Available to book

Bestselling author & speaker

Oliver Burkeman

Productivity

Strategic Decision Making

Accountability

Transform productivity and time management with Oliver Burkeman, speaker and bestselling author. Oliver helps organisations prioritise what truly matters, overcome distractions, and build meaningful work cultures. New York Times bestseller recognised by Financial Times and The Times.

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Trusted by BBC Radio 4, The Guardian, New York Times, Wall Street Journal

Oliver Burkeman

Leeds, United Kingdom

Starting from

£6–10k

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Leeds, United Kingdom

Starting from

£6–10k

Send an email

loading@getapeptalk.com

Give us a call

+44 203 835 2929

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No upfront fee

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Oliver Burkeman's biography

Journalist

Psychology

Thought Leader

Author

TEDx

Personal Development

At a glance

Best-selling author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
Former columnist for The Guardian
Speaker on productivity and meaningful living

Oliver Burkeman is a best-selling author and keynote speaker. His notable works include "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals", "Meditations for Mortals", and "The Antidote". For many years, Oliver wrote a popular weekly column on psychology for the Guardian titled "This Column Will Change Your Life". His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Psychologies, and New Philosopher. He has a dedicated following for his insights on productivity, mortality, and building a meaningful life in a complex world. Additionally, he has presented several programmes for BBC Radio 4, including "Oliver Burkeman is Busy", "Why Are We So Angry?", and "Living with the News". "Four Thousand Weeks", which refers to the average human lifespan, became a New York Times bestseller and was named one of the best books of 2021 by various publications, including the Financial Times and The Times. In this book, Oliver argues that the main challenge of time management is not efficiency but rather deciding what to neglect. He discusses the importance of patience in a fast-paced world and suggests that committing to fewer options can be more beneficial than keeping them open. In "Meditations for Mortals", Oliver presents a four-week mental retreat designed to help readers confront their limited time, prioritise effectively, and overcome distractions. He aims to bridge the gap between understanding and action, encouraging readers to focus on what truly matters.

Oliver's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

The Power Of Strategic Decision Making: A PepTalk

This session explores the importance of strategic decision making in achieving success. Attendees will learn how thoughtful choices can unlock their potential and lead to positive outcomes. By understanding the power of strategic decision making, individuals can make informed choices that align with their goals and aspirations. This session will provide practical insights and strategies to enhance decision-making skills, ultimately benefiting attendees personally and professionally.

Time Management for Mortals

In this session, Oliver Burkeman unpacks the key themes from his best-selling book "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals". He emphasises the power of embracing limitations as a route to meaningful productivity and examines how our struggles with time stem from denying the reality of our finite existence. Oliver also highlights the unique nature of contemporary time challenges. Attendees will learn how to navigate their time more effectively by accepting these limitations and understanding their modern implications.

Personal Accountability: The Path to Meaningful Change

In this keynote, Oliver Burkeman explores how taking ownership of our actions, choices, and mindset can transform our lives. Drawing from his work on time, productivity, and the human condition, Oliver challenges us to move beyond excuses and embrace accountability as a powerful tool for growth, fulfilment, and meaningful change. Discover practical strategies to cultivate personal responsibility in an unpredictable world.

Why we recommend booking Oliver

Book Oliver Burkeman as a speaker to inspire your team with profound insights on productivity, prioritisation, and embracing limitations. His engaging style and thought-provoking ideas will empower your audience to navigate the complexities of modern life, fostering a culture of meaningful action and resilience.

Check Oliver's availability

Trusted by BBC Radio 4, The Guardian, New York Times, Wall Street Journal

Testimonials

Oliver Burkeman provides an important and insightful reassessment of productivity. The drive to get more done can become an excuse to avoid figuring out what we actually want to accomplish. Only by confronting this latter question can we unlock a calmer, more meaningful, more resilient approach to organizing our time.

Cal Newport

Author

Featured Projects

Four Thousand Weeks: Embrace Your Limits. Change Your Life. Make Your Four Thousand Weeks Count.

15,000+ experts

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How do I book Oliver Burkeman for my next event?

Email oliver.burkeman@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience. As speaker agents, PepTalk can secure Oliver Burkeman for commercial and corporate events, conference keynotes, leadership talks, celebrity brand endorsements & partnerships, personal appearances, and motivational speaking engagements. We can assist with enquiries about Oliver Burkeman's speaking fees, availability, and booking process for private business functions, industry conferences, and team events. Please note, for media interviews, autographs, charity appearances, or personal matters, we recommend contacting Oliver Burkeman directly.

What is Oliver Burkeman's speaking style like?

Oliver delivers thoughtful, insightful presentations that blend practical advice with philosophical depth. His style encourages reflection, helping audiences focus on what matters most and navigate complexity with clarity and purpose.

What topics does Oliver Burkeman specialise in?

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