4000 Weeks

by Robert Bosman

To live or to be lived... that's the question!‘It was the day that changed my life. But of course I had no clue about that when it happened. I sat that day on a bench in Stanley Park, Vancouver. And I had never felt so sad… so very sad… My life had become a bad dream, almost a horror movie… I still couldn’t believe that the angry young man I was only two decades ago, had become such a misery… in poor health… substantially overweighted… income too low, debt too high… And always tired… so tired!’ With these words starts Jeffrey Tamson’s amazing story. Words that could have been spoken by many millions all over the globe. But then the miracle an unexpected encounter triggers a series of events in which Jeffrey discovers ‘the way back home’, as he calls it. He discovers the astonishing results of recent brain and DNA research, that prove the tremendous opportunities we human beings have to live a great live! He learns how our mind functions and finds, in an amazingly short span of time, the major principles for living a happy, healthy and wealthy life.Jeffrey’s compelling and encouraging story blends scientific facts with practical wisdom and the art of life. This book can be your encounter with a bright future...

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Productivity, Psychology, Philosophy, Personal Growth

164 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 6, 2011

Reviews

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this has to be a 5 star for its huge importance to me as someone who has struggles with and can relate with every single point in the book. It’s so current and relevant and deep and bold all at the same time and I need to read it again already so it can sink in further.

First action I’m taking as a result - cancel my ‘goodreads book challenge’ annual target. I don’t need a time pressure factor in reading - reading takes as long as it takes and that’s it’s joy.

[Eyelandgirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I ordered this book on the recommendation of a trusted acquaintance who found it life changing. The only thing life-changing was that I can't get back the time spent reading it. It is a wanna-be self help book that falls far short. It is tedious and contrived, and has some marketing of an on-line product thrown in for good measure.

I get it. We only have about 4,000 weeks on this Earth, so make the best of them. Definitely DO that. But don't waste any of those 4,000 weeks reading this book.

[Greta · Rating 1 out of 5]

A hodge-podge of self-help truisms. Read like someone's personal journal.

[Kasey Most · Rating 5 out of 5]

The single greatest book I read all year

[Guy Podjarny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to read it... but it was just unbearable to me.
To me it's a self help book, and is just as dogmatic as the books about time management and productivity it critiques. The amount of repetition is ridiculous, same message over and over again, with little new information.

If that's not bad enough, IMO it doesn't tackle the biggest push back I personally have. It assumes you want to get more done because you want to "get it off the list", and it barely touches the drive to get satisfaction from a job well done, or from achieving certain impact. It occasional buckets such goals as just societal pressure, but in practice it just barely touches it.

In transparency, I only read the first third, and skimmed past the rest, as it was just too painful and preachy for me to stick with.

[Pudsey Recommends · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great insights on time management and productivity. Bosman has read (and quotes) lots of other authors, and makes a distinct, rather rational assessment of what is out there in terms of useful advice, add his own take to it, as to how we could best approach time management in ourr own lives in a way that it leads to healthier minds.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have a finite time for our lives (on average about 4000 weeks), so we should be more intentional about what we do with that time. I think it could be summarized, make goals, do what’s really important, let the rest go. Some good ideas, maybe worth re-examining, but not particularly profound.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book was very hard to get into at the beginning, the knowledge and information it gives out in the second half make up for that. So many ideas and possibilities to change your life and live it the way you want to. I have managed to take a large number of suggestions and guidance on not only creating my own Vision but also the Actions in order to make my life Abundant. I will keep this book handy for moments when I feel stuck and need to remind myself that this is my world and my chance to make of it as I want.

[Olesia Hrendovych · Rating 5 out of 5]

Сподобалась. Спершу трішки відштовхував формат, який нагадує типову л-ру про ефективність і успішний успіх, але зрештою мала дуже багато інсайтів і ношу їх з собою щодня дотепер. Раджу 😌

«Ви ніколи не отримаєте відчуття, що робите достатньо, що вас самих достатньо, бо ця «достатність» означає цілковитий контроль, якого жодній людині не досягти. Натомість нескінченна боротьба привносить у життя дедалі більше тривог і менше радості.»

[Giovanni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting a self-helpy, cheap book, to be fully honest. What I found was one great reading instead, and I am glad of that.

The author challenged me to think about time in a totally different manner, and has challenged me to reflect on many advices I have read in many other self-help books.
I was lost in the loop of trying to “own my time”, to try to organise my day to the second, to feel on top of it. Not that having a structure in the day is wrong (in fact, I think it is essential for a life lived with purpose). But I was enslaved by it, to the point that if a friend asked me out for a coffee and that conflicted with my “super optimised schedule”, I got pissed.

Realising that I don’t own anything, especially time, is liberating. I can live without the pressure of accomplishing it all. Sometimes you have to make space for others, and if that comes at the expense of a part of the schedule, that’s ok. It’s the long run that matters. If the long run is planned with intention, the priority is set clear, then one coffee with a friend will not destroy anything. Staying in the game for the long term is the secret. Sharing time with others, letting time play with you is ok. And it is a great relief to acknowledge that.

Thanks Oliver, I feel like a burden has been taken off my shoulders!

[Susannah PK · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book isnt the sort of book I would normally read.

Not mad keen on self-health and development books.

However, the sense of humour Bosman inserts into this book is a nice surprise and actually makes the book readable and enjoyable to me.

Overall, I will give it 3/5 just because of my personal genre preference.

[Mark Mattek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turns (almost) every productivity/efficiency strategy on its head in the most humane way. Almost gave 4 stars because the few “how-to” tips/hacks it provides seem a little contradictory to the book’s overall message, but I guess it’s ok to give the people a little bit of what they want. :) A must-read as we continue to exist in an ever-worsening info-demic.

[Kristin Mallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for the chronically, or dare I say, pathologically productive with a sprinkle of anxiety. A lot of similar themes on time as The Power of Now by Tolle. It got good around chapter 8.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A better title would "Time Management for Upper-Middle Class Mortals", but overall provides very good insights on the fallacies of your standard "Time Management".

[Mandy Gilder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it average, one or two worthwhile points.

[Grace Meehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Definitely appropriate for me at this stage of my life. Would consider re reading in the future.

[Jared Hasson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The average human lifespan is absurdly, terrifyingly, insultingly short. But that isn’t a reason for unremitting despair... It’s a cause for relief."

Thoughts on limited time as a boon rather than something to fear is refreshing. Without being too defeatist, it's a good exploration of facing reality as it is, without destroying optimism, but embracing it.

While I wouldn't go so far as to say "everyone needs to read this book," as some I know seem to intrinsically grasp the ideas found within – I certainly needed to.

What we spend our time on we pay for with our lives. And I'd those works and hobbies feel a little embarrassing to share, that’s a good sign - a sign you’re doing it for its own sake, rather than for some socially sanctioned outcome

Inspection of our limited time, grappling with mortality, and yet staying away from hustle culture and coming out the other side with confidence that fleeting moments can be enjoyed more thoroughly because they're numbered would have to be my takeaway.

I used to pride myself on being a productivity nut. I wouldn't categorize myself as that anymore because I've become lazy. But I think there's a middle point in the pendulum swing between squeezing check marks on a to-do list out of our days and squandering them on useless, slothful or extravagant activities. And I'd like to think I'm better equipped to live in that sweet spot because of this book.

[Wilme ("Vilmie") Steenekamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is finite 😳. Choose what is really important, then experience the Joy OMO (As opposed to FOMO. Food for thought indeed.

[Anastasiia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Трохи води. З назви гадала що книга буде дещо про інше але деякі думки були непогані

[Conor McQuillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same motivational content you'll find in 90% of books these days. It helps that the author writes well. If you're planning to "fix your life" then good to pick this one up and skip the rest.

[Nicole Medoro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another mental health book to check off the list. This one focusing on productivity, and gaining pleasure in accomplishments.

[Arathi Nobles · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m not sure where this book got recommended but it wasn’t for me. Everything you need is either in the title or a sublime song we have known for decades:
Life is short so love the one you got
Cause you might get run over or you might get shot

There’s no time management here just appreciate the Time you have.

Random quotes and excerpts pieced together in a boring disconnected way

Pass

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of us constantly figuring out how to do more and be more, but end up feeling like we're not doing enough, this book is great. The author focuses heavily on using the time we have because we only have a finite amount of time and won't possibly be able to do everything on our list, so we should focus on those things that are most important and grow us.

[Lucy Condon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was very excited to read this book as recommended to me by a friend but I didn’t really warm to the concepts of the book - yes, I agree that we are all here for a finite amount of time and we never know when our time is up however the author advocates stepping away from time management tools as they use up valuable time themselves and we will never clear our desks. I get the idea but also feel driven by lists and goals which I don’t think is all bad in prioritising. The author summarises his ideas in a list on 10 at the end. Perhaps I could just have fast forwarded to the list to save on valuable time?!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great writing. Informative, concise, and entertaining read!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick read with a few take aways that I wrote down. Some food for thought in work-life values and changes to make.

[Seaside Sparkles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whilst I had read good reviews of this book, it was disappointing. I felt it didn’t contain any new concepts or ideas, but did have a nice, varied use of quotes.

[Worasak Werayawarangura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not really a book on time management. I would guess that many of the bad reviews come from expecting it tobe one.

This book will not be providing you with a guide to manage your day-to-day tasks or the how-to to achieve and accomplish as many things as you can in the little time that we all have in our lifes.

This book is actually the opposite of that. It gives you another point of view on how to best "manage" the finite time that you have. The upside of trying to enjoy the walk over always trying to rush to reach the destination.

If you want to know how to complete the million tasks that you (and probably everyone) have with as little time as possible, this book does not give you that answer. However if you want to get another perspective on how to look at the problems you have and how else to handle those tasks, this will be a short read that worth your while.

There are some points and some parts of the book that I find interesting and others that I don't quite relate and don't really agree. Some of the concepts I feel are a little bit too theoretical, and are not very well adapt in the real world situation.

So in summary if you want another perspective on time management this book is worth checking out. However if you're only looking for the how-to and just want to finish all tasks asap, you'll probably end up rating this book 1-2 stars like many others did.

[GZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to judge a book like this. Do you rate it for 1) it's writing, the ideas contained, it's ability to get to the point? Or do you rate it for 2) it's ability to linger in your consciousness? Or rate it for 3) the number of times you find yourself mentioning it, or recommending it even though you not the summary boils down to a single idea: Life is short. And it's not a list - you can't do everything you'll want to do. Be here now for less suffering.

I'm choosing to rate this on #2 and a little of #3 above. The ideas aren't new per se (though they are quite updated and backed by plenty of cited research). Rather, this book is a reminder to take a minute to smell the actual roses -- not take a picture of the roses ; not take a selfie with the roses; not thumbs up somebody else's image of rose, not look up the kind of rose it might be . . .

You get the idea.

The value of reading it, is taking the time to let the idea soak in.

[Regine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four thousand weeks is the average number of weeks we get (if we take 75 to be the average age that people live to).

My take home from this book is that there are a lot of productivity programs out there, but the long and the short of it is, that regardless of how productive you want to be, there isn’t really a point to it. The main aim is to enjoy the here and now. Projects that you work on will always take longer than anticipated regardless of how well you try and plan them.

Small increments of work each day gets much more done than trying to do it all in once.

People who take breaks at the same time, e.g. over weekends / holidays, are a lot less stressed, because you don’t feel guilty or stressed about not being at work while others work. I think that is why Christmas / December is just such a magical time in South Africa.  

I didn't enjoy the book as much as I would have liked to. I found the narrator (author)'s voice a bit grating the more tired /irritable I was.