‘I’m full of energy and I feel great. The compliments are flooding in’ – The TimesPraise for Petronella Ravenshear and The Human Being Diet:‘Whisper it, but the secret weapon for weight loss among the sleekest, leanest women of southwest London is the Human Being Diet’ The Times‘The remarkable results are incontrovertible.’ The Telegraph‘Fashion set go wild for tough new nutrition plan’ Daily Mail‘[Petronella Ravenshear] knows her stuff’ Tatler‘Hailed for its transformative powers’ The Times'I like the HBD because it's so simple, there's no faffing around endlessly totting up calories or points.''I feel renewed. I'd battled my relationship with food for so many years and now I'm healthy and I feel fantastic. It's a feeling money can't buy.'Change the way you eat to change the way you feel.The Human Being Diet is a revolutionary programme to help you become the best, healthiest, lightest, most energetic, happiest version of YOU.These delicious recipes are based on the groundbreaking nutritional science of The Human Being Diet. Find out when to eat, what to eat and how much to eat to reset your metabolic rhythm and restore your health, resulting in perfect weight, boundless energy, flawless skin, healthy digestion and refreshing sleep. Read more

'The fascinating story of ancient words … new revelations await' The Guardian'A magisterial feat' New Scientist________________________________One ancient language transformed our world. This is its story.Star. Stjarna. Stare. Thousands of miles apart, people look up at the night sky and use the same word to describe what they see.Listen to these English, Icelandic and Iranic words and you can hear echoes of one of the most extraordinary journeys in humanity’s past. All three of these languages – and hundreds more – share a single ancient ancestor.Five millennia ago, in a mysterious Big Bang of its own, this proto tongue exploded, forming new worlds as it spread east and west. Today, nearly half of humanity speaks an Indo-European language. How did this happen?In Proto, acclaimed journalist Laura Spinney sets off to find out. With her we travel the length of the steppe, navigating the Caucasus, the Silk Roads and the Hindu Kush. We follow in the footsteps of nomads and monks, Amazon warriors and lion kings – the ancient peoples who spread these tongues far and wide. In the present, Spinney meets the linguists, archaeologists and geneticists racing to recover this lost world. What they have discovered has vital lessons for our modern age, as people and their languages are on the move again.Proto is a revelatory portrait of world history in its own words.________________________________'Lively and fascinating. I loved it' David Bellos, author of Is That a Fish in your Ear?'A truly extraordinary detective story' Matt Ridley, author of The Evolution of Everything Read more

'Interesting and provocative... It gives you a sense of how briefly we've been on this Earth' Barack ObamaWhat makes us brilliant? What makes us deadly? What makes us Sapiens?One of the world's preeminent historians and thinkers, Yuval Noah Harari challenges everything we know about being human.Earth is 4.5 billion years old. In just a fraction of that time, one species among countless others has conquered it: us.In this bold and provocative book, Yuval Noah Harari explores who we are, how we got here and where we're going.**ONE OF THE GUARDIAN'S 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21st CENTURY**PRAISE FOR SAPIENS:'Jaw-dropping from the first word to the last... It may be the best book I've ever read' Chris Evans'Startling... It changes the way you look at the world' Simon Mayo'I would recommend Sapiens to anyone who's interested in the history and future of our species' Bill GatesOver 2 million copies sold since publication [Nielsen BookScan UK, Circana BookScan US, April 2024] Read more

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK A BEST BOOK OF 2025 IN THE TIMES, GUARDIAN, LONDON STANDARD, NEW STATESMAN AND IRISH TIMES 'Covers so many topics that have been troubling me but I hadn't been able to resolve myself - as a parent and a clinician. An absolutely absorbing read' - CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN'A brilliant study of the dangers of overdiagnosis' - GUARDIAN'Compassionate and bracingly independent thinking' - THE TIMESFrom autism to allergies, ADHD to long Covid, more people are being labelled with medical conditions than ever before. But can a diagnosis do us more harm than good? The boundaries between sickness and health are being redrawn. Mental health categories are shifting and expanding all the time, radically altering what we consider to be 'normal'. Genetic tests can now detect pathologies decades before people experience symptoms, and sometimes before they're even born. And increased health screening draws more and more people into believing they are unwell.An accurate diagnosis can bring greater understanding and of course improved treatment. But many diagnoses aren't as definitive as we think. And in some cases they risk turning healthy people into patients.Drawing on the stories of real people, as well as decades of clinical practice and the latest medical research, Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan overturns long held assumptions and reframes how we think about illness and health.*As heard on Good Morning Britain, Sky News, Radio 4 Today and more.* Read more

A transformative guide to rethinking our approach to goals, creativity and life itself from a neuroscientist and entrepreneur'A compelling new take on a timeless concern' - CAL NEWPORT'I loved this profound, practical and generous book' - OLIVER BURKEMAN'Perfect for anyone seeking more freedom in how they design their life' - ALI ABDAAL'One of the best productivity books that I've read' - RYDER CARROLL'This book will change the way you design your goals and live your life' - NIR EYALWe're told productivity is all about single-minded focus, hard grind and big goals. Deviating from the linear path means failure. The problem: it's not true.In this transformative book, neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff reveals the easier, proven method to achieve our ambitions: an experimental mindset. Ditching out-dated notions of chasing success, she demonstrates the joyful power of 'tiny experiments' in which goals are discovered, pursued and adapted on your own terms. Rooted in science and real-world success stories, Tiny Experiments is packed with tools to help you break free from limiting beliefs, harness the power of imperfection and apply your curiosity - to create a meaningful, productive life in an ever-changing world. Read more

I read it in 2 days and it's now in my top 3 most valued books EVER – STEVEN BARTLETT:DIARY OF A CEO HOST & Dragons Den"20+ years in professional football, you get to meet some incredible people!! I was lucky enough to spend time with Prof Peters with England. If you've not read 'A Path through the Jungle' I'd highly recommend it!" BEN FOSTER: EX ENGLAND GOALKEEPEREver wanted to succeed but not sacrifice your health, relationships and values to get there? This is possibly the most important book you will ever read!!! Professor Michael Coleman, Professor of Neuroscience, University of CambridgeProfessor Steve Peters is a Consultant Psychiatrist and author of the bestselling self-help book, The Chimp Paradox. He has years of experience as a clinician, an educator and has worked with some of the world’s most successful athletes.His new book 'Path through the Jungle' will help you to become robust and resilient. Professor Peters explains complex neuroscience in straightforward terms with his Chimp Management Mind Model.Robust: Becoming robust means having plans in place to manage your own mind and whatever situations you meet in life.Resilient: is being able to bounce back and manage the challenges of life. Resilience is a skill.A Path through the Jungle offers a structured programme with exercises and practical real-life examples. This book will help you to improve in areas such as:Managing stress and anxietyImproved relationshipsEmotional managementGrief and lossSelf-confidencePeace of mindHappinessManaging stress Read more

'Truly eye-opening' The TimesDiscover what your dog is thinking in this groundbreaking book by a world-renowned neuroscientist and a highly respected dog trainer.Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with expert practical advice, this book answers the questions every dog owner has wondered: Does your dog love you? Can dogs feel guilt? How do they learn, and what do they think when you talk?Drawing on the latest research in animal learning and behaviour, this book unravels the mysteries of your dog's mind and helps you interpret their behaviour from their perspective. Understanding your dog's world makes it easier to address problems and build a stronger bond with your canine companion.Packed with fascinating insights and actionable tips, What Your Dog Is Thinking goes beyond myth-busting to provide a comprehensive guide for enhancing your relationship with your dog. Whether you're curious about what makes you important to your dog or how to train effectively, this is the ultimate resource for any dog owner who wants to better understand and connect with their furry friend. Read more

**THE MILLION COPY BESTSELLER**'Rattling. Heartbreaking. Beautiful,' Atul Gawande, bestselling author of Being MortalWhat makes life worth living in the face of death?At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, the next he was a patient struggling to live.When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Kalanithi's transformation from a medical student asking what makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon working in the core of human identity - the brain - and finally into a patient and a new father.Paul Kalanithi died while working on this profoundly moving book, yet his words live on as a guide to us all. When Breath Becomes Air is a life-affirming reflection on facing our mortality and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.'A vital book about dying. Awe-inspiring and exquisite. Obligatory reading for the living' Nigella Lawson Read more

'A definitive guide for a generation navigating the murky waters of modern love' Esther Perel 'A "must read" for hopeless and hopeful romantics alike' Daniel GilbertA funny and practical guide to help you find, build, and keep the relationship of your dreams.Have you ever looked around and wondered, "Why has everyone found love except me?" You're not the only one. Great relationships don't just appear in our lives - they're the culmination of a series of decisions, including who to date, how to end it with the wrong person, and when to commit to the right one. But our brains often get in the way. We make poor decisions, which thwart us on our quest to find lasting love.Drawing from years of research, behavioral scientist turned dating coach Logan Ury reveals the hidden forces that cause those mistakes. But awareness on its own doesn't lead to results. You have to actually change your behavior. Ury shows you how.This book focuses on a different decision in each chapter, incorporating insights from behavioral science, original research, and real-life stories. You'll learn:- What's holding you back in dating (and how to break the pattern)- What really matters in a long-term partner (and what really doesn't)- How to overcome the perils of online dating (and make the apps work for you)- How to meet more people in real life (while doing activities you love)- How to make dates fun again (so they stop feeling like job interviews)- Why "the spark" is a myth (but you'll find love anyway)This data-driven, step-by-step guide to relationships, complete with hands-on exercises, is designed to transform your life. How to Not Die Alone will help you find, build, and keep the relationship of your dreams. Read more

#1 Bestseller in both hardback and paperback: SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 ROYAL SOCIETY INSIGHT INVESTMENT SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE _______'A directory of wonders.' - The Guardian'Jaw-dropping.' - The Times'Classic, wry, gleeful Bryson...an entertaining and absolutely fact-rammed book.' - The Sunday Times'It is a feat of narrative skill to bake so many facts into an entertaining and nutritious book.'- The Daily Telegraph_______'We spend our whole lives in one body and yet most of us have practically no idea how it works and what goes on inside it. The idea of the book is simply to try to understand the extraordinary contraption that is us.' Bill Bryson sets off to explore the human body, how it functions and its remarkable ability to heal itself. Full of extraordinary facts and astonishing stories The Body: A Guide for Occupants is a brilliant, often very funny attempt to understand the miracle of our physical and neurological make up. A wonderful successor to A Short History of Nearly Everything, this new book is an instant classic. It will have you marvelling at the form you occupy, and celebrating the genius of your existence, time and time again.'What I learned is that we are infinitely more complex and wondrous, and often more mysterious, than I had ever suspected. There really is no story more amazing than the story of us.' Bill Bryson Read more

Why do human beings behave as they do? 'Awe-inspiring... You will learn more about human nature than in any other book I can think of' Henry Marsh, bestselling author of And Finally.We are capable of savage acts of violence but also spectacular feats of kindness: is one side of our nature destined to win out over the other?Every act of human behaviour has multiple layers of causation, spiralling back seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years, even centuries, right back to the dawn of time and the origins of our species.In the epic sweep of history, how does our biology affect the arc of war and peace, justice and persecution? How have our brains evolved alongside our cultures?This is the exhilarating story of human morality and the science underpinning the biggest question of all: what makes us human?'One of the best scientist-writers of our time' Oliver Sacks Read more

Want to read just one book about autism? Read this. Written by Temple Grandin, one of the world's most accomplished and well-known adults with autism, this thought-provoking, insightful and inspirational book - with illustrative diagrams and key points pulled out for emphasis - will assist not only fellow autistics and families with affected members, but also researchers and physicians seeking to better understand the condition.'An extraordinary source of inspiration for autistic children, their parents - and all people' -- Time'The Autistic Brain can both enlighten readers with little exposure to autism and offer hope and compassion to those who live with the condition' -- Scientific American'Grandin has helped us understand autism not just as a phenomenon, but as a different but coherent mode of existence that otherwise confounds us...' -- New York Times'Enjoyable, insightful read' -- ***** Reader review'This book is a delight from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review'Superb, readable book' -- ***** Reader review'Great book. Very insightful and easy to follow' -- ***** Reader review********************************************************************************************It's estimated that one in almost a hundred people are diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum but there is far more hope for them today than ever before thanks to ground-breaking new research.In this fascinating and highly readable book, Temple Grandin offers her own experience as an autistic person alongside remarkable new discoveries about the autistic brain, as well as genetic research.She highlights long-ignored sensory problems as well as the need to treat autism symptom by symptom, rather than with an umbrella diagnosis. Most exciting of all, she argues that raising and educating children on the autistic spectrum needs to be less about focusing on their weaknesses, and more about fostering their unique contributions.Written in a clear, concise and accessible way, with illustrative diagrams and key points pulled out for emphasis, this is an all-encompassing guide that will change the perception of autism. Read more

THE TIMES BEST SCIENCE BOOK OF 2024GUARDIAN BEST IDEAS BOOKS OF 2024ECONOMIST BEST BOOKS OF 2024FINANCIAL TIMES BEST BOOKS OF 2024From one of the world's great science writers, a book that explores the deepest principles of evolutionary history.In this groundbreaking new approach to the evolution of all life, Richard Dawkins shows how the body, behaviour, and genes of every living creature can be read as a book - an archive of the worlds of its ancestors. A perfectly camouflaged desert lizard has a desiccated landscape of sand and stones 'painted' on its back. Its skin can be read as a description of ancient deserts in which its ancestors survived - and, before that, of the worlds of its more remote ancestors: a genetic book of the dead.But such descriptions are more than skin-deep. The fine chisels of Darwinian natural selection carve their way through the very warp and woof of the body, into every biochemical nook and corner, into every cell of every living creature. A zoologist of the future, presented with a hitherto-unknown animal, will be able to reconstruct the worlds that shaped its ancestors, to read its unique 'book of the dead'.The book is filled with fascinating examples of the power of Darwinian natural selection to build exquisite perfection, paradoxically accompanied by what look like gross blunders. Along the way, Dawkins dismantles influential criticisms of the 'gene's-eye-view' of life. And, to end with a provocative sting in the tail, the author asks there is a sense in which all our 'own' genes can be seen as a gigantic colony of cooperating viruses?From the author of The Selfish Gene and The Ancestor's Tale comes a revolutionary, richly illustrated book that unlocks the door to an ancient past, seen through wholly new eyes. Read more

In this paradigm-shifting book from acclaimed Harvard Medical School doctor and one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people on earth, Dr. David Sinclair reveals that everything we think we know about ageing is wrong, and shares the surprising, scientifically-proven methods that can help readers live younger, longer.For decades, the medical community has looked to a variety of reasons for why we age, and the consensus is that no one dies of old age; they die of age-related diseases. That's because ageing is not a disease – it is inevitable.But what if everything you think you know about ageing is wrong?What if ageing is a disease? And that disease is curable.In LIFESPAN, Dr. David Sinclair, one of the world’s foremost authorities on genetics and ageing, argues just that. He has dedicated his life’s work to chasing more than a longer lifespan – he wants to enable people to live longer, healthier, and disease-free well into our hundreds. In this book, he reveals a bold new theory of ageing, one that pinpoints a root cause of ageing that lies in an ancient genetic survival circuit. This genetic trick – a circuit designed to halt reproduction in order to repair damage to the genome –has enabled earth’s early microcosms to survive and evolve into more advanced organisms. But this same survival circuit is the reason we age: as genetic damage accumulates over our lifespans from UV rays, environmental toxins, and unhealthy diets, our genome is overwhelmed, causing gray hair, wrinkles, achy joints, heart issues, dementia, and, ultimately, death.But genes aren’t our destiny; we have more control over them than we’ve been taught to believe. We can’t change our DNA, but we can harness the power of the epigenome to realise the true potential of our genes. Drawing on his cutting-edge findings at the forefront of medical research, Dr. Sinclair will provide a scientifically-proven roadmap to reverse the genetic clock by activating our vitality genes, so we can live younger longer. Readers will discover how a few simple lifestyle changes – like intermittent fasting, avoiding too much animal protein, limiting sugar, avoiding x-rays, exercising with the right intensity, and even trying cold therapy – can activate our vitality genes. Dr. Sinclair ends the book with a look to the near future, exploring what the world might look like – and what will need to change – when we are all living well to 120 or more.Dr. Sinclair takes what we have long accepted as the limits of human potential and mortality and turns them into choices. THE EVOLUTION OF AGEING is destined to be the biggest book on genes, biology, and longevity of this decade. Read more

The polyvagal theory presented in client-friendly language. Written for all therapists who want to understand this groundbreaking theory as it might actually show up in their day-to-day practice, this book offers a comprehensive approach to polyvagal-informed intervention. Worksheets and experiential exercises designed to map and shape autonomic response provide therapists with a road map for bringing polyvagal theory into their clinical practice. Read more

“A fascinating exploration of the mysteries ignited by DNA genealogy testing—from the intensely personal and concrete to the existential and unsolvable.” —Tana French, New York Times–bestselling author You swab your cheek or spit in a vial, then send it away to a lab somewhere. Weeks later you get a report that might tell you where your ancestors came from or if you carry certain genetic risks. Or, the report could reveal a long-buried family secret that upends your entire sense of identity. Soon a lark becomes an obsession, a relentless drive to find answers to questions at the core of your being, like “Who am I?” and “Where did I come from?” Welcome to the age of home genetic testing.In The Lost Family, journalist Libby Copeland investigates what happens when we embark on a vast social experiment with little understanding of the ramifications. She explores the culture of genealogy buffs, the science of DNA, and the business of companies like Ancestry and 23andMe, all while tracing the story of one woman, her unusual results, and a relentless methodical drive for answers that becomes a thoroughly modern genetic detective story. Gripping and masterfully told, The Lost Family is a spectacular book on a big, timely subject.“An urgently necessary, powerful book that addresses one of the most complex social and bioethical issues of our time.” —Dani Shapiro, New York Times–bestselling author“Before you spit in that vial, read this book.” —The New York Times Book Review“Impeccably researched . . . up-to-the-minute science meets the philosophy of identity in a poignant, engaging debut.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Read more

A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK'Powerfully argued... Fascinating and pacy' Sunday Times, Book of the Week'Superbly written... sure to please readers of Yuval Noah Harari or Rutger Bregman' The Times'Full of amazing facts' ObserverIn this revelatory book, Dr Jonathan Kennedy argues that germs have shaped humanity at every stage, from the first success of Homo sapiens over the equally intelligent Neanderthals to the fall of Rome and the rise of Islam.How did an Indonesian volcano help cause the Black Death, setting Europe on the road to capitalism? How could 168 men extract the largest ransom in history from an opposing army of eighty thousand? And why did the Industrial Revolution lead to the birth of the modern welfare state?The latest science reveals that infectious diseases are not just something that happens to us, but a fundamental part of who we are. Indeed, the only reason humans don't lay eggs is that a virus long ago inserted itself into our DNA, and there are as many bacteria in your body as there are human cells. We have been thinking about the survival of the fittest all wrong: evolution is not simply about human strength and intelligence, but about how we live and thrive in a world dominated by microbes.By exploring the startling intimacy of our relationship with infectious diseases, Kennedy shows how they have been responsible for some of the seismic revolutions of the past 50,000 years. Provocative and brimming with insight, Pathogenesis transforms our understanding of the human story.Challenges some of the greatest cliches about colonialism... A revelation' SATHNAM SANGHERA'Thrilling and eye-opening' LEWIS DARTNELL'Science and history at its best' MARK HONIGSBAUM'Unpicks everything we thought we knew... Mind blowing' CAL FLYNA TIMES SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023A SUNDAY TIMES SCIENCE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 Read more

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND SUNDAY TIMES, OBSERVER AND BBC HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEARFINALIST FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING 2022'Pacey and potentially revolutionary' Sunday Times 'Iconoclastic and irreverent ... an exhilarating read' The Guardian For generations, our remote ancestors have been cast as primitive and childlike - either free and equal, or thuggish and warlike. Civilization, we are told, could be achieved only by sacrificing those original freedoms or, alternatively, by taming our baser instincts. David Graeber and David Wengrow show how such theories first emerged in the eighteenth century as a reaction to indigenous critiques of European society, and why they are wrong. In doing so, they overturn our view of human history, including the origins of farming, property, cities, democracy, slavery and civilization itself. Drawing on path-breaking research in archaeology and anthropology, the authors show how history becomes a far more interesting place once we begin to see what's really there. If humans did not spend 95 per cent of their evolutionary past in tiny bands of hunter-gatherers, what were they doing all that time? If agriculture, and cities, did not mean a plunge into hierarchy and domination, then what kinds of social and economic organization did they lead to? The answers are often unexpected, and suggest that the course of history may be less set in stone, and more full of playful possibilities than we tend to assume. The Dawn of Everything fundamentally transforms our understanding of the human past and offers a path toward imagining new forms of freedom, new ways of organizing society. This is a monumental book of formidable intellectual range, animated by curiosity, moral vision and faith in the power of direct action.'This is not a book. This is an intellectual feast' Nassim Nicholas Taleb'The most profound and exciting book I've read in thirty years' Robin D. G. Kelley Read more

'Science writing at its absolute best' Guy Claxton, author of Intelligence in the FleshInteroception is one of our most important - and most mysterious - senses. It's how our bodies tell our brains what we're feeling - when we're hungry, when we're cold, how we should respond to stress and panic.In Inner Sense, Caroline Williams uncovers a field that's poised to revolutionise health, and explores groundbreaking new techniques that can improve our mental and physical wellbeing. She meets brain scientists mapping the nervous system, neurodivergent researchers working to hone their interoception skills and health practitioners investigating how this inner sense can aid mindfulness, and even disordered eating.Combining science, medicine, mindfulness and physical therapy, Inner Sense is the first book to bring this exciting new field of medicine to a general readership. Read more

Nobel Prize winner Venki Ramakrishnan tells the thrilling story of how scientists unlocked a new window onto how life works ‘Beyond superb.’ Bill Bryson ‘A wonderful book.’ Ian McEwan Everyone knows about DNA, the essence of our being, the molecule where our genes reside. But DNA by itself is useless without a machine to decode the genetic information it contains. The ribosome is that machine. Venki Ramakrishnan tells the story of the race to uncover its enormously complex structure, a fundamental breakthrough that resolves an ancient mystery of life itself. Read more