Books

Plunge into this rich, surprising and fascinating A–Z compendium to discover how our fixations have taken shape, from prehistory to the present day.

Classicist Caroline Vout reaches beyond texts and galleries to expose Greek and Roman bodies for what they truly were: anxious, ailing, imperfect, diverse, and responsible for a legacy as lasting as their statues.

In her blistering non-fiction debut, Eimear McBride unpicks the contradictory forces of disgust and objectification that control and shame women.

‘Am I Normal?’ is a deep dive into the strange science of the ‘normal’, and the roots of an anxiety-ridden modern obsession.

Mixing fascinating case studies with historical and psychological insights, ‘Brainwashed’ is a stimulating journey into the mysteries of thought control.

In this brave and funny account of postnatal depression, Emma Jane Unsworth tells her story of despair and recovery.

A deeply moving story of what it means to care for those we love by bestselling author Kate Mosse.

The way we think about plants is about to change for ever: this anthology is your handbook to a new natural world.

Harry Parker meets the people pushing the limits of our bodies and brains, grappling with his own new identity and disability along the way.

An extraordinary account of how we navigate the world.

In this uplifting account of hope and healing, GP Gavin Francis explores how and why we get better, revealing the many shapes recovery takes.

A major new history of the Cold War, exploring the conflict through the minds of the people who lived it.

An enlightening cultural history of the sex trade that puts sex workers centre stage, revealing how they have lived and worked all around the globe.

A gritty, dark tale of infectious disease gone wrong – the timely graphic novel from Sunday Times-bestselling author Val McDermid.

A hilarious quest to understand life’s ultimate guilty pleasure.

From your first cell to your first breath, this is your story as you have never heard it before.

The new science of contagion and the surprising ways it shapes our lives and behaviour.

In an age of polished TED Talks and overconfident political oratory, success seems to depend upon charismatic public speaking. But what if hyper-fluency is not only unachievable but undesirable?

On the pandemic’s forgotten front lines, a doctor cares for his community – from care homes to homeless shelters, islands to the inner city.

Barack Obama’s former Surgeon General explores the global loneliness epidemic – and how we can overcome it.

Why play really matters, and 101 ways to get more of it in your life.