It's not entirely surprising that Sharma has taken this approach. Rather than walk us through the processes and benefits of his 20/20/20 Formula – effectively you do some exercise between 5am and 5.20am write, meditate, plan or contemplate between 5.20am and 5.40am and then read books, listen to podcasts or 'review goals' for the last third of the hour – he chooses to cloak all this in a fictional story of an entrepreneur and an artist who meet an eccentric, seemingly homeless man (actually a billionaire tycoon), who becomes their secret mentor. The real problems with the book, then, are not his ideas but how Sharma has chosen to present them.

His argument is that The 5am Club is actually the culmination of a concept he's been honing for more than 20 years, which has helped his clients 'accomplish epic results while upgrading their happiness, helpfulness and feelings of aliveness.' The sheer number of books about or by successful people (Richard Branson, Michelle Obama, PepsiCo's recently retired Indra Nooyi) who rise before dawn is staggering – to the point where it seems odd that Sharma is heading down such a well-travelled path for his new book. But not because the benefits to be gained from getting up early aren't entirely plausible. Develop a formidable inner life, become ultra fit and an amazing leader. But the benefits he believes will come your way are compelling. Instead, you must Move, Reflect and Grow, in three 20-minute segments. Unfortunately, being a member of his newly minted 5am club does actually mean getting up before the crack of dawn – and resisting the urge to reach for your phone to check for news of vacuous celebrity escapades that occurred when you were, briefly, asleep. Elevate Your Life, you will achieve a 'substantially better life'. By doing so, promises the Canadian in his new book, The 5am Club : Own Your Morning.

R ock star leadership guru, bestselling author and self-help expert Robin Sharma wants you to own your morning.

The 5 AM Club by Robin S. Sharma