‘The 4-Hour Body’ is Missing Bonus Parts

CHICAGO (CN) - Random House and the author of "The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid-Fat Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman," promised "bonus material" with the book, but never provided it, according to a class action in Cook County Court.

Named plaintiff Mario Aliano says he bought co-defendant Timothy Ferriss' bestselling book, partly because of the promise that he could seek hidden passwords in it to get "some of the most entertaining materials that didn't make it in."

"The 4-Hour Body" is available in a print and electronic version, and "purports to cover over 50 topics in multiple chapters," the class claims.

Ferriss claims on his website that "The 4-Hour Body" will teach readers: "How to prevent fat gain while bingeing (X-mas, holidays, weekends); How to increase fat-loss 300% with a few bags of ice ... How to sleep 2 hours per day and feel fully rested; How to produce 15-minute female orgasms; How to triple testosterone and double sperm count ... How to reverse 'permanent' injuries," and other cool stuff, according to the complaint.

"Additionally, both the book and Ferriss' website say that there is 'Bonus Material' included as part of the purchase of the book," with titles such as "Spot Reduction Revisited: Removing Stubborn Thigh Fat" and "The Top 10 Reasons Why BMI is Bogus," the complaint states.

Ferriss and Random House promoted the book by promising that the extra goodies could be obtained by using hidden passwords in the book, the class claims.

But "at the time the book was published and continuing to this day, no such Bonus Material is available or accessible," the class claims.

"Indeed, numerous individuals have been asking for the Bonus Material" on blogs and on Ferriss' website, the class says. It claims that Ferriss has responded by stating that "The links will be live for launch date on 12/14," and that the materials will be "Coming soon!"

But the class claims that "at the time the book was published and continuing to this day, no such Bonus Material is available or accessible. Defendants knew this at all times that they marketed, advertised, promoted, distributed and sold the book, and defendants continue to make these willful misrepresentations when marketing, advertising, promoting, distributing and selling the book.

"Defendants' knowledge that no Bonus Material is or was available is evidenced by a blogs [sic] contained on Ferriss' websites ... In his blogs, Ferriss admitted that there is no Bonus Material."

The class wants Ferriss and Random enjoined from promoting the book with the promise of "bonus material," and damages for breach of warranty, consumer fraud, unjust enrichment and deceptive business practices.

They are represented by Thomas Zimmerman Jr.

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