Outside, the Sky Is Blue by Christina Patterson review – faith, hope and trauma
A golden childhood is followed by family tragedies – but resilience and understanding triumph in this powerful memoir
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 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
Dr Julie Smith: ‘Mental health is no different to physical health. No one is immune’
The clinical psychologist has 3 million TikTok followers and now her book is a bestseller. She talks about the simple tools that really help
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
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
Recovery: The Lost Art of Convalescence by Dr Gavin Francis review – the art of getting better
This helpful history and guide reveals that the sometimes difficult healing process is part of what makes us human