What do you think?
Rate this book
Now That I have Your Attention: 7 Lessons in Leading a Life Bigger Than They Expect
Nicolas Hamilton has been exceeding expectations since day one.
Born with a form of cerebral palsy, Nicolas was told that he would never walk and would need a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Today he not only walks everywhere but he is the first disabled athlete to ever compete at the top level of British motorsport, The British Touring Car Championship, where he lines up on the grid alongside some of the world's best drivers.
Now That I Have Your Attention follows Nicolas's remarkable journey and shares the valuable, tough, and often surprising lessons learned throughout his life.
Nicolas's journey has at times been hostile and has forced him to navigate periods of anger and resentment, but by building his mental strength and pushing himself beyond the physical limits of what anyone had ever expected of him, Nicolas has changed his life - and believes you can too.
With each of these 7 Lessons, Nicolas's message is simple and with self-discipline and self-compassion you can defy the limitations imposed upon you.
Born with a form of cerebral palsy, Nicolas was told that he would never walk and would need a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Today he not only walks everywhere but he is the first disabled athlete to ever compete at the top level of British motorsport, The British Touring Car Championship, where he lines up on the grid alongside some of the world's best drivers.
Now That I Have Your Attention follows Nicolas's remarkable journey and shares the valuable, tough, and often surprising lessons learned throughout his life.
Nicolas's journey has at times been hostile and has forced him to navigate periods of anger and resentment, but by building his mental strength and pushing himself beyond the physical limits of what anyone had ever expected of him, Nicolas has changed his life - and believes you can too.
With each of these 7 Lessons, Nicolas's message is simple and with self-discipline and self-compassion you can defy the limitations imposed upon you.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2024
6 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 26, 2024
I was so excited to read this, I had it on my wishlist as I wanted to learn more about Nic.
I've seen Nic race and think he's incredible! Even though I grew up with F1, when I got into BTCC I didn’t see him as Lewis' brother, I just saw this incredible guy whose power and strength awed me. He's a great role model and is paving the way for other disabled drivers - plus he's got a great laugh.
This book is interesting, moving, and above all inspirational and it's all down to how Nic is as a person. He's always there to help and takes time for his fans - and this is a great way to bundle up his advice.
Nic shows how you can overcome struggles, big or small, with the right determination and mental attitude. Sometimes it's breaking the barriers yourself, others it's being able to ask for help.
Overall, it's a captivating read full of guidance and recommendations alongside the history of what made him the man he is today.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from RandomThingsTours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I've seen Nic race and think he's incredible! Even though I grew up with F1, when I got into BTCC I didn’t see him as Lewis' brother, I just saw this incredible guy whose power and strength awed me. He's a great role model and is paving the way for other disabled drivers - plus he's got a great laugh.
This book is interesting, moving, and above all inspirational and it's all down to how Nic is as a person. He's always there to help and takes time for his fans - and this is a great way to bundle up his advice.
Nic shows how you can overcome struggles, big or small, with the right determination and mental attitude. Sometimes it's breaking the barriers yourself, others it's being able to ask for help.
Overall, it's a captivating read full of guidance and recommendations alongside the history of what made him the man he is today.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from RandomThingsTours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
April 24, 2024
I am a big formula 1 fan and have seen how supportive Nicolas is to his brother and loved being able to read more about Nicolas himself and what he has achieved.
The format of sharing seven lessons that have been learned through his experience works really well and there are so many strong messages throughout that really strike a chord.
This book is incredibly honest and insightful and actually inspired me to change my mindset to think more ambitiously and overcome what I feel is holding me back currently…a bit of a game changer to be honest!!
This highlights not only the amazing achievements Nicolas has worked for but also showcases all the strengths that make athletes successful- his resilience, strength and incredibly positive mindset.
I would really recommend people read this to kickstart personal journeys, learn lots and read more about the greatest sport, racing!
The format of sharing seven lessons that have been learned through his experience works really well and there are so many strong messages throughout that really strike a chord.
This book is incredibly honest and insightful and actually inspired me to change my mindset to think more ambitiously and overcome what I feel is holding me back currently…a bit of a game changer to be honest!!
This highlights not only the amazing achievements Nicolas has worked for but also showcases all the strengths that make athletes successful- his resilience, strength and incredibly positive mindset.
I would really recommend people read this to kickstart personal journeys, learn lots and read more about the greatest sport, racing!
May 10, 2024
I read this because Nick's interview on Loose Women was picked up by wheelchair-user influencers, commenting on how it made them feel when the crowd greeted his announcement that he got out of his wheelchair with thunderous applause, but I was curious to hear his story. I really appreciated how honest he was about his mental health and found the theme of disability and masculinity really important! I guess at the end of the day, all we all long for is freedom and control, and wheelchairs can give that to people or not.
September 16, 2024
We’re big motorsport fans in this house and, being British, we’re big fans of Lewis Hamilton. But our first love is actually British Touring Car Championships, which means our favourite Hamilton is actually his half-brother, Nicolas, the first disabled driver to drive in and score points in Britain’s premier tin-top racing series. We hadn’t realised he had written a book until we heard him interviewed by Alan Hyde on “Tin Top Tuesday”, but having been made aware of it, we had to give it a read.
Nic Hamilton was born with a form of cerebral palsy which affects his ability to walk and he and his parents were told that he would be unlikely to walk and if he did, he would always need a stick to help him. As well as fighting against his disability and his mixed-race heritage, which both made him the focus of bullies at school, he was also growing up in the shadow of his famous half-brother, which meant that everything he fought to achieve as been dismissed as only having been achieved due to his family connections, either financially or due to his famous name.
“Now That I Have Your Attention: 7 Lessons in Leading a Life Bigger Than They Expect” is not an autobiography in the sense that I was expecting, as Nicolas Hamilton is now a motivational speaker as well as a racing driver. To get this far in life, he has had to face and beat numerous challenges, both physical, emotional and mental and he is uniquely qualified to use his challenges to teach and inspire others to succeed, or at least take positive steps.
Over 7 lessons, Hamilton takes us through the stages of his life and what he has had to overcome and how he has achieved this. Although his most obvious disability is physical, this has led him to concerns about relationships, particularly romantically and his chosen career has put him through financial challenges and all of these have impacted his mental health, as did the bullying he experienced and he does not shy away from talking about each one of these and how he overcame them and how what he learned along the way has benefitted him and may also help anyone else.
The one aspect of the book I was slightly disappointed in was that there wasn’t much focus on his racing career, except for how it provided challenges he had to overcome. Having heard him in interviews, I know that driving used to cause issues with his ribs and that he developed and used a specific aid to assist him in generating sufficient power to use to brakes at racing speeds, but these weren’t mentioned at all. He did briefly talk about how the late loss of a sponsor impacted him and the mental recovery after a major accident and the tests he has to go through to ensure he can exit the car quickly enough, but his racing career was only touched upon in a basic way.
Whilst this felt like an omission to someone who knew Hamilton has a racing driver, that’s not to say that what is here isn’t very useful and well-written. For various reasons, only some of which he has actively chosen, his life has been a series of battles and whilst he hasn’t always won them all and certainly not easily, he’s learned a lot along the way. As he mentions in the book, he is the only one who can tell you about everything he has been through and what he does is tell that in a very personal, very detailed and very accessible way and this isn’t the book I thought I would be reading, but it is a book I’m very glad I did and can take a lot away from.
Nic Hamilton was born with a form of cerebral palsy which affects his ability to walk and he and his parents were told that he would be unlikely to walk and if he did, he would always need a stick to help him. As well as fighting against his disability and his mixed-race heritage, which both made him the focus of bullies at school, he was also growing up in the shadow of his famous half-brother, which meant that everything he fought to achieve as been dismissed as only having been achieved due to his family connections, either financially or due to his famous name.
“Now That I Have Your Attention: 7 Lessons in Leading a Life Bigger Than They Expect” is not an autobiography in the sense that I was expecting, as Nicolas Hamilton is now a motivational speaker as well as a racing driver. To get this far in life, he has had to face and beat numerous challenges, both physical, emotional and mental and he is uniquely qualified to use his challenges to teach and inspire others to succeed, or at least take positive steps.
Over 7 lessons, Hamilton takes us through the stages of his life and what he has had to overcome and how he has achieved this. Although his most obvious disability is physical, this has led him to concerns about relationships, particularly romantically and his chosen career has put him through financial challenges and all of these have impacted his mental health, as did the bullying he experienced and he does not shy away from talking about each one of these and how he overcame them and how what he learned along the way has benefitted him and may also help anyone else.
The one aspect of the book I was slightly disappointed in was that there wasn’t much focus on his racing career, except for how it provided challenges he had to overcome. Having heard him in interviews, I know that driving used to cause issues with his ribs and that he developed and used a specific aid to assist him in generating sufficient power to use to brakes at racing speeds, but these weren’t mentioned at all. He did briefly talk about how the late loss of a sponsor impacted him and the mental recovery after a major accident and the tests he has to go through to ensure he can exit the car quickly enough, but his racing career was only touched upon in a basic way.
Whilst this felt like an omission to someone who knew Hamilton has a racing driver, that’s not to say that what is here isn’t very useful and well-written. For various reasons, only some of which he has actively chosen, his life has been a series of battles and whilst he hasn’t always won them all and certainly not easily, he’s learned a lot along the way. As he mentions in the book, he is the only one who can tell you about everything he has been through and what he does is tell that in a very personal, very detailed and very accessible way and this isn’t the book I thought I would be reading, but it is a book I’m very glad I did and can take a lot away from.
August 2, 2024
It took me a long time to read this book. Not because I wasn’t into it, but more so because I didn’t have the time to read. I am so glad I took the time to finish this book. Reading about Nic’s journey allowed me to reflect not only on my own experiences, but the experiences of those close to me. How do they feel? I came into this book with closed mind, and mind of “I’m going to read this book because it’s by Lewis Hamilton’s brother”. I thought nothing more than that. From reading my mind has opened, Nic is more than an athletes sibling, he is an inspiration to all, those marginalised by society or not. I must admit I couldn’t relate to all his experiences, but those that I did really resonated with me, and again I am so glad that I finished this book. The concepts he pushes will remain with me for a long time. Thank you Nic.
December 7, 2025
this is not just a story abt defying physical limitations – its a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit 🥲 from the very beginning, the odds were stacked against nicolas. told that he would never walk & would need a wheelchair for life, he not only defied that prediction, but went on to achieve greatness in the highly competitive world of motorsport.
his journey is a testament to the strength that lies in self-discipline, mental fortitude & the unwavering belief that our limits are often self-imposed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. what drew me to the book was, ironically, the way it got my attention – its title 😂 i couldn’t help but laugh at the boldness of it & little did i know that this would be the start of a journey of unexpected inspiration. i’ll admit omg i didn’t know it was written by lewis hamilton’s brother when i picked it up but !!!!! i think twas' a good thing. it meant i didn’t approach the book with preconceived notions abt fame or family ties. instead, i was able to focus on nicolas’s personal narrative - one that is deeply moving, raw & filled with lessons learned the hard way. :'-)
each chapter of the book is filled with lessons & seven in total ~ that are clear & digestible, making it easy to reflect on what’s been shared even though sometimes i find it quite repetitive that made it hard to immerse myself in his story but the overall message remained clear. i appreciate how nicolas doesn’t shy away from sharing the darker parts of his journey: the anger, the resentment & the moments of doubt that can plague even the most determined individuals.
his message is simple but profound: we are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for, and with the right mindset, we can truly defy the expectations placed upon us. ✨
its not just about motorsport or overcoming disability – its abt breaking through the mental barriers we all face. nicolas hamilton has shown us that, with enough will & determination, we can rewrite our own stories, no matter the odds.
his journey def inspired me to reflect on my own challenges, knowing tht its not about circumstances but how we rise above them that truly defines us 💚🌱
his journey is a testament to the strength that lies in self-discipline, mental fortitude & the unwavering belief that our limits are often self-imposed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. what drew me to the book was, ironically, the way it got my attention – its title 😂 i couldn’t help but laugh at the boldness of it & little did i know that this would be the start of a journey of unexpected inspiration. i’ll admit omg i didn’t know it was written by lewis hamilton’s brother when i picked it up but !!!!! i think twas' a good thing. it meant i didn’t approach the book with preconceived notions abt fame or family ties. instead, i was able to focus on nicolas’s personal narrative - one that is deeply moving, raw & filled with lessons learned the hard way. :'-)
each chapter of the book is filled with lessons & seven in total ~ that are clear & digestible, making it easy to reflect on what’s been shared even though sometimes i find it quite repetitive that made it hard to immerse myself in his story but the overall message remained clear. i appreciate how nicolas doesn’t shy away from sharing the darker parts of his journey: the anger, the resentment & the moments of doubt that can plague even the most determined individuals.
his message is simple but profound: we are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for, and with the right mindset, we can truly defy the expectations placed upon us. ✨
its not just about motorsport or overcoming disability – its abt breaking through the mental barriers we all face. nicolas hamilton has shown us that, with enough will & determination, we can rewrite our own stories, no matter the odds.
his journey def inspired me to reflect on my own challenges, knowing tht its not about circumstances but how we rise above them that truly defines us 💚🌱
November 23, 2024
Great Book
This book has life lessons for everyone, whether you're a child, teenager, adult, able bodied, or have a disability.
This book is a must-read for everyone because it offers advice and tools that can be used by people in their life as they face the daily joys and adversity of life.
This book has life lessons for everyone, whether you're a child, teenager, adult, able bodied, or have a disability.
This book is a must-read for everyone because it offers advice and tools that can be used by people in their life as they face the daily joys and adversity of life.
August 31, 2025
One of the hardest books I had to read, not because of his story, but because of his writing style. I only read it because it was lying around the house.
It felt like it was written as a speech, not so much a book. Some paragraphs and sentences were weirdly long. I often get lost halfway reading because he flip flops. For example, he would say Xxx, then later say that he doesn’t want you to feel like you must follow Xxx because everyone has their own circumstance, but then end with Xxx is very important. It feels wishy washy and convoluted, as if Nick didn’t believe in what he was selling.
That being said, his life story is inspiring. It’s just that, despite having my attention, I’m not sure what his point is. I guess, just don’t give up?
It felt like it was written as a speech, not so much a book. Some paragraphs and sentences were weirdly long. I often get lost halfway reading because he flip flops. For example, he would say Xxx, then later say that he doesn’t want you to feel like you must follow Xxx because everyone has their own circumstance, but then end with Xxx is very important. It feels wishy washy and convoluted, as if Nick didn’t believe in what he was selling.
That being said, his life story is inspiring. It’s just that, despite having my attention, I’m not sure what his point is. I guess, just don’t give up?
June 11, 2024
This book is going to encourage many conversations. Nic Hamilton inspires with this stories of struggles as a child and young man with phyiscal disabilities. His honesty is raw and real. Despite his challenges, he's accomplished many things others only dream about. I encourage this read for anyone facing their own disabilities and for those that interact with them.
June 17, 2024
This was an incredibly honest and personal account of perseverance and triumph. Anyone looking for an inspiring, hard-hitting and honest bit of advice laced with personal story to back it up…this is a great read!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews