Foyles points to higher business rates and shop flood for poor 2017

Bookseller says footfall declined after terrorist attacks, as it posts £88,791 loss on sales of £26.6m

Waterstones boss James Daunt: ‘Books still work and always will’

The Daunt Books founder on Waterstones’ controversial decision to open unbranded shops, the chain’s impending sale and the threat to bookshops from Amazon

Romance so white? Publishers grapple with race issues amid author protests

New report exposes decline in diversity in romance writing, as editor resigns after telling author they avoid putting non-white characters on covers ‘because we like the book to sell’

Hired: Six Months Undercover in Low-Wage Britain – review

Journalist James Bloodworth’s story of being ‘embedded’ for six months as a zero-hours worker is vital reading for all

Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb review – how risk should be shared

Hawkish politicians and reckless bankers never face the consequences of their actions – but they should, according to this arresting but flawed book

A Good Time to Be a Girl review – Helena Morrissey’s ‘gentle’ manifesto for change

The City superwoman’s grand plan for greater diversity in the workplace is often disappointingly conservative

How to eat flowers without poisoning yourself

I spent a week adding a floral touch to my meals – but if you don’t know what you’re doing, swiping flowers from the meadow can be a risky business

Marx bicentenary to be marked by exhibitions, books – and pub crawls

Renewed interest in philosopher fires celebrations of 200 years since his birth on 5 May 1818

WH Smith high street sales fall as spoof books disappoint

Lack of new literary trend hits festive sales but airport and motorway stores fare better

If government doesn’t help the high streets, we’ll be shopping in ghost towns

With falling incomes and the spectre of Brexit, retailers are suffering outside the big cities – and leaving the problems to councils is no solution

Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg’s guide on what to read at Davos

World Economic Forum releases the definitive reading list ... and it largely excludes women authors

Apocalypse now: what happens when the X-Men crash the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Disney’s $66bn deal to buy Fox offers the prospect of Wolverine and Deadpool meeting Spider-Man and the Avengers. But be careful what you wish for …

New Year honours: Bussell, a Bee Gee and a Beatle among gong gang

Ringo Starr given knighthood while others from the arts, business, sport and the community are also recognised

Brexit will usher in a dark chapter for new British authors, warns publisher

Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury warns UK’s exclusive English rights across EU will end, with firms fighting US companies in an open market

The Tories are savaging libraries – and closing the book on social mobility

It’s the old Tory con: talk up advancement, then attack the institutions that make it possible, writes Guardian columnist John Harris