Natural Causes by Barbara Ehrenreich review – wise words on real wellness

The author and activist’s sharp critique of what she calls an ‘epidemic of overdiagnosis’ is a joyous celebration of life

The Vory: Russia’s Super Mafia review – a kleptocracy in the making

Mark Galeotti’s timely account of the Russian underworld charts its rise from Soviet-era gangsters to Kremlin collaborators under Putin

In brief: The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race; The Half Sister; Floating – review

Powerful essays inspired by James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, Catherine Chanter’s gripping family tragedy, and Joe Minihane’s wild swimmming pilgrimage

Circe by Madeline Miller review – Greek classic thrums with contemporary relevance

An exiled witch takes centre stage in the Orange prize-winner’s powerful retelling of Homer’s the Odyssey

Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride review – passionate advocate for trans equality

The first openly transgender woman delegate to speak at a major US political convention tells her own story of heartbreak and optimism

The Overstory by Richard Powers review – a majestic redwood of a novel

Migration meets the magical qualities of trees in the National Book award-winner’s mighty story that is richly detailed and shot through with hope

The Damned United review – Brian Clough drama is a game of two halves

Clough’s ill-fated tenure at Leeds United is turned into a finely performed, if loosely structured, three-hander

As Time Goes By by Derek Taylor review – a poignant insight into the Beatles

This updated memoir from the Fab Four’s press officer is an astute but self-effacing take on a unique era

Can it Happen Here? review: urgent studies in rise of authoritarian America

Cass Sunstein’s collection of essays shows Republican-led decay of US democracy predates Trump – and may be irreversible after him

Book clinic: how do you know if a novel has been successfully translated?

Following a controversial English take on a Korean novel, our expert tells you the best way to assess a “good translation”

While You Sleep by Stephanie Merritt review – Broadchurch meets Anne Brontë

Merritt’s other life as historical crime novelist SJ Parris serves her well in this ghost story set on a Scottish island

Brainstorm by Suzanne O’Sullivan – the neurologist as sleuth

The author of It’s All in Your Head investigates mysterious symptoms as a detective would, but still marvels at the mysteries of the brain

Patient X by David Peace review – portrait of a tortured artist

‘The Case-Book of Ryūnosuke Akutagawa’ presents 12 scenes from the life of the writer known as the father of the Japanese short story

The Cow Book by John Connell review – powerful tale of bullish battles

Connell’s moving memoir tracks his life on the family farm, his fights with his father, and charts humanity’s long relationship with cattle

Monsieur Ka by Vesna Goldsworthy review – a deft continuation of Anna Karenina

The mysterious stories behind Tolstoy’s characters are explored in an atmospheric tale set in postwar London