I read it with an open mind, but some of it was just plain dodgy, as it applies to the rest of the community.
Example: Casey Viator's story and the 'Colorado Experiment' (around page 190). The guy, who was already ridiuclously well trained and had superb muscle memory and genetics, dieted down 20 pounds of LBM (so we guess that it was more when we add in the fat component) beforehand, swears he took no drugs (this from a confirmed steroid user, and don't they all espouse the truth like Snow White?) and then 'eats 6-8 meals a day like its his job' (he had a cash incentive for each pound he gained), works out 3 times a week like a maniac (he's squatting 502 pounds, Leg Press at 750 for 20 reps with virtually no rest in-between each) and puts on 30+ pounds LBM in 4 weeks??
Really not that surprising.
Here's exactly what Ferriss says about that:
"
The real significance of the Colorado Experiment is two-fold, despite the fact that Casey is clearly a genetic mutant.
First, it is physiologically possible to synthesize enough protein to produce 63.21 pounds of lean mass in 28 days. This shows that one counterargument (“you’d have to eat 20,000 calories a day!”) is flawed.
This is true even if drugs were involved.
There are mechanisms involved that the simplistic caloric argument doesn’t account for.
Second, the workout logs show that the amount of stimulus needed to produce these gains (remember that Arthur also gained 15 pounds in 3 weeks) was less than two hours per week.
1st point : agreed, but as Casey is a 'genetic mutant', which cannot be side-stepped by merely pointing it out, he doesn't behave like other human beings of lesser genetic make-up. Therefore, mere mortals like ourselves will NOT achieve this. See Arthur's results (and he's no pussy!)
2nd point: also agreed, but look at the workouts! They are insanely intense - again, mortals like ourselves would not be able to keep up with this for 4 days, let alone 4 weeks.
You can prove
anything in a few weeks about muscle gain, fat loss, any metric you like, especially using examples of genetic freaks and untrained guys who start at 124 pound bodyweights (!!), but what is sustainable for the average person or even trained individuals? Surely that is the more worthwhile goal?