Re-educated: Why it's never too late to change your life

A Financial Times Book of the Year
A Sunday Times Book of the Year

‘A beautifully told story of courage, determination and, above all, magnificent defiance’ Alan Johnson

‘Bracing and inspirational’ Nigella Lawson

‘A wonderful writer… life-affirming’ Jon Snow

‘There are lots of reasons to read this book, which has the fineness of detail, sharpness of humour and grace of a novel by Penelope Lively. But it’s this business of changing one’s mind - the thing most of us least like to do - that I admired the most’ Observer


‘I am immersed in a new world that feels a long way from my old one. Though I’ve not been re-invented, what has happened is just as radical and a lot more interesting: I am being re-educated.’

Lucy Kellaway had a comfortable life. For years she had the same prestigious job, the same husband, and the same home. To the casual observer, she was both happy and successful. But one day, Lucy began to realise that the life she had built for herself no longer suited her. Was it too late to start again?

The answer was no - so she proceeded to tear down both marriage and career, and went back to school. Retraining as a teacher, Lucy discovers there is a world of new possibilities awaiting her - and learns that you can teach an old dog new tricks (providing they are willing to un-learn a few old ones along the way).

A witty and moving story of one woman’s pursuit of a new life, Re-educated is a celebration of education’s power to transform our lives at any age, and an essential companion for anyone facing the joy - and pain - of starting again.