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
The Leopard in My House by Mark Steel review – finding the funny side of living with cancer
The comedian reflects on mortality and the new course his life has now taken in this warm account of his cancer diagnosis and treatment
‘I was causing harm’: author Helen Jukes on motherhood and our polluted bodies
In her latest book, Mother Animal, the writer gives a personal account of the impact of ‘forever chemicals’ on her and her child during and after pregnancy
The Inherited Mind by James Longman review – a moving memoir of mental illness in the family
The TV reporter’s struggles with depression and the suicide of his father, whose own father killed himself, prompt this incisive, highly personal investigation
Fancy a stroll? Across Europe, young people like me are finding friends by walking our cities
We are the post-pandemic flâneurs: stepping out of social media silos to meet people and connect with the world around us
Bridget Jones is a welcome reminder of a much more comfortable era
She worried about her drinking, smoking and weight – but there was never any doubt she would have a job and be able to pay her rent. It’s a very different world for gen Z, writes Zoe Williams
Winter wonder: Jeanette Winterson and others reveal why the cold has them under its spell
Too dark, too cold – winter’s charms aren’t as obvious as summer’s brassy joys. But for Robert Macfarlane, Alice Oswald, Poppy Okotcha and others, this is a rich season. Here, they offer ways to lean into it, with an introduction by Jeanette Winterson
The Big Idea: looking for a better life? Follow your nose
Smell has an outsize effect on our thoughts and moods, so it’s worth paying more attention to it
Music As Medicine by Daniel Levitin review – musician, heal thyself
In this fascinating book, the neuroscientist makes a strong case for the therapeutic force of music, describing ways in which it can be a beneficial part of recovery for patients