In an overloaded world of hassle, waste and a lot of ‘stuff’, Bea Johnson decided to make some changes. The ultimate guru to simplified, sustainable living, her book Zero Waste Home shows how a few key moves can strip back the excess and transform your life for the better. Follow her ten top tips and you’ll be wasting less in no time.
Helen Dunmore’s remarkable new novel Exposure will take you on an emotional journey of forbidden love and the deepest betrayal. In light of her new book, the author reflects on the process of reading in an essay that explores how we read not just with our eyes, but with our hearts.
Jane Fallon, author of Strictly Between Us, talks us through her process of taking a blank page and turning it into a fully-fledged novel.
Fiona Barton, author of 2016’s compelling new thriller The Widow, discusses the process of writing that crucial first chapter, and bringing Jean’s voice to life.
Jane Struthers looks at the history of wassailing in this extract from The Book of Christmas. English is a fascinating melting pot of languages acquired from other countries, especially those whose kings once occupied our throne. So it’s hardly surprising that the word ‘wassail’ is thought to have come from the Old Norse ves heill, which […]
In this extract from The Book of Christmas, Jane Struthers demystifies the protagonist of a popular Christmas carol. We sing about him every Christmas in the eponymous carol, which tells us that the ‘good king’ and his page ventured out in the snow on the feast of Stephen (26 December) to take food, wine and […]
Lucy Mangan discovers the Ladybird Books for Grown-Ups, and muses on what topics she would create for the series.
Bright Earth examines the vast spectrum of colours we live with, from the illustrious history of monarchic purple to the 17th century attempts to make and define pink. In this extract, author Philip Ball uncovers the history and chemistry behind the infamously patented International Klein Blue.
We like to think that science is completely objective and scientists are absolutely certain of their theories. But ask any scientist how they reach their conclusions and you’ll be surprised to see them talk about doubt rather than certainty, about what might or could be rather than what is true.
Penguin Blog 
Seven Micro-Actions for Health and Happiness
It’s the small, everyday things that make a difference and contribute to a happier, more fulfilled life. Writers from The Book of You have chosen some of their favourite micro-actions that you can easily put into practice for a sunnier, more contented you.