‘In 20 years most of the world could be racist dictatorships’: Ibram X Kendi on book bans and far-right fear-mongering

How have the rich and powerful convinced so many voters that the reason they are struggling is the poor and powerless? The American historian talks about the weaponising of divisiveness

‘Orwell went off to fight. I thought I’d have to do the same’: Raoul Peck on his intimate connection with the writer

The Haitian director was given unprecedented access to George Orwell’s archives – and found a fellow crusader for truth. His extraordinary new film highlights the sinister links between Big Brother, Trump and Putin

Shahrnush Parsipur: ‘The women of Iran will cause the fall of the Islamic Republic’

As her banned 1989 novella, Women Without Men, is published for the first time in the UK, the Iranian author looks back on a life of resistance and repression

‘My ideas are a little revolutionary’: ecologist Suzanne Simard on intelligent forests, the climate and her critics

Her research popularised the idea of the wood wide web, but the scientific backlash was brutal. As the author of The Mother Tree returns to the forest in a new book, she discusses her battle to reimagine our relationship with nature

‘I said no, then I just gave up’: Brooke Nevils on her sexual assault claims about one of TV’s biggest stars

The former NBC producer says she was repeatedly assaulted by Matt Lauer, an anchor at the network – then spent years blaming herself in the aftermath. She talks about power, preconceptions and life after #MeToo

‘The light will always outshine the dark’: trauma surgeon Shehan Hettiaratchy on his harrowing, heartening calling

After operating on victims of the Westminster attack in 2017 and visiting Ukraine and Gaza, Hettiaratchy has seen more horror than most can imagine – but he still believes in humanity, optimism and selflessness

Vladimir author Julia May Jonas: ‘We’re imprisoned by our obsessions’

As her debut novel becomes a Netflix series starring Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall, the American author talks about comparisons with Lolita, moving on from #MeToo and problematic authors

Jack White: ‘I’m not going to put a painful thing out there for some idiot on the internet to stomp all over’

As a new book of his lyrics, poems and selected musings is published, the White Stripes’ singer, songwriter and general guitar hero reflects on poetry, politics and why writing a song is like reupholstering a chair

Relentless sun and ruthless populists: how the climate crisis will change the next 20 years

Former diplomat Arthur Snell says a heating planet is accelerating conflict and migration – and fostering a new age of empire. Democracies are dangerously unprepared, he warns

‘What’s under my saucepans? Rage!’ Claire Foy, Andrew Garfield and cast on the set of The Magic Faraway Tree

The trippy film of Enid Blyton’s much loved novels has been 20 years in the making. We catch up with its adult and child stars – inside a giant cake as disco-dancing elves rollerskate past

Butter author Asako Yuzuki: ‘I’m very far from the ideal Japanese woman’

Butter, her novel about a female serial killer, was a global hit. As Asako Yuzuki’s second book is published in English, she talks about criticism at home – and why she’ll be writing darker stories in the future

Kathy Lette: ‘Women need to get organised and angrier. We’re far too nice’

The novelist, TV presenter and professional bon vivant on coming back to Cronulla, women’s rage and finding frivolity in a challenging world

Nadiya Hussain on food, faith and finding her voice: ‘I get paid less than the white version of me’

After a decade at the top, the Bake Off winner is reclaiming her career and refusing to soften her edges. She discusses racism, gaslighting – and why comfort food is more important than ever

How I Shop with Nussaibah Younis: ‘These make me 60% less likely to murder my neighbours’

Always wondered what everyday stuff celebrities buy, where they shop for food and the basic they scrimp on? The Fundamentally author talks bodices, Chanel and regrettable heels in the Filter’s column

Lord of the Flies review – Jack Thorne’s take on the classic is nowhere near the original’s power

The acting is absolutely excellent, but the script isn’t great. This show lacks the dread of William Golding’s novel