Available to book
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.
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.
Topics, sessions and talks
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.
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.
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.
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.
Testimonials
Featured Projects
often considered together
Stuart Maconie
Storytelling
Communication
Creativity
Martin Gutmann
4.7
Effective Leadership
Leadership Development
Artificial Intelligence
JP Pawliw
Communication
Dealing With Pressure
Emotional Intelligence
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
To book Oliver Burkeman, email hello@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 Oliver's availability and speaking fee. 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 about your audience.
Oliver Burkeman structures sessions around the central argument from his book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, using the framing device of finite human lifespan (approximately 4,000 weeks) to reposition time management away from efficiency and towards the deliberate choice of what to neglect.
Oliver Burkeman speaks on time management and finite productivity, personal accountability, and strategic decision making. His book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals became a New York Times bestseller and was named one of the best books of 2021 by the Financial Times and The Times.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
Get the right person
Tell us what you’re working on and we’ll match you with the talent your audience won’t stop talking about.
