COMING NOVEMBER 2026

BASED ON A TRUE AUSTRALIAN STORY

What if the animals we think we're teaching... are actually teaching us?

After seeing a Facebook video of a 1,100kg Brahman bull swimming alongside jet skis at Nanarup Beach in Albany, Western Australia, bestselling Australian author Diana Thurgood messaged a family she'd never met and booked a flight from Sydney to find inspiration to write her next book.

What she found became Bruce: Life Lessons from a Brahman Bull (and a Teenage Daughter), an extraordinary true story about animals, family, fatherhood, failure, resilience and the unexpected teachers who change the way we see the world.

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The unique bond that inspired a book

Meet Tom and Bruce, and discover how an unlikely friendship with a 1,100kg Brahman bull became a story about trust, connection and what it means to be human.

FROM THE BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF SECOND CHANCE

DIANA THURGOOD

From the moment she could walk and talk, Diana Thurgood has shared a deep connection with animals. A lifelong animal lover, she has dedicated herself to caring for and writing about domestic, farm, and native animals. Her particular passion is exploring the profound bond that can exist between people and animals, and the way these relationships enrich, heal, and shape lives.

Diana's first book, Second Chance, the heartwarming true story of a neglected horse who became a Mounted Police hero, captivated readers, earning both critical praise and impressive sales. She has also built an award-winning career in learning design, creating educational content and resources for more than thirty years.

For the past twenty-six years, Diana has lived on a forty-acre property in Berambing, a small community in the Blue Mountains. There' she raised three children while caring for a menagerie of much-loved animals, an experience that continues to inspire her writing and advocacy today.

  • PUBLISHED BY ALLEN & UNWIN

  • 8,500+ COPIES SOLD

  • 8 REPRINTS

  • #1 BEST SELLER, AMAZON MEMOIR CATEGORY

  • 4.49 ★ GOODREADS

  • 4.6 ★ AMAZON

You don't need to own a bull to see yourself in this story.

Bruce: Life Lessons from a Brahman Bull (and a Teenage Daughter) is for anyone who has ever questioned something they were raised to believe.

  • Anyone who loves a true Australian story.

  • Anyone who's struggled to understand their father, daughter, son or parent.

  • Anyone who's been told their idea was ridiculous.

  • Anyone who's had to find a way to rebuild after failure.

  • Anyone who's found an unexpected connection with an animal.

  • Anyone who's ever wondered whether animals might understand far more about us than we realise.

Sometimes the greatest lessons about being human, come from those who aren't human at all.

The human-animal bond

Through Tom and Bruce’s extraordinary relationship, discover what becomes possible when we stop expecting animals to understand our world, and start trying to understand theirs.

Resilience through adversity

From the hardships that shaped Tom to the animals that found him along the way, this is a story of how life’s hardest chapters can quietly become the ones that teach us the most.

Family and fatherhood

Through Tom’s childhood, his relationship with his own father and the family he would one day raise, this book explores how the love and lessons of one generation can echo into the next.

OWNER/TRAINER OF GUS THE BRAHMAN

Dan Welsh

DIAMOND W SADDLE CATTLE

It is my great pleasure to introduce "Bruce, Life Lessons from a Brahman bull", a remarkable story that brings to life the journey of Brucey Brahman in Western Australia. From the first page, readers will be drawn into a world that is at once sad, beautiful, and deeply connected to the traditions of cattle and country.

I first came to know Bruce and Tom through Facebook. I'm from Pennsylvania, USA and Tom reached out with a question about the best way to handle a Brahman bull. Despite being physically separated by half the world, social media allowed me to get to know Tom and Bruce. In this book, they capture not only the strength and spirit of the Brahman breed, but also the culture, challenges, and triumphs of life in the Australian landscape and it will too give you the opportunity to get to know a man and his bull.

What makes this work stand out is its authenticity. Whether you are familiar with cattle and the land or you are discovering this world for the first time, you will find wisdom, humour, and heart within these pages. This is more than the story of a single bull. It is a reflection on resilience, identity, and the bond between people, animals, and the land they share.

I believe readers will walk away from this book with a deeper respect for the Brahman breed and the extraordinary life that unfolds around Bruce. I invite you now to step into this journey, guided by Tom, and experience a story that will stay with you long after the final page.

You’ve followed Bruce.

Now be one of the first to read his story.

Join the waitlist for first access to Bruce: Life Lessons from a Brahman Bull (and a Teenage Daughter), including pre-order announcements, launch details and exclusive updates before they’re shared publicly.

What early readers are saying about the book

FOLLOW ALONG WITH BRUCE'S JOURNEY ON SOCIALS

Step into Brucey's world

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Bruce: Life Lessons from a Brahman Bull (and a Teenage Daughter) be released?

The book will be available for purchase in November 2026. Join the waitlist and you’ll be among the first to know the official release date, and when you can get your hands on a copy.

Who wrote the book?

Bruce is written by bestselling Australian author Diana Thurgood, who discovered Bruce after seeing a video of him swimming with jet skis off the coast of Albany. Fascinated by what she saw, Diana contacted a family she had never met and travelled from Sydney to Western Australia to uncover the story behind him.

Where will I be able to buy the book?

Once released, we’ll share all the places you can purchase Bruce: Life Lessons from a Brahman Bull (and a Teenage Daughter), including options to buy online and in person. Join the waitlist and we’ll send the details straight to your inbox as soon as they’re announced.

Will signed copies be available?

Details about signed and special copies will be announced closer to release. Join the waitlist to make sure you don’t miss any limited releases.

Is Bruce based on a true story?

Yes. Bruce tells the true story of Tom Kennedy, his family and the extraordinary animals that have shaped their lives in Albany, Western Australia. While Bruce might sound like a character dreamed up for a book, the giant Brahman bull behind the story is very real. His Facebook page has videos from the stories that are told in this book.

What formats will the book be available in?

Bruce: Life Lessons from a Brahman Bull (and a Teenage Daughter) will be available in paperback and Kindle eBook, giving you the choice to read Bruce’s story in print or digitally. And in the future looking to bring in an audio book.

How can I make sure I don’t miss the release?

Join the waitlist. We’ll let you know when the book becomes available, where you can buy it and any important launch or pre-order announcements.

Will there be a book launch?

Yes! We’re planning a special launch to celebrate Bruce: Life Lessons from a Brahman Bull (and a Teenage Daughter). There will be one event hosted in Sydney, and another event hosted at Wild West Bowling, in Albany. More details will be announced soon, with waitlist members among the first to hear.