The Unexpected Book Tim Ferriss Thinks Everyone Should Read Once (He's Read It 10 Times)

Regular readers of this column will know that I'm a huge fan of travel or, better yet, if you can swing it, extended stays abroad. Living in a handful of different countries has been transformative for me. I learned sometimes challenging, sometimes brutal lessons about my own abilities and limitations, vastly expanded my knowledge of the world, increased my tolerance for discomfort and uncertainty, and also (and this is no minor point ) I just had a ton of fun.

I also know from my work that there is no shortage of studies suggesting that I am not a crackpot. Research confirms the inspirational and challenging power of the travel career.

Which is a good reason to consider a stint as a digital nomad or just plain old nomad. And also a good reason why you might want to read a book on the subject like by Rolf Potts.

According to entrepreneur and author Tim Ferriss, this is a book everyone should read even if the thought of being an expat has you busting a hive. Even if you've never set foot abroad, he insists, thinking about the trade-offs of travel is a perfect way to refine your own definition of success. And you will never be successful if you don't know what you mean by that term.

Introducing Ferriss' "Fundamental Four"

In a 2019 episode of his podcast, Ferriss described his "Fundamental Four," or the four books he recommended to aspiring lifestyle designers and entrepreneurs in his think tank, . "That was a long time ago," he writes (jokingly "back when I had hair"), but "they are still worth reading."

Three of the books on the list are business standards covering topics such as successful business models, dreaming big, and entrepreneurial pitfalls to avoid. It all seems sensible and dignified, but the final selection mentioned by Ferriss caught my eye because it doesn't look like the others at all. It's -- you guessed it -- Potts' book.

“It was, in fact, the book that made me stop making excuses and pack my bags for a long trip abroad,” says Ferriss, adding that he has since read the book at least ten times. But what makes Ferriss's recommendation so interesting is how he introduces the book to those who don't dream of traveling the world.

"Don't overlook it, because the subtitle has 'long-term global travel' in it. It might not be what you want to do, but it covers a lot", he continues. "It is useful in determining your destination - or your destinations, if you plan to travel... But it also includes great excerpts from famous wanderers, philosophers and explorers as well as anecdotes from ordinary travellers. And it really is a book philosophical reset."

Ferriss promises the book will help you figure out where you want to go, whether that means a particular country or a particular lifestyle.

"This book helps you better value temporal wealth, while recognizing the limitations of money as currency, which most people want to exchange for an experience that gives them emotion" , he explains. "So it really helps to deconstruct your own thinking about materialism, success quantified by money, and the traps we all fall into, the traps we all fall into at various times."

Before you can succeed, you must define it.

Success, as I have already pointed out, is not self-defining. An essential first step to success is to fig...