Episode · The Tim Ferriss Show · 2026-10-20
Books mentioned on #887: Q&A with Tim — The 4-Hour Workweek in a World of AI, Rebuilding Personal Agency, The 4-Hour Body After 40, and More
This episode explores what The 4-Hour Workweek looks like in the age of AI, rebuilding momentum when you’re stuck, navigating friendships, making room for serendipity, and much, much more.
Tim Ferriss recommended The Effective Executive by Peter F. Drucker, Atomic Habits by James Clear, Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson and others, The Great Nerve by Kevin J. Tracey and others, Back Mechanic, On Grief and Grieving by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and others, and Fierce Intimacy by Terrence Real, and discussed The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss, The surrender experiment by Michael A. Singer, Healing Back Pain by Dr. John E. Sarno, and The 4-Hour Body by Timothy Ferriss.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The 4-Hour Workweek
The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss is a popular self-help and lifestyle design guide that explores how to escape the 9-to-5 grind, automate income streams, and reclaim personal time.
Discussed“Some of you will be familiar with the first book 20th anniversary is coming up in April of 27 and here is my answer because I have been asked this in private settings and I've thought about it a fair amount”
Where to get it
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The Effective Executive
The Effective Executive by Peter F.
Recommended“I'll add one resource to that read old books that contain principles like the effective executive by Peter Drucker would be one that stands out very short is very very tactic and Principle dense”
Where to get it
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Atomic Habits
Atomic Habits by James Clear is a comprehensive guide to building good habits, breaking bad ones, and mastering the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.
Recommended“small actions What I mean by that is and atomic habits by James clear. It does a good job of outlining this I think BJ Fogg out of Stanford also does a good job of describing this starting with small actions”
Where to get it
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Crucial Conversations
Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Stephen R.
Recommended“hone your ability to communicate sharpen the saw That is your responsibility. So read books whether that's like crucial conversations. For instance, there are many others I'll probably mention later in this Q&A podcast”
Where to get it
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The surrender experiment
The Surrender Experiment by Michael A.
Discussed“I wrote down a book. I wanted to mention and then someone else asked about the author 10 questions later, of course I read a book called the surrender experiment by Michael Singer. This was recommended to you by Kevin Rose”
Where to get it
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The Great Nerve
The Great Nerve by Kevin J.
Recommended“I recommend the great nerve which is a book by Dr. Kevin Tracy For diving more into that and then the conversation with Michael Levin out of Tufts that had on the podcast is a great one to dig into”
Where to get it
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Healing Back Pain
Healing Back Pain by Dr.
Discussed“what are your thoughts on the book healing back pain by john sarno? So I know this book very well and I will say to kick off that I have multiple friends who are plagued by low back pain In some cases they couldn't walk several blocks”
Where to get it
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Back Mechanic
Back Mechanic by Stuart McGill is a comprehensive, step-by-step self-help guide designed to help individuals diagnose, manage, and ultimately fix lower back pain while improving spinal health.
Recommended“Stuart McGill back mechanic great book. I'm a fan. I've spent time with Stuart. He's very smart.”
Where to get it
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The 4-Hour Body
The 4-Hour Body by Timothy Ferriss is a comprehensive manual on physical optimization, human performance, and biohacking health routines.
Discussed“Is related to the four-hour body. All right. This is a question from Duncan Hi, Tim. Do you think the basic principles in the four-hour body still apply to those over 40 over 50, etc? Specifically I'm thinking about slow-carb diet”
Where to get it
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On Grief and Grieving
On Grief and Grieving by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler explores the emotional complexities of loss through the framework of the five stages of grief.
Recommended“I pulled up a book That has helped a lot of my friends after Parents have died after spouses have died unexpectedly and I have not personally read this book in a long time It's been ages. I did look at it when it was first recommended to me”
Where to get it
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Fierce Intimacy
Fierce Intimacy by Terrence Real is a therapeutic guide focused on relationship dynamics, emotional connection, and communication with love and respect.
Recommended“There's an audiobook called fierce intimacy by terry real I find terry to be a beacon of clarity in a world of hand wavy Relationship advice. He's very opinionated and as a lot of experience”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (4) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“Then I was like, let me pick something that I will enjoy just having on an endless loop All night long right, I might watch babe like for the four-hour body I watched babe like Eight times in the evening that adds up real fast”
“His other books are also very very good So that is one that comes to mind you could also look at crucial conversations, which I mentioned earlier But if you had to pick one, I'd say listen to fierce intimacy.”
“It is the great Force multiplier not to overuse that but I recall and I wrote about this in the introduction to the four-hour body”
“gymnastic strength training GST and you can look up coach chris summer so mme r he's in tools of titans He has also been interviewed on the podcast hilarious salty old dog just like jersey”