Gut by Giulia Endere review – a celebration of our most under-rated organ
An amusing and delightfully frank primer on our intestines crammed with amazing biological facts and anecdotes from the scatological limits of research
The Voices Within by Charles Fernyhough review – why do we talk to ourselves?
We experience some kind of inner speech for at least a quarter of our waking lives. This helps some, while others set out to reduce the chatter. And how does it relate to God?
Expecting by Chitra Ramaswamy review – the strangeness of the pregnant body
This beautifully rendered account by a gay woman updates the standard narrative of pregnancy and lifts it to another sphere, full of poetic language and references from Voltaire to Almodóvar
Metamorphosis: How and Why We Change by Polly Morland – review
Most of us are wary of change, but it can be the making of us, according to this persuasive study
Sally Brampton obituary
Women’s magazine editor and author whose memoir Shoot the Damn Dog recounted her experience of depression
Dietland by Sarai Walker review – fat is still a feminist issue
A bold debut about female self-loathing and the representation of women in the media
The Path by Michael Puett & Christine Gross-Loh – how to turn your life around
Forget navel-gazing – the authors of this bestselling self-help book claim that ancient Chinese wisdom offers an easy way to the good life. But does it say anything new?
The Voices Within: The History and Science of How We Talk to Ourselves by Charles Fernyhough – review
Hearing voices can be as much a sign of creativity as madness, according to an intriguing new psychological study
Book an appointment: doctors to prescribe novels in new scheme
The Reading Well for Young People campaign lists books to help young people deal with mental-health issues and will be available at surgeries and libraries
Forget mindfulness, stop trying to find yourself and start faking it
Why is the history of Chinese philosophy now the most popular course at Harvard? Top tips on how to become a better person according to Confucius and co
Adventures in Human Being by Gavin Francis review – a tour round our bodies
A beautifully written guide to our wonders and weaknesses
Reading from Behind: A Cultural Analysis of the Anus review – getting to the bottom of ‘anal theory’
It might be shortlisted for the oddest title of the year award, but Jonathan Allen’s book is a serious work of theory, exploring the backside as a site of humiliation and disgust
States of Mind edited by Anna Faherty review – ‘a compelling collection’
Mark Haddon introduces this fascinating book, which looks at the nature of consciousness through literature, science, art and case studies
Gavin Francis: ‘Sex is given as much importance as death’
The GP and author explains how he conceived of a journey around the human body in the holistic spirit of medieval medicine
Top 10 books about cancer
Treatment of this cruel disease has advanced hugely in recent years, but writers from Philip Roth to Christopher Hitchens show the awful human cost it still exacts