year is unacceptable for vacation. With all the technology available today, it is possible to have "working gettaways". I've also implemented this part with satisfactory results.
   
   Be mindful that Ferriss does seem to oversimplify a little. For instance, it's not as easy to start a profitable, automatic income generating, online business as he makes it out to be in "Income Autopilot". And getting your foreign virtual assistant to do most everything for you, is also not that easy.
   
   While I don't ascribe to the 9-5 lifestyle, I do love my work. As such, I can't see me dwindling my workweek down to four hours. What this has done for me, and why I do recommend this book, is it has aided me in finding creative ways to get the most out of life, while still putting in all the hours required to run my business.



2. I read about this book in an in-flight magazine and thought it very much embodied my view of life: Don't delay your happiness or gratification until retirement. Seize the day and live it up now!
   
   However, I was terribly disappointed. First of all, definitely heed the Warning printed on the back of the book. I didn't even notice the warning until it was too late. But there it was the whole time: "WARNING: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU WANT TO QUIT YOUR JOB"
   
   I'm willing to quit my job, but you have to REALLY want to quit your job in order to do what this book says. You also have to have a meaningless job that requires almost ZERO work. I don't keep myself busy with busy-work at my job. I am genuinely busy with PRODUCTIVE, results-oriented work.
   
   I'm a mid-level manager at a large non-profit organization. A lot of my job consists of interviewing children and adults for our programs. This is not something I can out-source to India. The interviews have to be done in-person and I have to follow-up in-person.
   
   Even if I did have a job I could out-source to India, I wouldn't want to. To me, that is rather exploitive of a developing nation's people.
   
   Additionally, one of the suggested methods to becoming part of the "new Rich" seems basically to scam people online. I think BrainQUICKEN (the author's road to riches) is very much a scam.
   
   Finally, the author seems to dismiss seeking a deeper meaning to life. To me, exploiting people in a developing country, being completely lazy, and scamming people out of their money is not ethical and certainly not what I would recommend to anyone!
   
   I'm 28 and I've taken a four-month vacation in Guatemala and Honduras, scuba dived in the Galapagos, completed a study tour in Israel, and spent a month conducting research in Ghana. I've traveled extensively on five continents. And yet I found this book absolutely INFURIATING.
   
   If you are a corporate drone in a totally meaningless and worthless job, and you are free of the burden of any morals and ethics, this book is for you! Everyone else, move along.



3. I must admit I was taken by the concept of "geoarbitrage". It just sounds cool, doesn't it? I thought the concept was quite interesting and eagerly purchased the book. After reading past the introduction, I realized I'd been conned.
   
   The author's first claim, on page 13, is that he is a "no holds barred cage fighter, vanquisher of four world champions". This is a lie. There are online databases (such as sherdog's fight finder or mma.tv's fighter database) that hold the fight records of all professional and most amateur fighters, and no one with the last name 'Ferriss' is listed in any of them. Look it up for yourself. He claims on his blog that these fights were in Japan, but unfortunately for his credibility, Japanese MMA does not use a cage. The fights there take place in a ring, much like boxing.
   
   He then claims to be a "National Chinese Kickboxing champion", a feat he claims to have accomplished (despite no formal background in the sport) by looking for "loopholes in the rules", one of which was that weigh ins were the day before the event. He claims to have dehydrated to the point of losing 28 pounds of water in 18 hours, then rehydrated after weigh ins. Loophole or not, this would not give him the advantage he claims, since weight cutting is utilized by virtually all fighters and, indeed, all athletes in sports with weight categories. He would have you believe that he invented the technique. Given his lies about his MMA record, and the improbability of winning a U.S. national championship in *any* sport after only four weeks of training, and the fact that he doesn't name or give any details that would allow one to look up the results of the tournament, it is overwhelmingly likely that he is lying about this accomplishment as well.
   
   Given that the book starts out with two blatant lies (and his blog ... the lies there reach pathological levels), it becomes difficult to enjoy the rest of the 300 pages of anecdotes and advice. Most of the anecdotes are probably fabricated, so the credibility of the advice is tarnished. What's the point? It is also frustrating to know that your money went to such a person.
   
   Buy 'Vagabonding' and 'The World is Flat' instead.



4. I was just looking at Twitter and for the first time I saw something remarkable: someone with lots of followers and is following no one. Tim Ferriss has 9,313 followers and is following absolutely no one. He does appear to post quite often, so I'm not sure how this figures in to his 4 hour work week, but his single-mindedness and focus is amazing.
   
   I don't quite understand the naysayers here. Do people really want to work more than 4 hours a week? 40 hours a week? 80 hours a week? For me, 4 hours per week sounds just about right. I've implemented much of his advice regarding delegation and continue to do so. Hoping to get to 4 hours/week in another couple of months.
   
   Tim, you're awesome!



5. I purchaced this book because I was preparing a presentation about time management. It almost messed up my presentation, because it messed up my brain.
   I tell you, It can actually be done. Work only 4 hours a week. But you have to do a complete reformat of your brain.
   The concept of taks elimination and putting yourself out of the equation to avoid bottlenecks is super.
   I am not quite there jet, but, now I work less and make more.
   I definitelly recommend this book to weight and consider the techniques within.

5 comments about Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else.

1. I intended to write a review of Malcolm Galdwell's book Outliers: The Story of Success but I came across this book and I was surprised to find I like this book more (which is not to say that I don't like Outliers by the way). The book not only debugs the talent myth, the believe that talent is a dominant factor in high achievement (which Gladwell has done too in several publications). It also operationalizes the concept of deliberate practice. This concept was introduced by Anders Ericsson, a leading researcher in the field of expertise development. Colvin explains that deliberate practice can be described by these five characteristics:
   
   1. It's designed specifically to improve performance
   2. It can be repeated a lot
   3. Feedback on results is continously available
   4. It's highly demanding mentally
   5. It isn't much fun
   
   Deliberate practice is hard and not particularly enjoyable because it means you are focusing on improving areas in your performance that are not satisfactory. Thus, it stretches you. If you'll be able to do deliberate practice, you'll benefit by becoming better. Especially if you'll be able to keep it up for extremely long periods of time. Much research has shown that top performance in a wide array of fields is always based on an extreme amount of deliberate practice. It is hard to find a top performer in any field that has not been working extremely hard to get there. What does 'extremely hard' mean? Well, researchers Herbert Simon and Allen Newel used to say that you need at least 10 years before reaching top performance. Now, researchers have refined their estimate, saying coming up with a figure of 10000 hours. An interesting thing about deliberate practice is that its effect is cumulative. You can compare it with a road you're traveling on. Any distance you have travelled on that road counts. So, if you have started at an early age, this will lead to an advantage over someone who started later.
   
   The book is written by a journalist, not a scholar. And it is well written and the journalist has done a good job in doing his homework. It is full of relevant references to research. It deals with the subject matter in a nuanced and informative way. Overall, it is very convincing.
   
   If I had a say, I'd change two things in the second edition of this book. First, I'd change one section in chapter 1 in which the author talks about the abundance of financial resources. It seems a bit odd to read about that now, when this major economic crisis is hitting us. Second, I'd mention the work by Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. The authors remarks in the last chapter refer so clealry to her body of research. In such a well documented book as this is, this is an omission. One last comment: I would have liked this title better for this book: DELIBERATE PRACTICE.
   
   CONCLUSION: a terrific and thought provoking book. I am glad I have read this. It triggers many thoughts and invites you to take action.



2. I expect a lot more out of 200 pages of text. For anyone that's been in sports, the workforce, or pretty much any aspect of daily human life, it's really no secret that practice makes you better at a given pursuit. Practice more, and better, and you improve faster and to a greater degree. If you already understand this idea then you will waste your money buying this book.



3. This is an interesting summary of other work on these ideas that are much more interesting. I suggest skimming it at the bookstore, writing down some of the other works the book cites and then reading these sources. Since this book is mainly a summary, it's doesn't have many applicable ideas. You'll need to go to the other books it cites in order to get real suggestions for applications. This book is a good start though.



4. There are a few very interesting core ideas in this book, and it is helpful to have a few real-life examples such as the story about Jerry Rice, but this book is so tedious to read that I ended up skipping large sections of it, trying to find the good parts without having to wade through everything else.
   
   It may be somewhat counter-intuitive that good performance comes more from practice than it does from genetics and years of experience, so I appreciated a few anecdotes to reinforce the key thesis of the book. But after I buy in to that thesis I really don't need to read dozens of more examples which all try to make the same point over and over again.
   
   I suppose I was supposed to glean some small unique insight from each example. But I don't want to have to figure out what each of those little insights might be.
   
   This book would have been much more interesting -- and probably more effective at delivering its message -- if it had been about 6 pages long. Maybe the author should have written a feature essay for the Sunday New York Times Magazine instead.



5. This book is profoundly important because it provides detailed research-based insight into how and why certain people attain excellence in all fields of endeavor.
   
   The short answer is that one must work and practice quite hard for many years, ideally starting from a young age, in a deliberate way which involves continually stretching oneself. The effort is usually difficult and therefore often not fun, and so the motivation to push on must be fueled by a strong inner drive, perhaps aided by extrinsic factors such as encouragement, coaching, rewards, etc. Talent, intelligence, good memory, and other innate gifts may help, but they're not as vital as people commonly believe.
   
   But don't let my short answer suffice, or steer you to skip reading the book. The book is rich with important details and examples which are vital to take on board - this is not one of those books where a single basic idea has unnecessarily been expanded into book length. This topic deserves book-length treatment, and Colvin has done justice to the topic. I expect to read the book again, and this time I plan to take detailed notes and write up an action plan based on the book.
   
   Allow me to add that Colvin's writing quality is absolutely top notch; I don't really see how it could be any better. More specifically, the book is very well organized, precisely written but without excessive formality, and overall very easy to read. I finished it in about two days, and it was hard to put down.
   
   I emphatically recommend this book. Its insights apply to every domain of life, making this book a must read for parents, teachers, students, business owners, managers, employees, artists, scientists, technical professionals, athletes, coaches - in other words, everyone!
   
   Buy it and read it without hesitation. I plan to give this book as a gift to many people during this holiday season and beyond.