The death of my friend inspired me to follow my standup dreams

For one writer, tragedy led to comedy, the sudden loss of a colleague giving her the nudge she needed

The Sleep Room by Jon Stock review – haunting accounts of horrific medical abuse

A book about psychiatrist William Sargant’s unethical treatments at a London hospital in the 1960s is all the more powerful for its vivid patient testimonies

Alive: An Alternative Anatomy by Gabriel Weston review – our bodies in an eye-opening new light

A surgeon (and TV host) encourages us to take a fresh look at our organs in a smart and forceful study

Maternity Service by Emma Barnett review – a tour of duty in early motherhood

In this valuable, brutally honest guide, the broadcaster argues that a supposedly joyful time is often steeped in drudgery and social isolation

On my radar: Georgia Ellery’s cultural highlights

The Black Country, New Road and Jockstrap musician on a YouTube philosopher, the power of Munch and her love of saunas and Japanese onsen

Maternity Service by Emma Barnett review – baby steps

An energetic attempt to reimagine maternity leave swerves hard thinking about social reform

The Age of Diagnosis by Suzanne O’Sullivan review – do no harm

A doctor’s brilliant study of the dangers of overdiagnosis, from ADHD to long Covid

The Age of Diagnosis by Suzanne O’Sullivan review – are we really getting sicker?

A neurologist discusses the dangers of overdiagnosing conditions from Lyme disease to ADHD in an era where technology meets pathology

Silence please: how book clubs without the chat help focus the mind

A Silent Book Club is growing in popularity in Melbourne as an antidote to the social pressure of group discussions

Go outside, ditch the phone, get humble: my top 10 Scandi life lessons after a decade in Denmark

After 12 years, we’ve said goodbye to one of the happiest countries on Earth. From friluftsliv (the joy of the open air) to janteloven (realising you’re no better than others) here’s what I’ve learned