Flight Books swoops for book based on viral essay in three-way auction
Flight Books at Ebury has acquired the rights to High Agency by George Mack, based on his viral essay that reached millions of people.
Ebury editorial director Géraldine Collard and Flight Books head of publishing Rik Ubhi bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Rachel Berkowitz on behalf of Crown Currency in a competitive three-way auction.
They will publish the book alongside Lydia Yadi, executive editor at Crown Currency.
The book explores the "most important personality trait of the 21st century": high agency – such as immigrant mentality, treadmill energy and turning disagreeability into an advantage.
Identifying the low-agency traps people fall into (like over rumination, mid-wit malaise and being vague), it teaches readers how to harness high agency for success.
Diary of a CEO creator and Flight Group founder Steven Bartlett said: "George Mack’s game-changing concept of ‘high agency’ lives rent free in my head. I am now updating my hiring processes to search through the lens of high agency."
Yadi said: "As soon as I read Mack’s essay, I was obsessed with the idea of dialling up my own agency, and asked everyone I knew (colleague, friend, stranger at a party) the question that Mack opens the essay with – if you were stuck in jail, who would be the one person you would call to bust you out? As Mack argues, high agency is the most underrated concept of the 21st century. And like Mel Robbins’ The Let Them Theory or Greg McKeown’s Essentialism, it’s an idea that’s so simple and effective, it may change how you view reality."
Collard said: "We were all lit up by George’s essay. His writing offers readers the best qualities of non-fiction: immediately actionable and thought-provoking, his insights will transform how readers approach the everyday."
Ubhi added: "Everyone at Flight Books reads George because his writing makes us think sharper and act braver. High Agency is a brilliant expression of what we need more of: lives lived with action, impact and a no-excuses sense of purpose. This book will spark a high-agency movement – and it’s one we’re privileged to help lead in the UK and Commonwealth."
