Fourth Estate falls for Day's Failosophy

Fourth Estate has landed Failosophy: A Handbook For When Things Go Wrong, the “essential” new book by Elizabeth Day.

Associate publisher Helen Garnons-Williams acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Nelle Andrew at the Rachel Mills Literary Agency. It will be published on 1st October 2020.

The synopsis explains: “In Failosophy, Elizabeth Day brings together all the lessons she has learned from her own life, from conversations with her podcast guests, and from meeting readers and listeners who have shared their stories with her–into a practical and essential guide to navigating failure. Building on the words of wisdom from the likes of How To Fail interviewees Malcolm Gladwell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Lemn Sissay, Nigel Slater, Emeli Sandé, Meera Syal, Dame Kelly Holmes, Andrew Scott and many, many more–Elizabeth has distilled her findings into seven key principles of failure.

The book, which includes black and white illustrations by Paul Blow, has been endorsed by Alain De Botton, who writes: “A beautiful timely and humane book. If there's one philosophy the world needs more of right now, it's Failosophy.”

Garnons-Williams said: “We are hugely proud to be Elizabeth’s publishers, and her latest book, Failosophy is essential reading for anyone who has ever experienced things not quite going to plan. Reassuring, wise, funny, honest and warm and full of collective insight and practical advice it’s the perfect companion to her bestselling How to Fail (Fourth Estate)."

Day added: ‘'I am so delighted to be working again with the brilliant Helen Garnons-Williams and the entire dream team at Fourth Estate. I'm also especially excited to be working with illustrator Paul Blow, whose work I've admired for so long. I hope Failosophy will help anyone to understand that mistakes can be redrafted as lessons, and that vulnerability can be a beautiful—and helpful—thing.”