I’m sure that those of you who read books might have heard about “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Timothy Ferriss. His blog is really informative and awesome (fourhourworkweek.com/blog/), and I just started reading the aforementioned book.
He mentions that he spent some time in Taiwan and did some stuff, such as:
“MTV break-dancer in Taiwan” - p. 13
“Naturally, I then fly to Taiwan to create a gym chain out of thin air and get shut down by the Triads, Chinese mafia.” - p.15
Has anyone ever met him or does anyone know the name of that gym he tried to open?
I never knew him, but I do want to read his book.
Have wanted to for a while, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Anyone out there have a copy they want to get rid of?
[quote=“Josefus”]I never knew him, but I do want to read his book.
Have wanted to for a while, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Anyone out there have a copy they want to get rid of?[/quote]
I didn’t know him but I wish I did. Looks like an interesting cat.
[quote=“Josefus”]I never knew him, but I do want to read his book.
Have wanted to for a while, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Anyone out there have a copy they want to get rid of?[/quote]
I know Tetsuo has a copy. But he hasn’t posted in ages.
Well, that’s what he writes in his book (I just started reading it), and I wanted to find out if it was true! So, considering he’s a “foreigner” in Taiwan, I’m sure that someone on this forum must’ve either met him or known him or at least seen him around!
There are Triads in Taiwan, that’s for sure… do you watch the news? Just last year there was a huge funeral for some old triad boss and tens of thousands of gangsters came out to attend. There are also a few well-known gangs, but the only one I can currently thing of is, “Four Seas Gang”. Y’know, they do stuff like illegally import garlic, since otherwise there would be a shortage of it on the island.
In terms of illegal activity, however, in Taiwan, it’s not limited to gangsters! At Watson’s, I once picked up a pack of M&Ms that said, “Not for sale outside of Malaysia.” Hahaha… you gotta love Taiwan.
I am reading this one now. It is an entertaining, easy read so far, but I think a better title for this should be, “Look at All of the Neat Things I Did Before I Turned 30”. To those of us who grew up in the expat circuit and/or live in the weird and wonderful world of Taiwan, his globe-trotting adventures aren’t that big of a deal.
Some of the accomplishments he lists seem a little bogus–break-dancer in Taiwan, trying to start up (and fail) in a business in Taiwan, TV host in China–in that any halfway decent-looking white guy under the age of 35 can do this. Strip him of the money he made in the supplements industry and we’d call him a drifter, not “New Rich”. When he talks about the sporting championships he’s won, it reminds me a lot of when Vanilla Ice used to brag about his dirt-biking trophies. Also, the examples of the wonderful things you could be doing instead of working (sailing around the world, scuba diving, etc.) seem really cliched and family friendly. Those are my main gripes so far, although I can’t seem to put this tool’s book down.
Flicka… haha… that is the best analysis so far! You’re totally right… expats wouldn’t think any of his “globe trotting” a big deal. Maybe I’m jealous because of my debts, which don’t allow me much freedom to globe-trot, aside from trotting around Taiwan occasionally…
I may also be jealous that any decent-looking white guy under age 35 gets to be on TV and stuff… I’m CBC. If I could sing, I’d probably be a singer right now and even more famous than any decent-looking white dude under 35… but alas, I suck at singing.
“Step II” was kind-of a boring read for me, but “Step III” is getting quite exciting - where are you in the book? I find a lot of the advice to be pretty good, however, although for those in the know, it’s like a clear and concise reminder - rather than something we didn’t know.
I’m sure this book will open the eyes of some people, however - people who will invariably not try out any of his advice, either. But 'joo know, he just didn’t mention “passive income” in the book; lest he turn off many a potential reader.
I found out about his book originally through his blog, and I do find that he’s a very thorough person. He seems to research in detail everything he attempts and gives out a lot of advice that is at least worthy of consideration or trial (in his book, on his blog).
In closing, I wish I had a supplements business like his! (Maybe I should copy his exact business and beat him at his own game. Taiwanese styles…)