Ideas can be powerful. This book company was one such idea.

I discovered The DO Lectures back in 2011 after watching a brilliant talk about the future of print in a digital world (my background was book publishing). Later that day, I sent an email to the founders, Clare and David Hieatt, asking if they had ever considered publishing books by their speakers. We had our first online meeting less than a week later. 

The Do Book Co. launched in the spring of 2013 as a new independent publishing house with five books: Do Grow, Do Birth, Do Story, Do Improvise and Do Disrupt. The eye-catching covers by artist James Victore armed us with a strong brand identity and that same year - represented by Publishers Group UK - we were stocked at the Tate, Design Museum and Conran Store, as well as high street and independent retailers.

We publish books that inspire action and positive change, all written by speakers from The DO Lectures. Concise guides designed to help and encourage creative entrepreneurs, makers and Doers in business, design, wellbeing and sustainable living. The books focus on the 'doing' rather the background theory so after reading about a particular subject, you can make a start. 

Ten years on, the collection of nearly 40 books (and counting!) can be found in bookstores around the world, in different languages, and in print, digital and audiobook formats. Each book has two royalty payments: one to the author and another to The DO Lectures in Wales to help them achieve their aim of inspiring positive change. 

In 2014, we were shortlisted in the Best Brand/Series Identity category of the British Book Design and Production Awards. We came Highly Commended in the 2022 FutureBook Awards for our work on Sage Member Masterclass, and we have been shortlisted for The Bookseller Marketing Award in this year’s Independent Publishers Guild Awards.   

You can find out more by watching this short film made by Hackney Downs Studios/Eat Work Art Ltd as part of their 2020 Virtual Open Studios or browsing our digital catalogue here. To hear about new titles and events, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter. 

We hope you like the books and find them useful! And if you'd like to get in touch or for any rights or press enquiries, please email info@thedobook.co and we'll respond.  

Keep reading & doing!  

Miranda West
Founder & Publisher
London, 2023