Gavin Oattes – författare

Start living the life you’ve always wantedIt could be that you’ve figured everything out on your own and have ended up acing your career, meeting and marrying your perfect partner, producing three wonderful kids, owning a holiday home in Mustique and having a drop-dead gorgeous life. In which case, we applaud you.If, on the other hand, you need the cheat codes, then this book will give you a nudge.Redefining the genre of ‘self-help comedy,’ Shine is a book about the brevity of life. It contains adult themes of mortality, change, exhaustion and unrelenting pressure. Thankfully, the bleakness is done with humour and the solutions are entertaining, do-able and uplifting.Shine is the literary equivalent of ‘ctrl/alt/delete.’ All you have to do is read the book, keep an open mind, and apply the learning. You will experience a personal re-boot with new mental software installed, upgrading you to ‘best possible self.’ It’s a very simple process that also happens to be ‘not very easy.’ Because, of course, if being your best self was easy, everybody would be doing it.The average lifespan is 4000 weeks. Look around and you’ll see too many people having a ‘near life experience.’ They’re alive, but not living.Truth time: life’s a short and precious gift that’s hurtling by in a blur. If you want to make a dent in the universe, it’s time to wake up.We figure that if you’re going to rise, you may as well shine.Laugh and learn while you: Rediscover your ability to ping out of bed every single day with fire in your belly and a smile on your face.Identify what really matters in your life and how to stop stressing about the stuff that doesn't.Remember how to focus on all that makes you happy and cut the nonsense that worries you for no reason.Give up your low-level grumbling and experience the joy that comes when you focus on achieving all that you've ever wanted.Find out just how easy it is boost your energy and increase your motivation.Discover how to break free from 'ordinary' and embrace a life of 'extraordinary.’Figure out how to channel your inner Mary Poppins.

Start living the life you’ve always wanted

It could be that you’ve figured everything out on your own and have ended up acing your career, meeting and marrying your perfect partner, producing three wonderful kids, owning a holiday home in Mustique and having a drop-dead gorgeous life. In which case, we applaud you.

If, on the other hand, you need the cheat codes, then this book will give you a nudge.

Redefining the genre of ‘self-help comedy,’ Shine is a book about the brevity of life. It contains adult themes of mortality, change, exhaustion and unrelenting pressure. Thankfully, the bleakness is done with humour and the solutions are entertaining, do-able and uplifting.

Shine is the literary equivalent of ‘ctrl/alt/delete.’ All you have to do is read the book, keep an open mind, and apply the learning. You will experience a personal re-boot with new mental software installed, upgrading you to ‘best possible self.’ It’s a very simple process that also happens to be ‘not very easy.’ Because, of course, if being your best self was easy, everybody would be doing it.

The average lifespan is 4000 weeks. Look around and you’ll see too many people having a ‘near life experience.’ They’re alive, but not living.

Truth time: life’s a short and precious gift that’s hurtling by in a blur. If you want to make a dent in the universe, it’s time to wake up.

We figure that if you’re going to rise, you may as well shine.

Laugh and learn while you:

Rediscover your ability to ping out of bed every single day with fire in your belly and a smile on your face. Identify what really matters in your life and how to stop stressing about the stuff that doesn''t. Remember how to focus on all that makes you happy and cut the nonsense that worries you for no reason. Give up your low-level grumbling and experience the joy that comes when you focus on achieving all that you''ve ever wanted. Find out just how easy it is boost your energy and increase your motivation. Discover how to break free from ''ordinary'' and embrace a life of ''extraordinary.’ Figure out how to channel your inner Mary Poppins.

Start living the life you’ve always wanted

It could be that you’ve figured everything out on your own and have ended up acing your career, meeting and marrying your perfect partner, producing three wonderful kids, owning a holiday home in Mustique and having a drop-dead gorgeous life. In which case, we applaud you.

If, on the other hand, you need the cheat codes, then this book will give you a nudge.

Redefining the genre of ‘self-help comedy,’ Shine is a book about the brevity of life. It contains adult themes of mortality, change, exhaustion and unrelenting pressure. Thankfully, the bleakness is done with humour and the solutions are entertaining, do-able and uplifting.

Shine is the literary equivalent of ‘ctrl/alt/delete.’ All you have to do is read the book, keep an open mind, and apply the learning. You will experience a personal re-boot with new mental software installed, upgrading you to ‘best possible self.’ It’s a very simple process that also happens to be ‘not very easy.’ Because, of course, if being your best self was easy, everybody would be doing it.

The average lifespan is 4000 weeks. Look around and you’ll see too many people having a ‘near life experience.’ They’re alive, but not living.

Truth time: life’s a short and precious gift that’s hurtling by in a blur. If you want to make a dent in the universe, it’s time to wake up.

We figure that if you’re going to rise, you may as well shine.

Laugh and learn while you:

Rediscover your ability to ping out of bed every single day with fire in your belly and a smile on your face. Identify what really matters in your life and how to stop stressing about the stuff that doesn''t. Remember how to focus on all that makes you happy and cut the nonsense that worries you for no reason. Give up your low-level grumbling and experience the joy that comes when you focus on achieving all that you''ve ever wanted. Find out just how easy it is boost your energy and increase your motivation. Discover how to break free from ''ordinary'' and embrace a life of ''extraordinary.’ Figure out how to channel your inner Mary Poppins.

Life, the Universe and AwesomenessDiary of a Brilliant Kid is the "tweenager's" atlas for navigating life. This interactive collection of stories, quotes, theories and yes, science, guides you through the difficult years between ages 8 and 12 to help you make sense of yourself and the world around you. Everything is changing! And that's okay! It's actually more than okay — it's exciting. These changes are the opening salvo of your gradual transition into "grownup," and it's the perfect time to define who you are, how you think and how you choose to face the world. Is it a lot? Yes. But this book can help you sort things out and come out the other side shining.The journal format gives away the plot; Spoiler Alert: the Brilliant Kid is you. No matter how you feel, no matter what's happening in your head right now, you are not broken. You are a unique collection of talents and dreams and wants and surprises, and you have an entire lifetime ahead of you — aren't you curious to discover just how awesome life can be? This book takes you inside your own head, out into the world and everywhere your dreams may take you. Learn how to make the kinds of choices that make you feel aliveConquer the three R's of happiness: relationships, relationships and relationshipsGet a handle on today, tomorrow and what comes nextBounce back from the tough stuff, and discover the seven words that will change your lifeThere's a lot to learn, but one lesson is clear: never be afraid to shine. Stand up, stand out and be spectacular — whatever that means to you. Diary of a Brilliant Kid gives you the map and compass so you can start your own journey today.

‘ZEST’ equates to zing, enthusiasm, energy, gusto, eagerness, zeal and fervour. It also connotes a tang, a sharpness.It’s the opposite of bland.And Zest: How to Squeeze the Max out of Life is exactly that.It’s more than just a book on personal development. There are an awful lot of those. Zest is a catalyst, a spark that ignites your remembering of what makes you, in a word, you. It drives you to rethink, rejuvenate and reinvent. It also contains a touch of the revolutions. Have you, as a grown-up, fallen into the trap of becoming a Groan-up? You know you should try to make the best of things, but oftentimes you don’t know what your “best” is anymore. It’s strange. You used to know. What happened? Was it the years of social conformity? There is a whole beige generation out there – a generation that has lost its identity and forgotten who they once were – buried under the crushing, stifling facades of adulthood. If only there was a way to unearth your passions, recover the zest for life you once had. Maybe there is.Zest is a wake-up call for you to explore the formative moments that define your life. It challenges you to believe that your best days are still ahead, to search your soul, to shake things up and bask in the warmth of glorious individuality. Zest will help you: Explore the pivotal, defining moments in your lifeExamine both the good and bad experiences that define youReconnect to the essence of who you areEmbrace your quirks, qualities and peculiaritiesDetermine to be the person you always wanted to beZest is your permission to play, your licence to wreak the right kind of havoc. Moreover, it’s not about pretending to be someone you’re not, it’s about squeezing every last drop out of who you already are.

‘ZEST’ equates to zing, enthusiasm, energy, gusto, eagerness, zeal and fervour. It also connotes a tang, a sharpness.

It’s the opposite of bland.

And Zest: How to Squeeze the Max out of Life is exactly that.It’s more than just a book on personal development. There are an awful lot of those. Zest is a catalyst, a spark that ignites your remembering of what makes you, in a word, you. It drives you to rethink, rejuvenate and reinvent. It also contains a touch of the revolutions. 

Have you, as a grown-up, fallen into the trap of becoming a Groan-up? You know you should try to make the best of things, but oftentimes you don’t know what your “best” is anymore. It’s strange. You used to know. What happened? Was it the years of social conformity? There is a whole beige generation out there – a generation that has lost its identity and forgotten who they once were – buried under the crushing, stifling facades of adulthood. If only there was a way to unearth your passions, recover the zest for life you once had. Maybe there is.

Zest is a wake-up call for you to explore the formative moments that define your life. It challenges you to believe that your best days are still ahead, to search your soul, to shake things up and bask in the warmth of glorious individuality. Zest will help you:

Explore the pivotal, defining moments in your life Examine both the good and bad experiences that define you Reconnect to the essence of who you are Embrace your quirks, qualities and peculiarities Determine to be the person you always wanted to be

Zest is your permission to play, your licence to wreak the right kind of havoc. Moreover, it’s not about pretending to be someone you’re not, it’s about squeezing every last drop out of who you already are.

‘ZEST’ equates to zing, enthusiasm, energy, gusto, eagerness, zeal and fervour. It also connotes a tang, a sharpness.

It’s the opposite of bland.

And Zest: How to Squeeze the Max out of Life is exactly that.It’s more than just a book on personal development. There are an awful lot of those. Zest is a catalyst, a spark that ignites your remembering of what makes you, in a word, you. It drives you to rethink, rejuvenate and reinvent. It also contains a touch of the revolutions. 

Have you, as a grown-up, fallen into the trap of becoming a Groan-up? You know you should try to make the best of things, but oftentimes you don’t know what your “best” is anymore. It’s strange. You used to know. What happened? Was it the years of social conformity? There is a whole beige generation out there – a generation that has lost its identity and forgotten who they once were – buried under the crushing, stifling facades of adulthood. If only there was a way to unearth your passions, recover the zest for life you once had. Maybe there is.

Zest is a wake-up call for you to explore the formative moments that define your life. It challenges you to believe that your best days are still ahead, to search your soul, to shake things up and bask in the warmth of glorious individuality. Zest will help you:

Explore the pivotal, defining moments in your life Examine both the good and bad experiences that define you Reconnect to the essence of who you are Embrace your quirks, qualities and peculiarities Determine to be the person you always wanted to be

Zest is your permission to play, your licence to wreak the right kind of havoc. Moreover, it’s not about pretending to be someone you’re not, it’s about squeezing every last drop out of who you already are.

Best selling author, award winning comedian and international keynote speaker Gavin Oattes challenges you to live life better than you have to, to never be afraid of your own style and to blow your own god damn mind for a change.Cast your mind back to that album that changed your life? The riffs, the hooks and the lyrics that blew your mind? That movie that moved your whole world and assured you that life was going to be special? Transporting you to a place you’d never been before, the opening chapter of that book that changed your life forever?The hairs on the back of your neck stood, adrenaline rushed through your entire body with the weight of the world gone from your young shoulders. Energised, inspired, alive, all in and ready to turn up to this wonderfully f*cked up thing we call life.Close your eyes and remember that feeling right there in that moment?Life Will See You Now is a rousing, uplifting anthem that will inspire you to put down your phone, rediscover what truly matters and completely rethink what ‘making it’ in life actually means. A personal development title with a difference – there’s no step-by-step guide and no map to change your life – instead, it provides you with hilarious, real life inspiration, motivation and energy to figure it out for yourself and rediscover that wee piece of magic you had when you were just five years old. Oattes makes the argument – backed by both positive psychology and an abundance of childlike wonder – that in an anxious world ruled by pressure, ego and other people's expectations, we are all incredibly lucky to be alive at a time where kindness, gratitude, play and ice-lollies really do matter.Remember, you don't have to do what everyone else is doing. . .

Best selling author, award winning comedian and international keynote speaker Gavin Oattes challenges you to live life better than you have to, to never be afraid of your own style and to blow your own god damn mind for a change.

Cast your mind back to that album that changed your life? The riffs, the hooks and the lyrics that blew your mind? That movie that moved your whole world and assured you that life was going to be special? Transporting you to a place you’d never been before, the opening chapter of that book that changed your life forever?

The hairs on the back of your neck stood, adrenaline rushed through your entire body with the weight of the world gone from your young shoulders. Energised, inspired, alive, all in and ready to turn up to this wonderfully f*cked up thing we call life.

Close your eyes and remember that feeling right there in that moment?

Life Will See You Now is a rousing, uplifting anthem that will inspire you to put down your phone, rediscover what truly matters and completely rethink what ‘making it’ in life actually means. 

A personal development title with a difference – there’s no step-by-step guide and no map to change your life – instead, it provides you with hilarious, real life inspiration, motivation and energy to figure it out for yourself and rediscover that wee piece of magic you had when you were just five years old. 

Oattes makes the argument – backed by both positive psychology and an abundance of childlike wonder – that in an anxious world ruled by pressure, ego and other people''s expectations, we are all incredibly lucky to be alive at a time where kindness, gratitude, play and ice-lollies really do matter.

Remember, you don''t have to do what everyone else is doing. . .

Best selling author, award winning comedian and international keynote speaker Gavin Oattes challenges you to live life better than you have to, to never be afraid of your own style and to blow your own god damn mind for a change.

Cast your mind back to that album that changed your life? The riffs, the hooks and the lyrics that blew your mind? That movie that moved your whole world and assured you that life was going to be special? Transporting you to a place you’d never been before, the opening chapter of that book that changed your life forever?

The hairs on the back of your neck stood, adrenaline rushed through your entire body with the weight of the world gone from your young shoulders. Energised, inspired, alive, all in and ready to turn up to this wonderfully f*cked up thing we call life.

Close your eyes and remember that feeling right there in that moment?

Life Will See You Now is a rousing, uplifting anthem that will inspire you to put down your phone, rediscover what truly matters and completely rethink what ‘making it’ in life actually means. 

A personal development title with a difference – there’s no step-by-step guide and no map to change your life – instead, it provides you with hilarious, real life inspiration, motivation and energy to figure it out for yourself and rediscover that wee piece of magic you had when you were just five years old. 

Oattes makes the argument – backed by both positive psychology and an abundance of childlike wonder – that in an anxious world ruled by pressure, ego and other people''s expectations, we are all incredibly lucky to be alive at a time where kindness, gratitude, play and ice-lollies really do matter.

Remember, you don''t have to do what everyone else is doing. . .

From the bestselling authors of Diary of a Brilliant Kid comes the much-anticipated follow-up, Brill Kid – The Big Number 2Brill Kid - The Big Number 2 takes Awesomeness to the next level!This book is rock solid 'personal development' with a difference. A BIG difference! It's aimed at 7 to 11s, the exact age when mental habits are created. The book picks up where Diary of a Brilliant Kid left off – raising the bar from mental health to mental wealth, enabling young people to flourish in a world that's hell bent on knocking them sideways.It's about happiness and wellbeing. It tells you how to shine when the world's a bit dull. It's about learning to be your best self and hanging in there when the world's doing its worst. It's got oodles of content about self-care, kindness and confidence. It's got facts, diagrams, stories, activities, quotes and lots of silliness! Brill Kids will learn the following: Discover how life is actually all about crisps, sandwiches and milk and guess what – YOU are the magic ingredient!How to upgrade your life from just ‘okay’ to ‘BRILLIANT!’Find out why LEGO and LIFE are actually the same thing (but spelt different obvs).Why kindness really does matterHow to train your parents – yes, YOU!A personal letter to all the little (& big) worriers out there (fyi – there are lots of us) Brill Kid - The Big Number 2 will inspire kids, make them laugh and learn and leave them bouncing with brilliance!

Welcome to life. Teenage life. The most awkward 7 years you’ll ever have; 84 months of change, 364 weeks of weird and 2,555 days of scrolling and inconvenience. In the grand scheme of life, it’s not a lot. Unless you’re an actual teenager, in which case, it’s EVERYTHING!

“It’s the best years of your life!” they tell us.

And yet, while it should be, for so many it just doesn’t feel like it. For most it’s an emotional assault course of acceptance, stress, anxiety, heartbreak and peer pressure, all whilst navigating the ‘hashtagony’ of social media. Misunderstood by society and misrepresented by the media, teenagers have it tough.

A Head Full of Everything demonstrates that being a teenager doesn’t have to suck. And when it does, there’s some cool things you can do to make it suck a little less. This book will challenge you to embrace your inner weird, to never grow up, be true to yourself, protect your mental health and be sure that for your 7 glorious teenage years, you act your age. Literally.

Bestselling author, award-winning comedian and international keynote speaker, Gavin Oattes has written a personal development title for teens with a difference – there’s no waffle, no dad chat, no fluff. Full of hilarious, real-life inspiration and a few crazy ideas along the way, A Head Full of Everything will leave you feeling motivated, energised and reassured that nobody has life all figured out.

Welcome to life. Teenage life. The most awkward 7 years you’ll ever have; 84 months of change, 364 weeks of weird and 2,555 days of scrolling and inconvenience. In the grand scheme of life, it’s not a lot. Unless you’re an actual teenager, in which case, it’s EVERYTHING!

“It’s the best years of your life!” they tell us.

And yet, while it should be, for so many it just doesn’t feel like it. For most it’s an emotional assault course of acceptance, stress, anxiety, heartbreak and peer pressure, all whilst navigating the ‘hashtagony’ of social media. Misunderstood by society and misrepresented by the media, teenagers have it tough.

A Head Full of Everything demonstrates that being a teenager doesn’t have to suck. And when it does, there’s some cool things you can do to make it suck a little less. This book will challenge you to embrace your inner weird, to never grow up, be true to yourself, protect your mental health and be sure that for your 7 glorious teenage years, you act your age. Literally.

Bestselling author, award-winning comedian and international keynote speaker, Gavin Oattes has written a personal development title for teens with a difference – there’s no waffle, no dad chat, no fluff. Full of hilarious, real-life inspiration and a few crazy ideas along the way, A Head Full of Everything will leave you feeling motivated, energised and reassured that nobody has life all figured out.

'Heartfelt, honest and hugely comforting. Gavin writes beautifully, weaving calm (and most importantly, joy), through the chaos of modern living. A wise and perspective-shifting guide to making the most of your beautiful life.' Donna Ashworth - Sunday Times bestselling author of Wild Hope and To The WomenNot another self-help book promising “five steps to happiness.” This is a wake-up call, a rallying cry, and a much-needed hug all in one.Brace yourself for the book that flips self-help on its head and gives personal growth a much-needed shake-up. Renowned speaker and bestselling author, Gavin Oattes' latest release, Confidently Lost, is not your typical guide to happiness. Instead, it's an unfiltered, deeply human exploration of what it means to fall apart and rebuild yourself - messy, unpredictable, and gloriously real.Born out of chaos and a "lifequake" moment that shattered his world in 2023, Confidently Lost offers a refreshingly honest take on navigating the aftermath of profound disruption. From unpacking the weight of grief to rediscovering joy in the smallest glimmers, Oattes delivers life lessons with humour, warmth, and the kind of raw vulnerability that feels like a friend grabbing you by the shoulders and saying, “You've got this.”But Confidently Lost isn't just about survival, it's about thriving. Oattes draws readers into powerful reflections, challenging them to ditch perfection, embrace their inner anti-hero, and reclaim the magic of everyday moments. This isn't a book about having all the answers, it's about the courage to admit you're figuring it out as you go, and realising that's more than enough.A Book for Anyone Who's Ever Felt StuckUsing vivid storytelling and laugh-out-loud humour, Confidently Lost tackles universal themes: Letting go of the invisible rucksack of emotional baggage.Smashing the myth of “having it all figured out” and embracing life's chaos.Discovering the beauty in daydreams and the power of stillness.Breaking free from societal expectations (and the tyranny of the Joneses).Reclaiming joy, curiosity, and even the childlike wiggle that comes from pure excitement. Whether you're on the verge of a breakdown, in the middle of a breakthrough, or just figuring out what the hell to do next, Confidently Lost is here to remind you: you're not alone, and you're exactly where you need to be.