Jake Bailey knows all about adversity — but also about resilience.

As head boy at Christchurch Boys' High in 2015, Jake delivered his end-of-year speech from a wheelchair, only a week after being diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of cancer. His inspirational words went viral and touched the hearts of millions.

Once in remission, Jake was left with questions: how do young people overcome adversity? Are we born with these skills or can they be learned? And, if so, can we teach people how to flourish in the face of major setbacks and not just battle through them?

In search of answers, Jake studied positive psychology, and since then has shared the knowledge he's gained with more than 100,000 people around the world.

Jake's vision is to equip the next generation with the tools to meet life's challenges, but the strategies he's developed apply to young and old. Whether it's learning to slow down, finding the humour in a situation, not sweating the small stuff, or recognising the importance of having good people by your side, this book draws on the latest research to show you what to do when life throws you a curveball — not only how to cope, but how to thrive.