British Comedy Guide

Cally Beaton writes her first book, Namaste Motherf*ckers

Wednesday 30th October 2024, 9:26am by Jay Richardson

Cally Beaton

Cally Beaton has written her first book, a guide to midlife reinvention.

The stand-up and former Comedy Central executive has penned Namaste Motherf*ckers: A Modern Manifesto for Keeping Cool When You're a Hot Mess. The book will be published on 31st July by Headline Home, which has previously put out memoirs by comics Sadia Azmat and Samantha Baines.

Announcing the news on social media, the comic and mother-of-two posted: "It's written! ... Feel as if I've given birth, but with less shit involved. Maybe."

Described as "a funny, empowering, practical book that is part memoir and part stereotype-defying manifesto", Namaste Motherf*ckers pledges to be a "no bullsh*t handbook for midlife female reinvention where the worlds of comedy, boardrooms, self-help and womanhood collide".

Beaton shares stories and experiences from her career in the book, alongside lessons learned from the comedians and celebrity guests that she's interviewed on her Namaste Motherf*ckers podcast, challenging "at every turn the age-old narrative that women become invisible when they cease to be fertile".

"Being a woman in midlife isn't redemptive - it is full of pain and loss, sweat and tears, and above all, it isn't one-size-fits-all" Beaton told trade website The Bookseller. "I'm still working on my happy ending, but I would rather be living my own imperfect story than someone else's perfect one.

"My book encourages others to be the narrators of their own messy stories. For many of us, finding our voices has been hard-won; we may as well get out of our own way and use them."

Lindsey Evans, publishing director of Headline Home, acquired UK and British Commonwealth rights to Namaste Motherf*ckers from Claire Conrad at Janklow and Nesbit.

You can pre-order the book below.

Cally Beaton - Namaste Motherf*ckers: A Modern Manifesto For Keeping Cool When You're A Hot Mess

Cally Beaton - Namaste Motherf*ckers: A Modern Manifesto For Keeping Cool When You're A Hot Mess
By Cally Beaton

A no bullsh*t handbook for midlife female reinvention where the worlds of comedy, boardrooms, self-help and womanhood collide.

Part memoir, part stereotype-defying manifesto, Namaste Motherf*ckers is a funny, empowering, practical book that takes an irreverent look at the author's own story of radical midlife reinvention - taking her from meetings in the boardroom to becoming a stand-up comedian - thanks to a chance conversation with the late, great Joan Rivers encouraging her to make change happen.

Sharing stories and experiences from her career, alongside lessons learned from the many celebrities and experts that have guested on her hit podcast of the same name, Cally challenges at every turn the age-old narrative that women become invisible when they cease to be fertile.

It's also a book about defying the bullshit expectation that midlife women at best maintain (looks, career, relationships), at worst decline. With ambitious thinking and personal development takeouts from her time as a coach, Cally debunks many of the myths surrounding the female of the species and gives a fresh, funny and life-affirming look at what it means to be a middle-aged woman who is willing to take a chance, put herself out there and who is also willing to fail.

First published: Thursday 31st July 2025

  • Publisher: Headline
  • Pages: 352
  • Catalogue: 9781035420513

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BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.

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