Timothy Ferriss: Tribe of Mentors – Why I Will Not Recommend This Book
If you watch any video by any self-improvement coach, youtuber or blogger – they will completely worship and endorse Timothy Ferriss’s work, his books and his blogs. No doubt he is good. And mind you – I am also a hardcore fan of his work. However, I don’t think it is right that everyone should keep praising his book and his work – especially when it is not up to the mark.
Agreed the guy has incredible knowledge and he is doing an amazing job that maybe 99% of us cannot do. His podcasts and his talk shows are really worth your time and money. But then – not everything he does is perfect. And that is where I have to share with you, not just the good but the bad and the ugly side of his work (rather the parts where it is not up to the mark).
I want you to know this much before you read on – I am a student of Tim Ferriss’s work. Every video, every podcast and every audio series I can get of his – I make it a point to listen to. However, having said that – I have to also be fair to my readers about my views and opinions.
So here I present to you a rather controversial opinion on why I do not recommend the book by Tim Ferris – Tribes of Mentors.
Loy Machedo
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Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss
Why I Will Not Recommend This Book
Reason 1: JUST OPINIONS
- Most of the interviews are nothing but just mere opinions where you cannot get anything of value. It is just reading a pointless blog. For example when Samin Nosrat on Page 4 (Writer, Teacher, Chef) was asked What is your advice to students entering the real world – the answer was “let kindness & compassion guide you” or Adam Fisher on Page 428 asked for his advice for college students as “Be humble & Self Aware” – does this have anything of exceptional value?
Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss
Why I Will Not Recommend This Book
Reason 2: CONTRADICTIONS
- In many places – one person’s opinion contradicted the other person’s opinion. For example – one author may endorse and believe a college education is important – while another author may not believe college education has any importance at all. So which one is right?
Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss
Why I Will Not Recommend This Book
Reason 3: A COLLAGE OF OPINIONS
- This is a book that has a few nuggets placed here and there. Once after you read it – you will be left with good advice – more like positive quotes. But the question is – what do you do with these opinions or quotes?
Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss
Why I Will Not Recommend This Book
Reason 4: THIS IS NOT A GUIDE – JUST VIEWPOINTS
- Contrary to what Tim Ferris has stated, this book is NOT a guide to self-improvement or anything got to do with Mentoring or Learning from ‘a Tribe of Mentors’. Rather it is just a few questions being asked on what they like, do not like, what they do, do not do and how can do they go about their personal & professional lives.
Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss
Why I Will Not Recommend This Book
Reason 5: OTHER PEOPLES LIVES – NOW WHAT?
- Let’s assume you know the Schedule & Habits of Richard Branson – he eats Scrambled Eggs in the morning, Meditates for 10 minutes, exercises for 20 minutes and then go to the office. So what does that do for you? Are you going to start eating scrambled eggs in the morning?
Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss
Why I Will Not Recommend This Book
Reason 5: INFORMATION OVERLOAD
- Let’s look at Tim Ferriss’s books – 4 Hour Work Week, 4 Hour Chef, 4 Hour Body, Tools of Titans & now Tribes of Mentors. So can you seriously tell me out of these 3,000 odd pages of information – what exactly have you used in the past 10 years? How much of it consistently? Or is it just reading for enjoyment & information collection? Don’t we have even more than this on the internet?
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Tribes Of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss: MOMENT OF TRUTH
THE BOTTOM LINE – IS MONEY
I watched with great curiosity as Tim Ferris went from one talk show to another to another to sell, market and promote his book. I watched him create a sense of purpose and a sense of mystery with regards to this book. And personally, I kind of knew he needed the book to sell. However, at some point of watching him going from show to show – it just made sense – he is a businessman who needs the book to sell so that he can make money. End of the day – isn’t that what it is all about? Making money? Tim Ferriss now has bigger overheads especially with his TV Show Fear(less) that he has to make sure succeeds as that would either make him or break him. But given whatever I do know about his show – I doubt its going to last too long.
Look, I have nothing against Tim Ferriss. I love that guy and I admire him more than I have admired most authors, writers, and thought leaders. He is as good as Tony Robbins and he has his own style of doing things. However, I feel this book was a desperate attempt on his part to sell and make some money with yet another book.
As of now the best work that he came out with was the 4-Hour Body and the 4-Hour Work Week. The 4-Hour Chef – well I purchased it for the sake of having his book a part of my collection. And Tools of Titans – well was a good book to have since it had big names. However, this book – I feel was rushed.
Personally, I loved this book. I found it very captivating. And I may read it again a second time – this time slowly and in detail. However, I doubt people in general will accept this book. If you ask me what do I remember from Tools of Titans – I can tell you – nothing. There was so much in that book – I am still wondering what did I read. I may have to read it again just to digest the contents once again. And maybe cherry pick what I can use.
And Tribes of Mentors – well more or less the same thing.
Personally speaking – I think Tim Ferriss has given us the best of whatever he could give us. He really has gone far and beyond what most human beings could have done to give us selective & thought-provoking information. However, what I feel is that this book will have more of disappointed fans than happy ones.
Me for one – I love the guy. I love his work. And I totally admire him. For me – this book is worth buying and keeping. However, what will I use from this book? I doubt I would use anything – if any. But am I glad I purchased this book – yes I am absolutely glad.
Would I recommend this book to anyone – it depends on who the person is and what is the reason he is buying this book for. If a person is buying this book with an assumption that this book will change his life – I would tell him – a straight up “NO”.
But if he is buying the book just to have a very interesting read – I would go ahead – its a great read.
So in a nutshell – this book is great if you are looking at interesting facts, tit-bits and different opinions and viewpoints – more like a talk show. But if you are looking at this book as the key that can “change your life” – don’t even bother buying the book. It will not help you – rather it will confuse you.
Overall, for me – I would rate this book at a 9/10 for the simple reason being – I have found many areas I can use the information in this book to my benefit. But to others – I think I would give it say a 6.5 out of 10. Simply because – the book is confusing for new readers. And I feel it was just marketed and sold simply for a purpose to sell yet another book.
However, I still like Tim Ferriss and I will continue to pre-order any book he sells.
