The Inevitability of Tragedy review: a life of Henry Kissinger for our Trumpian times
As US-China relations deteriorate, Barry Gewen offers an unsparing biography of a man still at the center of events
The Chiffon Trenches by André Leon Talley review – the emperor strikes back
The former editor-at-large of Vogue dishes the dirt on his old boss Anna Wintour in delightfully over-the-top fashion
Children’s books roundup – the best new picture books and novels
An anti-plastic struggle, spooky seances, what happened after Noah’s ark anchored ashore and more
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli review – horror in the desert
The true story of how a Bedouin girl was raped and murdered by Israeli soldiers is at the heart of this sharply observed novel
This Is What America Looks Like review: Ilhan Omar inspires – and stays fired up
The Minnesota congresswoman has written a fine memoir of her journey from Somalia to America
Clothes … and Other Things that Matter by Alexandra Shulman review – a charming memoir
From her first party dress to Prince William’s wedding, the former editor of Vogue opens her wardrobe while keeping her feelings under wraps
Pilgrims by Matthew Kneale review – a slyly comic medieval journey
Prickings of conscience and wanderlust drive a motley group of 13th-century pilgrims along the road from England towards Rome
Remain Silent by Susie Steiner review – home is where the hurt is
DI Manon Bradshaw’s domestic life is under strain as she investigates the death of a Lithuanian migrant worker in this entertaining third outing for the formidable Fenland sleuth
Out of My Skull by James Danckert and John D Eastwood – the psychology of boredom
From social media to strange political decisions – is the alleviation of boredom what really drives the world?
Scenes for Survival review – Brian Cox is Inspector Rebus under lockdown
Ian Rankin’s stalwart detective struggles with self-isolation in one of six quarantine-themed short films from the National Theatre of Scotland
The Australian book you’ve finally got time to read: Sentenced to Life by Clive James
For The Erratics author Vicki Laveau-Harvie, James’s slim but dazzling collection shows that poetry can be the antidote to the numbness many of us feel
Forced Out by Kevin Maxwell review – prejudice between police
A former detective recounts in shocking detail how he was abused by fellow officers for his race and sexuality and the dangers he faced in fighting for justice
Paper Stages review – joyful DIY theatre kit to act out at home
Forest Fringe release a jolly bunch of downloadable plays, games and diversions to inject some performance into lockdown life
Sorry for Your Trouble by Richard Ford review – stories of discontent
An uneven collection about marital discord and middle-aged disappointment from one of the grand figures of contemporary American fiction
Dark Mirror by Barton Gellman review – the rise of today’s surveillance state
The author’s lively interactions with Edward Snowden inform this deeply considered portrait of the 21st-century US-dominated surveillance operation