I was just pondering getting his book, but then I read the comments here and reconsidered. Is it worth reading? Obviously you won't get a 4-hour work week, but is there anything of value in it?
I personally really enjoyed it — people whine about "outsourcing everything" but why not outsource all the tasks you don't like doing, ergo reducing your "work" (stuff you don't like doing)?
There are also a lot of good stories about taking mini-retirements regularly rather than saving up for one large one and ways you can make it happen by convincing your boss to let you work remotely or by quitting, so it's not just about outsourcing.
I scanned it in the bookstore one weekend a while back. The gist (what I can remember anyway) is to outsource everything. He basically outsourced his whole life and most business activities using various web outsourcing services like Freelancer.com and whatnot. There were some other little innovations to go along with it, but that's what I remember most.
It's worth a quick speed read in the bookstore, but I wouldn't buy it.
Stavros, you're in the UK, right? If you want a copy of his book, send an email to books (at) allwein dot org with your mailing address and I'll get a copy sent off to you.
For US folk, I've got two other copies of his book, one of the original release and then a copy of the updated ones from last year. Claim it here and then send me an email with your address and I'll send them out.
Yes. I mean, I think the guy is an arrogant, unethical bastard, but IF you can just get past that and keep an open mind I think he does have a few interesting points on productivity, priorities, questioning what you really want, etc. There's actually a lot of stuff in the book that I agree with, but there's a lot that really irks me, too.
I don't know enough to comment one way or the other about the guy, but it seems a bit harsh to call him arrogant and unethical without at least describing how/why.
There are also a lot of good stories about taking mini-retirements regularly rather than saving up for one large one and ways you can make it happen by convincing your boss to let you work remotely or by quitting, so it's not just about outsourcing.