Books

Journey into the complex medical and religious history of women’s bodies from classical Greece to the modern day.

An illuminating, life-affirming book by Daniel Tammet that celebrates the power and beauty of the neurodivergent mind.

Cultural historian Elsa Richardson leads us on a lively tour of the gut, exploring all the ways that we have imagined, theorised and probed the mysteries of the gastroenterological system.

Plunge into this rich, surprising and fascinating A–Z compendium to discover how our fixations have taken shape, from prehistory to the present day.

An unmissable, radical essay from bestselling author Emma Dabiri, offering alternative ways of seeing beauty.

Doctor Gavin Francis makes an urgent call to arms in defence of our NHS.

Plunge into the intimate history of cosmetics, and discover how, for centuries, women have turned to make-up as a rich source of creativity, community and resistance.

‘Am I Normal?’ is a deep dive into the strange science of the ‘normal’, and the roots of an anxiety-ridden modern obsession.

Discover the ethereal world of the brain with this elegant little book by Richard Wingate – and find out how we all think and feel.

In an essential and searingly truthful account, Annabel Sowemimo unravels the colonial roots of modern medicine.

Join Claire Horn on a deep dive into the radical future of birth in a world where science is on the cusp of being able to grow babies outside human bodies.

Harry Parker meets the people pushing the limits of our bodies and brains, grappling with his own new identity and disability along the way.

Classicist Caroline Vout reaches beyond texts and galleries to expose Greek and Roman bodies for what they truly were: anxious, ailing, imperfect, diverse, and responsible for a legacy as lasting as their statues.

In her blistering non-fiction debut, Eimear McBride unpicks the contradictory forces of disgust and objectification that control and shame women.

Mixing fascinating case studies with historical and psychological insights, ‘Brainwashed’ is a stimulating journey into the mysteries of thought control.

In this brave and funny account of postnatal depression, Emma Jane Unsworth tells her story of despair and recovery.

A deeply moving story of what it means to care for those we love by bestselling author Kate Mosse.

The way we think about plants is about to change for ever: this anthology is your handbook to a new natural world.

An extraordinary account of how we navigate the world.

In this uplifting account of hope and healing, GP Gavin Francis explores how and why we get better, revealing the many shapes recovery takes.

A major new history of the Cold War, exploring the conflict through the minds of the people who lived it.