About Carl

Carl Honoré was born in Scotland, but grew up in Canada. His hometown is Edmonton, Alberta, whose chief claim to fame is, er, having the largest shopping mall in the world.

After graduating from Edinburgh University with a degree in Modern History and Italian, he spent time working with street children in Brazil. He has covered Europe and South America for the Economist, Observer, Guardian, Miami Herald, Houston Chronicle, Time Magazine, and the National Post (Canada).

On top of a (relatively!) busy schedule of broadcasting and public speaking around the world, Carl lectures in universities and takes part in debates and panels. He has been described by ABC TV News as “the unofficial godfather of a growing cultural shift toward slowing down.” Newsweek called him “an international spokesman for the concept of leisure.” Huffington Post labelled him “the godfather of the Slow movement.” The Financial Times urged people to read In Praise of Slow, lauding it for being “to the Slow Movement what Das Kapital is to communism.”

He lives in London with his wife, who is also a writer, and their two children. His neighbourhood is such a magnet for young families that it has earned the nickname Nappy Valley. On Saturday morning, it’s pram gridlock in the market.