Matt Haig author photo
Image via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Matt Haig

Born: July 03, 1975 – Sheffield, England, United Kingdom

Matt Haig is a British author whose work spans fiction, non-fiction, and children’s literature, often exploring themes of mental health, hope, and the human condition. Best known for The Midnight Library, which has sold over ten million copies and been translated into more than fifty languages, his writing has had global impact.

Biography & Author's Journey

Matt Haig, born in Sheffield in 1975 and raised in Newark, Nottinghamshire, is an acclaimed English author and journalist celebrated for his work across both fiction and non-fiction. He studied English and History at the University of Hull, later completing a master's degree at Leeds. Before his literary breakthrough, Haig briefly ran an internet marketing company and managed a nightclub, but his life took a dramatic turn in his mid-twenties when he suffered a severe bout of depression while living in Spain. This experience, nearly fatal, would become a defining moment in his personal and professional life, deeply shaping his writing voice and thematic focus.

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Quotes

quote
It is easy to mourn the lives we aren't living. Easy to wish we'd developed other other talents, said yes to different offers
-The Midnight Library
quote
You were born worthy of love and you remain worthy of love. Be kind to yourself
-The Comfort Book
quote
Nothing is stronger than a small hope that doesn’t give up
-The Comfort Book
quote
You are not here to be perfect. None of us are. You are here to live
-The Life Impossible
quote
If you aim to be something you are not, you will always fail
-The Midnight Library
quote
It is a strange paradox, that many of the clearest, most comforting life lessons are learned while we are at our lowest
-The Comfort Book
quote
The answers have all been written. And the more you read, the more you will know how to find your way through those difficult times
-Matt Haig: A-Z Quotes
quote
Sure, in each moment we have never been so old, but we are of course also the youngest we will ever be
-The Life Impossible
quote
Never underestimate the big importance of small things
-The Midnight Library
quote
Life sings and blazes. Even when we are numb to it, when we hide from it, when it is too loud and painful to experience, when we aren’t equipped to feel it – it is there, waiting, to be cherished and protected, ready to give us at least one more blast of beauty before the night
-The Life Impossible

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10 Best Mental Health Books to Read in 2026
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Explore the 10 best mental health books to read in 2026—powerful picks to boost self-awareness, emotional resilience, and personal growth.

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Best Goodreads Choice Awards Books
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Yann LeCun's Essential Reads for AI Brilliance
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Mental Health, Behavior & Memoirs

Mental Health, Behavior & Memoirs

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Mental Health, Behavior & Memoirs

This plan bridges clinical science with the human experience of recovery and growth. It is ideal for anyone seeking to break destructive patterns, heal from past trauma, or gain deeper empathy through the power of storytelling.

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Bio, Memoir, Neuroscience & Tech Explorer

Bio, Memoir, Neuroscience & Tech Explorer

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Bio, Memoir, Neuroscience & Tech Explorer

This plan bridges the gap between human experience and scientific advancement, offering a unique look at how personal stories and neural architecture shape our world. It is ideal for curious minds, tech professionals, and lifelong learners eager to understand the future of the mind and machine.

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Study lit & boost mindfulness

Study lit & boost mindfulness

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Study lit & boost mindfulness

This learning plan is perfect for book lovers, students, and professionals seeking to deepen their relationship with literature while cultivating inner calm and focus. By combining literary analysis with mindfulness practices, you'll develop skills that enhance both intellectual engagement and emotional well-being, making this ideal for anyone feeling overwhelmed by modern distractions or seeking more meaningful connections with what they read.

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Habits, Philosophy & Mental Health Explorer

Habits, Philosophy & Mental Health Explorer

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Community Voices

"Matt Haig is an English author and journalist known for both fiction and non-fiction, often in the speculative fiction genre"

Wikipedia

"Haig’s memoir Reasons to Stay Alive was a number one Sunday Times bestseller in the UK"

Wikipedia

"Haig's signature genre-bending style swirls sci-fi, magical realism, and mental health themes"

She Reads

"Matt Haig is the internationally bestselling author of The Midnight Library, How to Stop Time, and The Humans"

Bookreporter

"Matt Haig has written several award-winning books for both children and adults"

Speakers Associates

"Matt Haig's The Midnight Library was called the 'It’s a Wonderful Life of the modern day."

She Reads

"Matt Haig became an advocate for mental health awareness after writing several self-help books"

Speakers Associates

"The Guardian described Haig’s A Boy Called Christmas as an ‘instant classic"

The Guardian

"Matt Haig's books have been translated into over fifty languages worldwide"

Bookreporter

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