Read me a story: why reading out loud is a joy for adults as well as kids

Sarah Manavis and her partner have a guilty secret. What they love to do most of all in private is… read out loud to each other. And, as she’s discovered, it has many surprising benefits

Magic Pill by Johann Hari review – weighing in

There is a useful book to be written about the rise of anti-obesity drugs such as Ozempic, but this flawed account is not it

‘Why has my uterus fallen into my vagina?’: Emily Oster’s new book demystifies common pregnancy complications

The Unexpected, the latest book by the economics professor, examines the uncomfortable and embarrassing parts of pregnancy that no one talks about

Bald by Stuart Heritage review – hair today, gone tomorrow

An unexpected twist on the grief memoir sees the Guardian writer chart the five stages of male-pattern baldness

Everything Must Go by Dorian Lynskey review – apocalypse now

A history of our obsession with the end of days – and the culture it has inspired

I was the poster girl for OCD. Then I began to question everything I’d been told about mental illness

When I sought help for crippling invasive thoughts, I was told I had a disease like any other. But I wasn’t able to recover until I understood the fallacy at the heart of mental healthcare

‘Thirsty, wet, desolate. The dream’: One Day author David Nicholls on the peculiar pleasure of long, soggy solo walks

The bestselling author has always hated being on his own, so why does he spend a few days every year hiking alone in the wind and rain? Just don’t call it a midlife crisis …

A Body Made of Glass by Caroline Crampton review – anatomy of hypochondria

Memoir, cultural history and bleak humour characterise this brilliant personal exploration of health anxiety

‘I didn’t want to hurt that girl. I just felt this pressure building … ’ The sociopath who learned to behave – and found happiness

Patric Gagne has spent most of her life fighting terrible urges. She is also a loving sister, daughter, mother and wife. She talks about her remarkable journey

The Ritual Effect by Michael Norton review – standing on ceremony

From Rafael Nadal’s ball-bouncing to families’ Christmas traditions, what purpose does ritualistic behaviour serve?