Alan Arkin on Hollywood success: ‘I was miserable pretty much all of the time’

In his mid-30s, the actor was living the dream, but was far from happy. As he publishes his memoir Out of My Mind, he talks about turning his life around – and the disgraced guru he pinned his hopes on

Labours of Love by Madeleine Bunting review – a humbling book about care

Care, paid and unpaid, is at the heart of society, now more than ever ... this is a moving and absorbing in-depth investigation

Happiness, a Mystery by Sophie Hannah review – solving the most profound puzzle

The crime writer sifts through theories on happiness from life coaches and philosophers, and has an epiphany

The Labours of Love; The Courage to Care; The Care Manifesto review – our compassion crisis in focus

Madeleine Bunting and Christie Watson bring personal experience to bear on heartbreaking studies of the UK’s ailing care system

When comfort reading won’t cut it: books to restore hope in humanity

From Man’s Search for Meaning to a celebration of life in the face of death, Cathy Rentzenbrink picks the books that confirm her faith in people

The wellness realm has fallen into conspiritualism – I have a sense why

There is a reason behind the collision of new age ‘light and love’ and the conspiratorial world of QAnon, writes Sarah Wilson

The best books to inspire compassion

From Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life to a manifesto by Elif Shafak … Christie Watson explores kindness and courage in the face of suffering

No Fixed Abode by Maeve McClenaghan review – how rough sleepers die

A meticulous investigation exposes the shameful truths surrounding the UK’s homeless population

The Shift by Sam Baker review – funny, frank and empowering

Although this ‘menopause memoir’ doesn’t break new ground it is still vital reading

The best books about medical breakthroughs

Amid the rush to find a Covid-19 vaccine, Mark Honigsbaum picks his favourites, including a novel that has inspired generations of medical students and the story of Henrietta Lacks