Turia Pitt announces new book, Selfish

Burns survivor Turia Pitt has revealed some major news in the next step of her ever-expanding career.

Burns survivor Turia Pitt has announced she’s releasing a new book.

The book, titled Selfish, is about “how to unlearn the rules that are breaking you”, Pitt said in a video posted to Instagram.

“We’re told that being selfish is bad but I think the word ‘selfish’ needs a serious rebrand,” Pitt says. “All our lives we’re told by society that we need to be selfless, to put other people’s needs ahead of our own. That we need to prioritise the comfort and wellbeing of other people before we stop to consider how we feel about things. And I bought into that narrative, I bought into that myth. And doing that made me feel frustrated, resentful, overwhelmed, until eventually last year, it pushed me to burnout.

“This is the book I wish I had during that time. If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin, lost, or like you’re living by someone else’s rules: I wrote SELFISH for you.”

Pitt states that there are stories in the book she’s never shared publicly before, and that was making her “nervous”.

“If you ever feel lost or even that you’re living life for someone else, this book is for you.

Selfish, which will be Pitt’s fifth book, will hit the stores in October.

Pitt has become one of Australia’s most prominent motivational speaker and podcasters after a grassfire in 2001 left her seriously injured.

Turia Pitt has a new book coming out. Picture: Supplied

The book, Selfish, is Turia Pitt’s fifth. Picture: Supplied

Pitt, a mining engineer and ultra-marathon runner, was caught in the fire during a 100km race in Western Australia. She suffered severe burns to 65 per cent of her body and lost seven of her fingers. The incident resulted in over 200 medical procedures, a medically-induced coma, and Pitt spending two gruelling years in recovery. Despite the severe injuries, she has since become a motivational speaker, author, and continues to compete in Ironman and triathlon events.

Turia Pitt has written a new book. Picture: Supplied.

In 2022, she reflected on what has kept her going after a journalist asked her if she was a “never say die person”.

“I’m definitely a “driven” person. But at the same time, I cry a lot. I am embarrassingly earnest at times. I’m a worrier and over thinker and over analyser,” she said.

And I’m not sure if this side of me has changed because of the fire.

“But I do think the fire has given me something – empathy.

“I’m no longer uncomfortable with darkness. I don’t shy away when people share painful stories. And I’m better able to traverse the light and shade that life entails.”

Originally published as Turia Pitt announces new book, Selfish