Carl Honore
Award winning writer, journalist and speaker, globally accepted as the “guru of slowness”.
Carl Honore's videos
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Languages:
- English ,
- French ,
- Spanish
Carl Honore's 2025 biography
Carl Honore’s speaking and presenting
- Delivers speeches and workshops that help individuals and companies thrive in a fast world – by slowing down
- His other topic: how to age better and tap the power of multigenerational working
- His books on slowness and longevity have been translated into 36 languages and landed on bestseller lists around the world
- Present fluently in English, Spanish and French (working knowledge of Portuguese and Italian)
Carl shows audiences across the globe how slowing down can boost creativity, productivity and wellbeing. And how embracing aging can do the same. His two TED Talks have racked up millions of views. Whether online or in-person, his keynotes and workshops are dynamic, inspiring, informative and full of humour. His audiences range from teachers, politicians and doctors to entrepreneurs, IT professionals and C-suite executives.
Carl Honore’s background
After graduating from Edinburgh University, he worked with street children in Brazil. As a journalist he covered Europe and South America for publications on both sides of the Atlantic: the Economist, Observer, National Post, Houston Chronicle, Miami Herald, and Time. Carl lives in London.
Television, Radio and Publication
His first book, In Praise of Slow, chronicles the global trend toward putting on the brakes in everything from work to food to parenting. The Financial Times said it is “to the Slow Movement what Das Kapital is to communism.” Carl presents an online TED Course called ‘How To Slow Down’ and fronted ‘The Slow Coach’ on BBC Radio 4
His second book, Under Pressure, is a blueprint for raising children in a fast world and was hailed by Time as a “gospel of the Slow Parenting movement.” Carl presented ‘Frantic Family Rescue’ on Australia’s ABC TV. He also spent three years on the Board of Trustees of the Hewitt School in New York City.
His third book, The Slow Fix, explores how to tackle complex problems in every walk of life, from health and relationships to business and politics.
His latest book, Bolder, explores how we can age better and feel better about aging. It’s a spirited takedown of ageism. In 2024, Carl was named as an Advocate for Aging by the American Society for Aging and Next Avenue.
Carl recently wrote and presented a series on ‘Status’ for BBC Radio 4.
How the media describes Carl
“An in-demand spokesman on slowness.”
The Wall Street Journal
“The global guru on the Slow Movement.”
Globe and Mail
“The unofficial godfather of a growing cultural shift toward slowing down.”
Huffington Post
“The world’s leading evangelist for what has become known as the Slow Movement.”
CBC Radio (Canada)
“The godfather of the Slow Movement.”
ABC News (USA)
“An international spokesman for the concept of leisure.”
Newsweek
“A verbal magician.”
Australian Financial Review
Carl Honore's 2025 talks & topics
Slow down, Power up (CORPORATES)
In the modern workplace, faster is often better. But not always. Sometimes slowing down is the best option. As The Economist put it: “Mastering the clock of business is about choosing when to be FAST and when to be SLOW.”
In any organisation, harnessing the power of SLOW will supercharge:
1. Productivity
2. Creativity
3. Leadership
4. Decision making
5. Problem solving
6. Communication
7. Collaboration
8. Strategic thinking
9. Health
10. Purpose
Drawing on stories and research from competitive industries across the world, Carl shows how companies and entrepreneurs can power up by slowing down.
Finding Your Inner Tortoise (GENERAL AUDIENCES)
To thrive in a fast world, you have to slow down. Doing so will boost your health and bring more depth, pleasure and meaning to your life. It will also make you more creative and productive at work. As the actress Mae West once said: “Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly.”
Using stories and research from around the world, Carl shows how to work, play and live better by unleashing your inner tortoise.
SLOW PARENTING: Helping Children Thrive in a Fast World
Children need the time and space to explore the world on their own terms, to play freely, to rest and reflect, to get bored even. Children need slowness.
They also need us, as parents, to slow down.
Touching on themes ranging from technology and extracurricular activities to schooling and safety, Carl shows parents how to help their children thrive by living at the right pace.
NB: Carl offers a special talk for children of all ages. He also runs Slow Parenting workshops for parents.
SLOW EDUCATION: Teaching Children in a Fast World
Drawing on examples from around the world, Carl shows how slowing down can supercharge a school: By building resilience, social skills and emotional intelligence. By boosting analysis, learning and debate. By unleashing a creativity revolution.
Carl shares practical steps for slowing down school life and bringing everyone (staff, parents, pupils) along for the ride.
NB: Carl also offers workshops for pupils of all ages and for teachers. In both, attendees learn how to identify where the pressure to rush is coming from – and how to resist it.
How to Age Better and Feel Better About Ageing
We are living better for longer than ever before. Scientists, artists and entrepreneurs are hitting their stride later in life. Pop culture, from movies to modelling to the media, is carving out more room for people past the first flush of youth. Bottom line: there has never been a better time in history to grow older.
Drawing on the latest science, personal experience and case studies from around the world, Carl inspires audiences to embrace ageing as both a privilege and an adventure.
How to Tap the Power of a Multigenerational Workforce
Conventional wisdom tells us that an ageing workforce is a bad thing. Conventional wisdom is wrong. Older workers are productive, creative and socially adroit. They also have a strong yen to help others. No wonder mixed-age teams perform better on every metric.
Drawing on the latest research and on case studies from around the world, Carl shows how your organisation can thrive by embracing older staff and multigenerational working.