The Country of the Blind review – a penetrating study of the loss of sight

Andrew Leland’s thoughtful, beautifully expressed memoir about losing his eyesight invites us to rethink ideas about identity and independence

Don’t fret, neurotics – there are advantages to worrying

Negative mental chatter and anxious fantasies may not be all bad – they could bring benefits such as greater creativity and better health

From snoring to shift work, Russell Foster explains the myths and misconceptions that get in the way of a well-rested society

These moments of precious fresh awareness can be found in authors from Oliver Sacks to Ottessa Moshfegh and Franz Kafka

Is environmental change behind the mysterious rise in allergies, from asthma to anaphylaxis?

A thrilling examination of what it means to become a mother challenges assumptions in bravura fashion

Authors, critics and Guardian readers discuss the titles they have read over the last month. Join the conversation in the comments

Humphry Davy on laughing gas, Sigmund Freud on cocaine … how self-experimentation shaped science and art

In this extract from her new book, the comedian and writer gives a Zoom talk about depression from her hospital room

Research supports the benefits of ‘expressive writing’ – but what makes it so cathartic?