Strangers to Ourselves by Rachel Aviv review – rewriting the language of mental illness
The New Yorker writer tries to redefine attitudes through a quintet of studies of troubled people from around the world
The big idea: why the maternal instinct is a myth
The ‘parental brain’ is something that develops with experience – and anyone can get one
Oliver Jeffers grew up in Belfast hating violence. Now he wants children to see how futile it is
The children’s author, who lived through the Troubles, believes that kids should be taught to seek peace from an early age. By Donna Ferguson
The big idea: do we all experience the world in the same way?
Every human brain is different – it’s time to embrace the diversity of our experiences
Landlines by Raynor Winn review – back on the trail
The author of The Salt Path returns with another heartwarming odyssey, this time on one of the wildest walks in Britain
The big idea: should we drop the distinction between mental and physical health?
The current false dichotomy holds back research and stigmatises patients
And Finally: Matters of Life and Death review – humility lessons from Henry Marsh
The ever candid neurosurgeon reflects on his own mortality, as well as the failings of his profession, in this enthralling third volume of memoirs
‘I just go into my head and enjoy it’: the people who can’t stop daydreaming
Psychiatrists may soon recognise ‘maladaptive daydreaming’ as a clinical disorder. But what is it, and how can it be treated?
And Finally by Henry Marsh review – from doctor to patient
Fearlessly frank and endearingly geeky reflections on life and death by a neurosurgeon diagnosed with cancer
Side Effects by David Haslam review – what do we want from healthcare?
The ex-chair of Nice considers the spiralling costs of medical treatment and asks how we might fix a creaking NHS