Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss

Tools of Titans is a self-help book by Timothy Ferriss, an American writer, educational activist, and entrepreneur. The book features interviews with over 100 “world class performers” in diverse fields on their advice for success.

Ferriss shares the habits and beliefs of high-performing people, including tech investors, entrepreneurs, athletes, and entertainers. The premise of the book is that if you emulate the habits and beliefs of people who succeed the way you want to succeed, you too can be successful.

The main themes of the book include inspiration and goals, focus, personal habits, entrepreneurship, and health. The book is organized into short chapters, each devoted to one person, but the main themes across all the people are pulled out to show the patterns of what the titans do—how they define life goals, how they think of good ideas, and how they try to be happier every day.

Useful takeaways from the book include the importance of focusing on goals, taking action instead of just seeking information, and the concept of having 1,000 true fans for a successful business. The book also emphasizes the benefits of morning routines, the power of meditation, and the value of learning from failure.

What I Liked

I liked the collection of questions and the sheer breadth of people interviewed. There are so many tactics and useful nuggets in this book.

What I Did Not Like

The format is not very readable all at once…but it’s also too big to be truly skimmable or skippable. I can tell that it is well-edited, but I think the format could use some work.