Episode · The Tim Ferriss Show · 2026-04-16
Tim Ferriss & Brian Dean: books mentioned on The Tim Ferriss Show #861
#861: 4-Hour Workweek Success Story Brian Dean — From Dad’s Basement to Selling Two Companies
Brian Dean is the founder of Backlinko and Exploding Topics, both acquired by Semrush, which itself was recently acquired by Adobe for $1.9 billion. Brian's story starts exactly where a lot of great stories start: broke, directionless, and eating canned beef stew in his dad's basement during the 2008 financial crisis.
Tim Ferriss recommended Built to Sell by John Warrillow, and discussed The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss. Brian Dean recommended Ready, Fire, Aim by Michael Masterson.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The 4-Hour Workweek
Discussed“I'm thinking maybe because the impetus for this is somewhat around the connective tissue of the 4-Hour Workweek, should we just begin with how on earth you and the 4-Hour Workweek intersected?”
Where to get it
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Built to Sell
Recommended“I remember coming across, and I haven't read it in a long time, but a book by John Warlow called Built to Sell, which talks a bit about this, and I thought it was actually very good, like a very I don't want to say basic, but pretty sort of foundational primer for some of this stuff.”
Where to get it
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Ready, Fire, Aim
Recommended“They're like totally green, then Ready, Fire, Aim is usually the book that I recommend. You familiar with that one? I've heard of it. Michael Masterson.”
Where to get it
