Tools Of Titans by Tim Ferriss

Author : Tim Ferriss
Title : Tools Of Titans
Published : 2016
Publisher  : Vermilion
Pages : 704
Genre : Non Fiction / Self Help

     “For the last two years, I’ve interviewed more than 200 world-class performers for my podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show. The guests range from super celebs (Jamie Foxx, Arnold Schwarzenegger, etc.) and athletes (icons of powerlifting, gymnastics, surfing, etc.) to legendary Special Operations commanders and black-market biochemists. For most of my guests, it’s the first time they’ve agreed to a two-to-three-hour interview. This unusual depth has helped make The Tim Ferriss Show the first business/interview podcast to pass 100 million downloads. “This book contains the distilled tools, tactics, and ‘inside baseball’ you won’t find anywhere else. It also includes new tips from past guests and life lessons from new ‘guests’ you haven’t met. “What makes the show different is a relentless focus on actionable details. This is reflected in the questions. For example: What do these people do in the first sixty minutes of each morning? What do their workout routines look like, and why? What books have they gifted most to other people? What are the biggest wastes of time for novices in their field? What supplements do they take on a daily basis?

     This book was recommended to me by my now ex-boss, While I no longer work for him he is always trying to help me better my place in the world. For me, like many, there is always the feeling that the place we hold in this crazy world is it for us, that we will never get any better than it is now. But just suppose for a moment that we push those thoughts to one side. How do you go about improving your lot? There is this nagging thought that the path we are about to set out on is a path untraveled that everything to come is a giant mystery and all too complicated to try and navigate. This is the kicker though many people have walked before us and have gone on to do great things. So where to start?

     In this book Ferris gives us an insight into just these things, Surprisingly enough some of the greatest figures in the world today are far too happy to impart the knowledge to us. That's the funny thing rather than put down anyone who would want to follow them, they are all too happy to offer a hand up. These are some of the smartest and wisest people around. The negativity of the world somehow has been left behind. After reading this book it strikes me that the people who try and stop you are those who have either tried and failed once or are stuck in set patterns that don't allow for growth. I've known a few people who have looked down at me for reading such books. But why, surely if you want to better your self those around you should be more than happy for you. I have also seen the same negativity thrown at the author of this book. Which to me seems like a great shame, having read a couple of his books and watched a few of his interviews on YouTube it strikes me that he is genially trying to help people get a greater understanding of the world we live in. To help us work smarter rather than harder. 

     This book s broken down into three distinct sections, each looking to help give advice on how to move forward with your life. With this said there is a great deal of overlap between the interviews as each person can give advice on multiple subjects. What is rather unique I think to this book is the author only interjects in the odd moments, this allows his subject to talk openly and freely about what they have to offer. Some may take you by surprise and I think this is to be a given. Too often we think of these people for a very singular reason. Be that actor, musician or C.E.O. But they have lived wide and varied lives to get to where they are now.  I came away having not only learned a great deal from these varied people but also have a greater respect for them. I feel this is a book that could help a great many people if given the chance. I realize some may be put off by the sheer size of the book. At seven hundred and four pages this is an absolute beast and by far the longest book if have read in a while. The author himself puts pay to any worry I or anyone should have over this. At the beginning of the book her freely tells you to skip any part that you feel doesn't apply to you. For the purposes of this review, I did read it from cover to cover and for my part, I'm glad I did it gave me not only a great deal of insight but also hope. Hope that my lot in life is never set in stone no matter my age and that given time and a drive there is nothing I can't rise up to.

     This is a book that is worth the lengthy time it takes to get through it. It's the kind of book you read of a week or two dipping into when you have a free moment or to. Ferris has done the thing you never thought you could. He has asked questions to these people you never thought you would get the chance to and delved them to us in an easy to follow way. I would say the section that took me most by surprise is a short one towards the end of the book on suicide. It was not something I was expecting in a book about living up to your full potential. But for such a short section in a book of long and hopeful messages, it packs one hell of a punch. For me, it shows that for all the success of these people they have had there fair share of ups and downs but you can still rise up way beyond where you thought you could and make this world a better place in one way or another.