16 ms·

Tim's books are effectively about finding the 20% of your efforts that give you 80% (or 90%) of your results, and then just doing those things. They've both bee

Tim's books are effectively about finding the 20% of your efforts that give you 80% (or 90%) of your results, and then just doing those things. They've both been very effective for me (as in, they've introduced life-changing ideas and strategies to me), but you sound like you've made up your mind. Have you read them?

chrisaycock 16y ago
I haven't read the Avesta, but I don't believe in Zoroastrianism.
- ryanwaggoner 16y ago
  Yes, that's the same.
kmfrk 16y ago
You've basically described all self-help books in the history of mankind.
- ryanwaggoner 16y ago
  You're not making sense. So if a book purports to help someone, it's automatically bullshit? Even if many people have found it to be useful and to have a positive impact in their lives?
  - kmfrk 16y ago
    I'm just saying that you are doing a poor job of dispelling people's reservations. What I'm saying makes perfect sense to people who can't stand the industry and Tim Ferris. I don't know what it looks like to you. There will always be people who love something, regardless of what it is, and whether it works or not.
    - JimJones 16y ago
      And crosshairs in moon landing photos make perfect sense to people who belive it was faked. Tim's books have some worthwhile advice backed by solid data and also some very anecdote-based conclusions. If you're not flat out calling him a liar, his methods have worked for at least himself. That's all that he claims. If you want to know if they'll work for you, try some of them or do the research yourself.
  - chc 16y ago
    I think the common objection to self-help books is not "Hey, books shouldn't help people!" It's that the content of self-help books tends to fall into one of three categories: 1) Common-sensical faffery ("Don't waste time!") 2) Meaningless, feel-good faffery ("You have all the power you need, right inside you!") 3) Snake oil ("Hold a magnet to your head for four hours a week and become a Nietzschian Ubermensch!") None of these categories are really valuable content, so self-help books get a reputation as blatant time-wasters at best (due to the copious faffery) and harmful scams at worst (due to the snake oil). When somebody says something sounds like a "typical self-help book," most of the time they're really saying it sounds like one or more of those things.

chrisaycock 16y ago

I haven't read the Avesta, but I don't believe in Zoroastrianism.

ryanwaggoner 16y ago
Yes, that's the same.

kmfrk 16y ago

You've basically described all self-help books in the history of mankind.

ryanwaggoner 16y ago
You're not making sense. So if a book purports to help someone, it's automatically bullshit? Even if many people have found it to be useful and to have a positive impact in their lives?
- kmfrk 16y ago
  I'm just saying that you are doing a poor job of dispelling people's reservations. What I'm saying makes perfect sense to people who can't stand the industry and Tim Ferris. I don't know what it looks like to you. There will always be people who love something, regardless of what it is, and whether it works or not.
  - JimJones 16y ago
    And crosshairs in moon landing photos make perfect sense to people who belive it was faked. Tim's books have some worthwhile advice backed by solid data and also some very anecdote-based conclusions. If you're not flat out calling him a liar, his methods have worked for at least himself. That's all that he claims. If you want to know if they'll work for you, try some of them or do the research yourself.
- chc 16y ago
  I think the common objection to self-help books is not "Hey, books shouldn't help people!" It's that the content of self-help books tends to fall into one of three categories: 1) Common-sensical faffery ("Don't waste time!") 2) Meaningless, feel-good faffery ("You have all the power you need, right inside you!") 3) Snake oil ("Hold a magnet to your head for four hours a week and become a Nietzschian Ubermensch!") None of these categories are really valuable content, so self-help books get a reputation as blatant time-wasters at best (due to the copious faffery) and harmful scams at worst (due to the snake oil). When somebody says something sounds like a "typical self-help book," most of the time they're really saying it sounds like one or more of those things.