Bodley Head snaps up two from Burkeman

The Bodley Head has snapped up two "life-enhancing" books from Oliver Burkeman, titled Meditations for Mortals and Doing Things: Productivity for Imperfect People. 

Stuart Williams, publishing director, acquired UK rights from Claire Paterson Conrad at Janklow & Nesbit UK. US rights have been sold to Eric Chinski at Farrar, Straus & Giroux (NA) by Melissa Flashman at Janklow & Nesbit. 

The first title in the new deal, Meditations for Mortals, is a book of "philosophical, action-inspiring" thoughts for every day of the year. The publication date is yet to be announced.

Burkeman’s previous book, Four Thousand Weeks, was a Sunday Times bestseller and has been acquired by 39 translation publishers. according to The Bodley Head. 

Burkeman said: "I’m thrilled that I’ll get to continue working with Eric at FSG and Stuart at The Bodley Head, whose contributions to Four Thousand Weeks were indispensable and whose organisations have been incredibly supportive of my work. There’s no greater privilege as a writer than to work with such talented editors and agents on subjects that feel so central to the challenge of building a meaningful life in the modern world."

Williams added: "We are absolutely delighted to have these two new books by Oliver. They brighten the path ahead for all of us. Four Thousand Weeks is the rarest of books – a universal donor in which the broadest spectrum of readers can find nourishment and inspiration for how to change our lives by embracing our limits. We look forward enormously to bringing Oliver’s uniquely bracing, wise writing to many, many more readers."