Hybrid Humans by Harry Parker review – man and machine in harmony

An ex-soldier who lost both legs in Afghanistan examines the implications of advances in medical technology with intelligence and humanity

Outside the Sky Is Blue review – the triumph of hope against the odds

Christina Patterson’s family memoir is crammed with challenges, setbacks, illness and death, and yet remains a wonderfully uplifting read

The Urge by Carl Erik Fisher review – against the war on drugs

A psychiatrist and former addict cautions against conflating drug use with harm in this fascinating historical survey

The big idea: is it time to stop worrying about stress?

Our beliefs about difficult feelings may do more damage than the feelings themselves

Everything Is True by Roopa Farooki review – the first 40 days on the Covid frontline

An author turned junior doctor’s account of the chaos at work and anguish at home as Covid-19 arrived in the UK is vital, cathartic reading

I love living on my own – so why am I so scared of the dark?

Megan Nolan always dreamed of having her own lovely home. But now terrifying thoughts keep her awake at night. Here, the author wonders why

What I Wish People Knew About Dementia by Wendy Mitchell review – a book of hope

Wendy Mitchell’s good-humoured practical guide to living with dementia has a deeper, more existential message for all of us: connect, forgive, accept and live

Sweat by Bill Hayes review – a history of the physical that gets personal

An all-encompassing book about bodies and exercise through the ages that leaves you hungry for more

Outdoor vibes: 10 of Britain’s best wild festivals for 2022

From mountain survival to foraging to Charlotte Church’s pop dungeon … the best adventure and wellness festivals offer outdoor pursuits by day and all-out partying by night

Smile: The Story of a Face by Sarah Ruhl review – a bruising battle with Bell’s palsy

The playwright’s fascinating book shows how a decade-long struggle with the condition profoundly affected her sense of self