With Prozac Nation, Elizabeth Wurtzel blew open the memoir as we know it
A daringly unvarnished account of desperate self-absorption, this startling debut redrew the boundaries of confessional writing
The Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalan review – psychologist in the dock
This inquiry into a 1970s experiment that shook the world of psychiatry makes for a compelling read
How to Fail by Elizabeth Day review – learning from things going wrong
The novelist shares lessons from the challenges in her own life and those of famous interviewees
How the Brain Lost Its Mind review – beyond hysteria
In this study of psychiatry and neurology, Allan Ropper and BD Burrell ask: does mental illness reside in the brain or the mind?
Meaty by Samantha Irby review – scatological essays
Outspoken and defiant musings on dating, renting, running out of money – and caring for a parent
I used to scoff at self-help. Then I found out it works
I thought simple life advice was a step towards narcissism – until I started listening to an upbeat California podcast, says writer and critic Alex Clark
Nonfiction to look out for in 2020
The next 12 months promise brave books on positivity, daughters trying to fathom their mothers and the twilight world of the terminally ill
Hate baby showers and dinner parties? Sarah Knight wants you to say no
The sweary self-help guru behind a string of bestsellers explains her evangelical faith in turning down everything from lunch to love
Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas by Adam Kay review – more matchless stories from A&E
From the author of This Is Going to Hurt, funny, disgusting and moving tales with a festive twist – and a show of support for overworked NHS staff
Eat rats and throw poo at the horizon: can Bear Grylls help me survive any disaster?
What could you kill and eat in Hyde Park? How do you fight off an angry dog? And how do you put a nosy journalist in his place? The SAS man turned TV star shows off his survival skills