Ferriss’ previous book was the 4 Hour Work Week (4HWW) which was a NY Times best seller and translated into I forget how many different languages. But lots of them. This is his new book, a fascinating look at revamping your body.

Review: The 4-Hour Body. An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Weight Loss, Incredible Sex and Becoming Superhuman.

4-Hour Body is a hacker's guide to reaching goals

While some of it might not seem new at first, there are revelations that are new. It’s a fascinating book and I’m not one to read most diet books because they are too crazy. It is 10 years of data and experimentation, three years to write. So it's not a fly-by-night guide based on hearsay.

Tim is a self professed madman but I think he's basically a smart guy with a boatload of curiosity and OCD put to good use. But this book is not what you think. Uncommon it is from the examples to the prose. And just like Tim himself, this book is unlike anything I've ever read. He is a self proclaimed guinea pig. And obsessive he is about data, results, stepping outside the box and little health gadgets.

What is 4-Hour Body about?

While the title is a bit sensationalist, the book outlines strategies that help people stick to a plan and lose weight, gain muscle, reduce body fat percentage, gain weight, improve sex and sleep, reverse injuries, train more efficiently for endurance, strength and speed. There are appendixes and resources on where to purchase items and where to find alternatives that are less expensive if you need to.

He offers many examples and proof of outcomes, geeky data and a roadmap that you can follow exactly or piece together depending on your goals.

There is explicit instruction and detail on how to do the exercises. I still had to google some to make sure I was doing things right, though.

Four Hour Body is like a huge reference book, 582 pages

You’re not expected to read all the pages. In fact, you are encouraged to pick and choose what you want to read. He has only stated the Fundamentals and Ground Zero chapters as mandatory. The rest? A smorgaboard.

The Cut-to-the-Chase Diets

What I like about it is the frankness and the fact that you do not starve yourself but rather follow a plan. At first, you may think "same old story" but then it hits you. Cheat day? Apparently, subjects who were part of the results have maintained their weight loss or other fitness goals. That’s the huge piece of the puzzle. So many books tell you how to get there but as soon as you’re “done” you get fat again, loose again or whatever.

I also like that there is not a “magic pill”. Vitamins, sure. Tips and tricks galore but no secret shot. And Ferris admits you have to have a cathartic moment to really embrace the regimen and make positive changes. It’s more about reinventing yourself or your body.

He has detailed those who only made minor changes to see major league results.

4-Hour Body focuses on exercises that accomplish far more in less time

Personally, these are my favorite parts of the book and admittedly I’m not overweight and stay in shape because I hate being out of shape. I have whittled down regimens over the years to those exercise routines that help me reach my goals and maintain without killing myself and spending half my life at the gym. I have figured out the mileage that gets me diminishing returns and more injury and that which is not enough to maintain my fitness level.

Outlined here are all sort of exercises and routines that are simply more efficient. So you spend less time getting to your goals. The key is consistency. And most of what you read will include tips for travelers and other life events that can interrupt any routine.

Four Hour Body: Book or Kindle?

I have a kindle but I have the book. Granted I was sent a preview copy prior to the release so I don’t know that I would have chosen that since I love my kindle. But I like being able to flip through this as a reference book. And for that a real book is helpful. I thought at first no kindle. But I want to have it with me and the kindle is so compact. I can also highlight notes and bookmark pages. So I will also buy the kindle version as well. There is also an audio version. I'm not an auditory learner and I can flip back through a CD. But this is a good one if you drive a lot. You can still choose the chapters you want.

Some of what’s included in this turn science-on-its head book

• Reduce body fat and increase muscle actually reducing the NUMBER of fat cells
• Using temperature tricks to lose weight
• Prevent weight gain from binges
• How to triple testosterone and double sperm count
• How to reverse problems due to injury
• How to turbo charge your endurance and speed by doing less
• How to become stronger using more efficient tactics
• How to inspire 15-minute female orgasms and be come a master of manly arts
• How to sleep 2 hours and feel fully rested
• How to master getting sleep
• How to use Kettlebells to turbo charge fitness and fat burn
• Post publish bonus chapters on the 4-Hour Body Website

And there’s more. Fascinating book. Really.