Religion for Atheists by Alain de Botton – review
Alain de Botton's attempt to encourage secular society to steal religion's most fruitful ideas is admirable but ultimately hollow, says Richard Coles
Calories & Corsets: A History of Dieting Over 2,000 Years by Louise Foxcroft – review
Atkins, Hay, Dukan – are they all the same? By Kathryn Hughes
Rhona Rapoport obituary
Social scientist whose research shifted ideas on work-life balance
The optimism bias: reasons to be cheerful
Neurologist Tali Sharot tells Carole Cadwalladr how she discovered the optimism bias, and how it helps to keep people feeling happier
James Hillman obituary
US psychologist who concluded that therapy needed to change the world rather than focus on people's inner lives
Pass notes No 3,098: Herman Van Rompuy
The president of the European Council is spreading a little happiness among his fellow world leaders this year
Christmas gifts 2011: which books will be under your tree?
Our critics choose the books they intend to give this Christmas, and the ones they hope to receive
The Brain is Wider Than the Sky by Bryan Appleyard – review
Are we wrong to compare our brains to our technology? By Simon Ings
Guardian First Book award shortlist: Siddhartha Mukherjee
Siddhartha Mukherjee introduces The Emperor of All Maladies