QI and the magical power of facts

The TV quiz's top fact-checker, John Mitchinson, reveals some of the favourite nuggets of information he uncovered for its latest publication

Sex and the Citadel by Shereen El Feki

Guardian First Book award shortlistee Shereen El Feki introduces an extract from her book and explains what inspired her to write it

Masters of Sex by Thomas Maier – review

Reissued to coincide with the TV series it inspired, this is a fascinating insight into the origins of America's sexual revolution, writes PD Smith

Narcomania: How Britain Got Hooked on Drugs by Max Daly and Steve Sampson – review

The global drug economy is now an essential component in our modern banking system and cannot be debated honestly, write Max Daly and Steve Sampson

Some Remarks by Neal Stephenson – review

An interesting and entertaining collection of speeches, articles, interviews and short stories from the science-fiction novelist, writes PD Smith

The Lives of the Muses by Francine Prose – review

A fascinating book in which Prose shows the currents flowing between remarkable couples, dissecting the legends to reveal their messy human hearts, writes Victoria Segal

New Books Party: books received this week

GrrlScientist: This week, I tell you about three interesting books that arrived on my doorstep

Eyes Wide Open by Noreena Hertz – digested read

Trust nothing in life, except yourself (and this self-help book). John Crace reduces one economist's advice to 700 words

Expecting Better by Emily Oster – review

Does a glass of wine harm baby? Zoe Williams on why all the advice about pregnancy is wrong

The Novel Cure by Susan Elderkin and Ella Berthoud – review

Gavin Francis signs up for a course of bibliotherapy as a cure for emotional and physical pain