The conversation: Is it ever OK for a writer to confess all in public?
With Rachel Cusk's new book on the end of her marriage causing controversy, writers Tim Lott and Christa D'Souza discuss what drives their impulse to confess, and the responsibilities that come with itRachel Cusk's new book Aftermath, about the end of ...
How to make yourself train harder
World record-breaking triathlete and Ironman champion Chrissie Wellington has a punishing training regime. How does she stay motivated?Chrissie Wellington may have won four World Ironman Championships – the ludicrously tough 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile c...
The artists’ artist: Children’s illustrators
Five children's illustrators nominate their favourite living artist in their field Five children's illustrators nominate their favourite living artist in their field Emily Gravett on Judith Kerr I read The Tiger Who Came to Tea when I was a child and...
Posthumous pop: the stars who keep on selling
Are fans or penny-hungry marketing execs to blame for the inevitable 'legacy' releases that follow an artist's death? Is it right to release work that the artist clearly didn't think was worth putting out themselves?I didn't want them sitting on a ...
It’s just a book. About cannabis. For children
It's Just a Plant is a picture book about marijuana for younger readers, written and illustrated by the author of Go the Fuck to SleepIt's Just a Plant is a children's book. About cannabis. Written and illustrated by Ricardo Cortés, whose lovely illus...
It’s just a book. About cannabis. For children
It's Just a Plant is a picture book about marijuana for younger readers, written and illustrated by the author of Go the Fuck to SleepIt's Just a Plant is a children's book. About cannabis. Written and illustrated by Ricardo Cortés, whose lovely illus...
A new view of self-harm
The phenomenon has spread to older people over the past 10 years. Why?Patti Adler, professor of sociology at the University of Colorado, had never met anyone who self-harmed, until 1982. When she did, it was a student of Adler's husband, Peter, also...
The artists’ artist: Crime writers
Five crime writers nominate their favourite living author in their fieldJohn Harvey on Peter Temple Temple's most recent book, Truth, won the Miles Franklin award in his native Australia, their equivalent of the Booker. It was the first time a crime no...
A lot of books at bedtime
Alice Ozma's father read her a story every night from the age of nine to 18. But why? By Emine SanerAt the age of nine, Alice Ozma and her father, Jim, set themselves a challenge: he would read to her every day for 100 days. They started with The Tin W...
Look away now: Do movie spoilers really matter?
Thanks to the spread of 'spoiler sites' and over-explicit trailers, we may never get a surprise at the movies again. But might that be a good thing?David Nicholls's novel One Day has already sold more than a million copies; perhaps that's why the ...
The conversation: What is the real legacy of colonialism?