Reagan: His Life and Legend by Max Boot review – a head of state lost without a script
This perceptive study of the former US president reveals a self-styled ‘Mr Norm’ with few real political beliefs but a sense of decency
Book of the day
Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller review – a marvel of narrative non fiction
This genre-defying journey into the science of classification weaves memoir and history in shimmering prose
Kingmaker by Sonia Purnell review – a woman of influence
The extraordinary story of one of the greatest, most gossiped-about political fixers of the 20th century
September 2024
Lucky Loser review – how Donald Trump squandered his wealth
Book of the day
A Thousand Threads by Neneh Cherry review – life’s rich pageant
‘Having been repeatedly annihilated by my mother, I’m resilient as hell’: Gwyneth Lewis
Something Lost, Something Gained by Hillary Rodham Clinton review – the pain of post-Trump stress disorder
Book of the day
Character Limit by Kate Conger and Ryan Mac review – Musk’s Twitter takeover
Book of the day
Kingmaker by Sonia Purnell review – Pamela Churchill Harriman’s astonishing life of seduction and power
From a new Murakami to a memoir by Cher: the best books of the autumn
Book of the day
The Many Lives of James Lovelock by Jonathan Watts – man of many myths
Australian arts in focus
Prime Minister’s Literary awards 2024: Andre Dao wins $80,000 for debut novel Anam
Book of the day
Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin by Sue Prideaux review – savage with a sensitive side
‘Parliament was the most overpoweringly male place I had ever worked’: Diane Abbott on becoming an MP, dating Jeremy Corbyn and media intrusion – exclusive extract
August 2024
Traffic’s Dave Mason: ‘On one level, I could hate every one of them’
A Voyage Around the Queen by Craig Brown review – the head that wears the crown
My Good Bright Wolf by Sarah Moss review – trauma response
Book of the day
Street-Level Superstar: A Year With Lawrence by Will Hodgkinson review – portrait of a wayward would-be pop star
Book of the day
A Voyage Around the Queen by Craig Brown review – a crown jewel among royal biographies
Warhol idolised her, Thatcher copied her and Kingsley Amis had a deep fear of farting in her presence: but what was the Queen really like?
