Tim, if you're reading this, I have a great idea for you at the end of this review. No sarcasm, no snark.
DISCLAIMER: I am a Tim Ferriss apologist. I've listened to almost every episode of his podcast. Own his books. Have been following him since 4 Hour Work Week came out.
Tim's podcast has rewired my brain. My life is measurably better because of what I've learned. Literally. I have hereditary cholesterol problems and my forays into a ketogenic lifestyle dropped my particle count from ~1950 to ~1225. There are many other great things that have come as a result of my exposure to Tim's podcast, too many to list here.
When he announced TOOLS OF TITANS, I was ecstatic. I pre-ordered this book in September.
I'm sad to say that I'm non-plussed, borderline disappointed.
On one hand, I love having a "totem" of something that has changed my life so profoundly. To that end, I am happy to own the book.
On the other hand, it does not deliver on its promise. This is supposedly a "recipe book" (according to page xvi in the Foreword).
It is no such thing.
If I want to bake an apple pie, I go to the Table of Contents, I look up apple pie, I turn to that page.
You cannot do that in this book.
Tim has amazing things to say about meditation. A few guests on his podcast have amazing things to say about meditation (Sam Harris, Naval Ravikant, Kevin Rose, etc.).
But there is no central place to which you can turn to find out the collected wisdom of the many guests who have delved into this topic.
The same goes for investing. The same goes for particular health hacks.
In fact, there's not even one central place in the book that gives a list of the commonalities between the guests. That's a HUGE missed opportunity.
THE ADVICE:
Make a second edition. Soon. It doesn't even have to add new content. Just tighten this up and make it so that you can read about certain topics in a centralized place. If there are parts that don't fit, maybe have an author section at the back... but, dang.
FINAL THOUGHT:
Millionaires become millionaires (in part) because they've learned to say "no." They have the discipline to turn down the good, so that they can pursue (and achieve) the great.
This book is just too too too much good. It doesn't tell you what is great. It will leave you chasing dozens upon dozens of random tactics and thoughts in a dozen different fields.
It might teach the tactics and routines and habits of world-class performers, but there's FAR TOO MUCH here to make it valuable in showing YOU how to achieve those heights. And, if there is ONE person that you could model to become like them in their field... there is FAR TOO LITTLE here to actually help you on your way.
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I've read so much success literature and most authors managed to squeeze 3 pages into 300.Tim's work 'Tools of Titans' does the opposite and is one of the most - SCRATCH THAT IT IS THE MOST calorically dense advice/insight/tools written works I have ever read.I know some of the 'Titans' he references (ex: Tony Robbins - long ago my wife an I used to help volunteer staff his programs) I say this not as 'Heck yah! I KNOW these guys' ... No, it is in a wonderful way that I can read something about and from someone I know AND STILL COME AWAY WITH A NEW INSIGHT!SO HERE IS MY SELF APPOINTED CHALLENGE:As I read, re-read, jumped around, highlighted, underlined and feel asleep and woke up thinking about all that I found in Tim's book ... I felt had I MUST do this.Background: I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's from exposure to Agent Orange and/or toxic water from Camp Lejeune. I have had multiple TBI. I have had 21 surgeries and ... my cervical spine is exhibiting the same signs as it did prior to my last (and botched) cervical spine surgery. I weigh 292 lbs ... though my caloric intake, according to Myfitnesspal dot come should be showing a 1.5 lb/week loss ... and yet, I have gained 60 some lbs in the past year.(if you are the impatient type skip the next few paragraphs as this is background info)My local Medical doctors shrug and either tell me 'Don't worry about it' - shorthand for dude, you are so SCREWED that ain't gonna be what gets ya!' OR they insist I am overeating despite my willingness to show them my nutrition logs.I even went to Mayo clinic this past June ... a process that took 3 months to book. My wife and I sat down with the Doc on my first day and he liked at us like 'What the ____ are you doing here?" He cleared his throat and said "Well, I'm leaving for Germany in 6 hours to give a speech' (anyone know german cuss words to describe this ?)So, somewhat discouraged I shuffled down for my blood draw and then went to scheduling to see what tests I had for the rest of my scheduled week.Have you ever watched someone squirm when they have to give you really bad news ... but don't know how to say it? That was my experience watching the Lady at Mayo Clinic assigned to give me my week's schedule. The poor woman looked like a 2nd grader that had a seriously full bladder squirming in their seat.She kept looking around to see if ANYONE could/would relive her of telling us and on realizing "Nope, i gotta tell this guy to go poo in his hat' she blurted out "YOUR NEXT APPOINT FOR THIS WEEK IS SCHEDULED FOR .... AUGUST 2ND"That was on Tuesday June 7th. August was a TEENSY BIT LONGER THAN I WAS PREPARED TO SPEND WAITING IN THEIR WAITING ROOM!Bottom line: Traditional Medicine has written me off. Which is fine ... as I have written them off too!************** if you were skipping paragraphs please rejoin us here ********************Good people of the Amazonian reading tribe ... I have to STRIKE THAT ... I MUST DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTOR ... I WILL DIE.That is not hyperbole. That is not exaggeration. I believe this to be fact.I placed photos of my scale ... and of my medicines (blurry so no label info shows) I take 21 some meds/day. Yes ... wayyyy too many! I am a 'pill-serf'IF DO NOT CHANGE THE PROCESS OF HOW I FEED, CARE FOR AND PROVIDE FOR THIS PHYSICAL BODY I WILL NOT LIKELY INHABIT IT MUCH LONGER.To that end, I pledge I will start blogging and logging my results as I work through Tim's 'Tools of Titans'.(Talk about go BIG or go home ... yeah? precisely!)The blog will be named That Lonesome Road dot ____ (apologies if Amazon thinks this is promotional, I seek to serve not promote and ask you allow me to do this in a way that meets your standards) and I invite any and all of you to join me as I do my all to save my life and insure my Music does not go to my grave unplayed.I pledge:1. I will be brutally honest.2. If I feel the desire to hold back from fear of ____ ... then I know I am on the right path.3. I will keep an honest record and tell you if what I have done works ... and if not whether I think I was the reason or no.4. I am doing this to hold myself accountable NOT seek notoriety. If I sound like a pompous jerk please let me know.5. I will do one of the hardest things I rarely do - I will ask for help.6. Though the subject is ... well, it ain't Sunshine and Roses ... I pledge to have a sense of humor about this!7. I will say Please; Thank You; I am Sorry; Will be on Time; & Will finish what I start. Genuine good manners, Graciousness, and Accountability are very scarce these days. I pledge I will embody that ... or you have my complete permission to take a whiz in my cup of ...Thank you Tim for writing this and capturing these insights.Thank you to all who contributed.Thank you to all who read this - I pray it is of service.DS
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I've read so much success literature and most authors managed to squeeze 3 pages into 300.
Tim's work 'Tools of Titans' does the opposite and is one of the most - SCRATCH THAT IT IS THE MOST calorically dense advice/insight/tools written works I have ever read.
I know some of the 'Titans' he references (ex: Tony Robbins - long ago my wife an I used to help volunteer staff his programs) I say this not as 'Heck yah! I KNOW these guys' ... No, it is in a wonderful way that I can read something about and from someone I know AND STILL COME AWAY WITH A NEW INSIGHT!
SO HERE IS MY SELF APPOINTED CHALLENGE:
As I read, re-read, jumped around, highlighted, underlined and feel asleep and woke up thinking about all that I found in Tim's book ... I felt had I MUST do this.
Background: I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's from exposure to Agent Orange and/or toxic water from Camp Lejeune. I have had multiple TBI. I have had 21 surgeries and ... my cervical spine is exhibiting the same signs as it did prior to my last (and botched) cervical spine surgery. I weigh 292 lbs ... though my caloric intake, according to Myfitnesspal dot come should be showing a 1.5 lb/week loss ... and yet, I have gained 60 some lbs in the past year.
(if you are the impatient type skip the next few paragraphs as this is background info)
My local Medical doctors shrug and either tell me 'Don't worry about it' - shorthand for dude, you are so SCREWED that ain't gonna be what gets ya!' OR they insist I am overeating despite my willingness to show them my nutrition logs.
I even went to Mayo clinic this past June ... a process that took 3 months to book. My wife and I sat down with the Doc on my first day and he liked at us like 'What the ____ are you doing here?" He cleared his throat and said "Well, I'm leaving for Germany in 6 hours to give a speech' (anyone know german cuss words to describe this ?)
So, somewhat discouraged I shuffled down for my blood draw and then went to scheduling to see what tests I had for the rest of my scheduled week.
Have you ever watched someone squirm when they have to give you really bad news ... but don't know how to say it? That was my experience watching the Lady at Mayo Clinic assigned to give me my week's schedule. The poor woman looked like a 2nd grader that had a seriously full bladder squirming in their seat.
She kept looking around to see if ANYONE could/would relive her of telling us and on realizing "Nope, i gotta tell this guy to go poo in his hat' she blurted out "YOUR NEXT APPOINT FOR THIS WEEK IS SCHEDULED FOR .... AUGUST 2ND"
That was on Tuesday June 7th. August was a TEENSY BIT LONGER THAN I WAS PREPARED TO SPEND WAITING IN THEIR WAITING ROOM!
Bottom line: Traditional Medicine has written me off. Which is fine ... as I have written them off too!
************** if you were skipping paragraphs please rejoin us here ********************
Good people of the Amazonian reading tribe ... I have to STRIKE THAT ... I MUST DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT
OR ... I WILL DIE.
That is not hyperbole. That is not exaggeration. I believe this to be fact.
I placed photos of my scale ... and of my medicines (blurry so no label info shows) I take 21 some meds/day. Yes ... wayyyy too many! I am a 'pill-serf'
IF DO NOT CHANGE THE PROCESS OF HOW I FEED, CARE FOR AND PROVIDE FOR THIS PHYSICAL BODY I WILL NOT LIKELY INHABIT IT MUCH LONGER.
To that end, I pledge I will start blogging and logging my results as I work through Tim's 'Tools of Titans'.
(Talk about go BIG or go home ... yeah? precisely!)
The blog will be named That Lonesome Road dot ____ (apologies if Amazon thinks this is promotional, I seek to serve not promote and ask you allow me to do this in a way that meets your standards) and I invite any and all of you to join me as I do my all to save my life and insure my Music does not go to my grave unplayed.
I pledge:
1. I will be brutally honest.
2. If I feel the desire to hold back from fear of ____ ... then I know I am on the right path.
3. I will keep an honest record and tell you if what I have done works ... and if not whether I think I was the reason or no.
4. I am doing this to hold myself accountable NOT seek notoriety. If I sound like a pompous jerk please let me know.
5. I will do one of the hardest things I rarely do - I will ask for help.
6. Though the subject is ... well, it ain't Sunshine and Roses ... I pledge to have a sense of humor about this!
7. I will say Please; Thank You; I am Sorry; Will be on Time; & Will finish what I start. Genuine good manners, Graciousness, and Accountability are very scarce these days. I pledge I will embody that ... or you have my complete permission to take a whiz in my cup of ...
Thank you Tim for writing this and capturing these insights.
Thank you to all who contributed.
Thank you to all who read this - I pray it is of service.
DS
Tim's work 'Tools of Titans' does the opposite and is one of the most - SCRATCH THAT IT IS THE MOST calorically dense advice/insight/tools written works I have ever read.
I know some of the 'Titans' he references (ex: Tony Robbins - long ago my wife an I used to help volunteer staff his programs) I say this not as 'Heck yah! I KNOW these guys' ... No, it is in a wonderful way that I can read something about and from someone I know AND STILL COME AWAY WITH A NEW INSIGHT!
SO HERE IS MY SELF APPOINTED CHALLENGE:
As I read, re-read, jumped around, highlighted, underlined and feel asleep and woke up thinking about all that I found in Tim's book ... I felt had I MUST do this.
Background: I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's from exposure to Agent Orange and/or toxic water from Camp Lejeune. I have had multiple TBI. I have had 21 surgeries and ... my cervical spine is exhibiting the same signs as it did prior to my last (and botched) cervical spine surgery. I weigh 292 lbs ... though my caloric intake, according to Myfitnesspal dot come should be showing a 1.5 lb/week loss ... and yet, I have gained 60 some lbs in the past year.
(if you are the impatient type skip the next few paragraphs as this is background info)
My local Medical doctors shrug and either tell me 'Don't worry about it' - shorthand for dude, you are so SCREWED that ain't gonna be what gets ya!' OR they insist I am overeating despite my willingness to show them my nutrition logs.
I even went to Mayo clinic this past June ... a process that took 3 months to book. My wife and I sat down with the Doc on my first day and he liked at us like 'What the ____ are you doing here?" He cleared his throat and said "Well, I'm leaving for Germany in 6 hours to give a speech' (anyone know german cuss words to describe this ?)
So, somewhat discouraged I shuffled down for my blood draw and then went to scheduling to see what tests I had for the rest of my scheduled week.
Have you ever watched someone squirm when they have to give you really bad news ... but don't know how to say it? That was my experience watching the Lady at Mayo Clinic assigned to give me my week's schedule. The poor woman looked like a 2nd grader that had a seriously full bladder squirming in their seat.
She kept looking around to see if ANYONE could/would relive her of telling us and on realizing "Nope, i gotta tell this guy to go poo in his hat' she blurted out "YOUR NEXT APPOINT FOR THIS WEEK IS SCHEDULED FOR .... AUGUST 2ND"
That was on Tuesday June 7th. August was a TEENSY BIT LONGER THAN I WAS PREPARED TO SPEND WAITING IN THEIR WAITING ROOM!
Bottom line: Traditional Medicine has written me off. Which is fine ... as I have written them off too!
************** if you were skipping paragraphs please rejoin us here ********************
Good people of the Amazonian reading tribe ... I have to STRIKE THAT ... I MUST DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT
OR ... I WILL DIE.
That is not hyperbole. That is not exaggeration. I believe this to be fact.
I placed photos of my scale ... and of my medicines (blurry so no label info shows) I take 21 some meds/day. Yes ... wayyyy too many! I am a 'pill-serf'
IF DO NOT CHANGE THE PROCESS OF HOW I FEED, CARE FOR AND PROVIDE FOR THIS PHYSICAL BODY I WILL NOT LIKELY INHABIT IT MUCH LONGER.
To that end, I pledge I will start blogging and logging my results as I work through Tim's 'Tools of Titans'.
(Talk about go BIG or go home ... yeah? precisely!)
The blog will be named That Lonesome Road dot ____ (apologies if Amazon thinks this is promotional, I seek to serve not promote and ask you allow me to do this in a way that meets your standards) and I invite any and all of you to join me as I do my all to save my life and insure my Music does not go to my grave unplayed.
I pledge:
1. I will be brutally honest.
2. If I feel the desire to hold back from fear of ____ ... then I know I am on the right path.
3. I will keep an honest record and tell you if what I have done works ... and if not whether I think I was the reason or no.
4. I am doing this to hold myself accountable NOT seek notoriety. If I sound like a pompous jerk please let me know.
5. I will do one of the hardest things I rarely do - I will ask for help.
6. Though the subject is ... well, it ain't Sunshine and Roses ... I pledge to have a sense of humor about this!
7. I will say Please; Thank You; I am Sorry; Will be on Time; & Will finish what I start. Genuine good manners, Graciousness, and Accountability are very scarce these days. I pledge I will embody that ... or you have my complete permission to take a whiz in my cup of ...
Thank you Tim for writing this and capturing these insights.
Thank you to all who contributed.
Thank you to all who read this - I pray it is of service.
DS
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
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Massacre of trees that were used to print this book
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Really wasn’t for me too scattered
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