A&U acquires Buttifant, Farr tough nonfiction

Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired world rights to Life’s Tough—Be Tougher by David Buttifant and Nick Farr.

‘Life’s Tough—Be Tougher is a straight-talking guide to building resilience and thriving when hard times hit,’ said the publisher. ‘Their brutal experiences of profound personal loss, written about here for the first time, led them to develop new life practices and then working together to help others.’

In Life’s Tough—Be Tougher, Buttifant and Farr bring together their insights to show ‘resilience is not innate – it’s a skill you can learn’. The book outlines physical, emotional, social and psychological pillars of recovery and the strategies readers can put into action.

Buttifant is a high-performance specialist who has worked with elite athletes for over twenty five years both at an Olympic level and in the AFL. Farr, a former police detective, has led and coached more than 1000 people in high-altitude environments and has climbed many of the world’s highest mountains including Mt Everest.

In 2017, Buttifant and Farr founded Resilience Builders, a leading provider of leadership, resilience and wellbeing programs across Australia. It has helped thousands of individuals and organisations build resilience, develop leadership and create high performance cultures.

Buttifant said, ‘My own lived experiences, from moments of success to the challenges and setbacks that tested me deeply, have shaped the way I see resilience. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do claim that everything I believe and share I practise.’

Farr said, ‘What’s challenged me most in life, has taught me most. I hope these pages encourage you to build your own resilience and discover the limitless potential you have to overcome anything.’

Publisher Sally Heath said, ‘Adversity can be an opportunity for growth. David Buttifant and Nick Farr share very intimate and moving stories about when life has been at its hardest for them. They show us how they found a way forward and the practical tools and exercises we can use to regain our footing when we are knocked for six by a curveball. This book is a game changer.’

A&U plans to publish Life’s Tough—Be Tougher in March 2026.

Pictured [L–R]: Nick Farr and David Buttifant.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions