The Score by C Thi Nguyen review – a brilliant warning about the gamification of everyday life
From Duolingo to GDP, how an obsession with keeping score can subtly undermine human flourishing
The Guardian view on the National Year of Reading 2026: time to start a healthy habit for life
Editorial: A Children’s Booker prize, library cards for newborns and a major campaign – initiatives to encourage a love of books in children are a cause for celebration
Thrillers should be on UK school curriculum to boost reading, says Lee Child
Bestselling author says focus on ‘masterpieces’ puts children off as he promotes prison literacy scheme
Patricia Robson obituary
Other lives: Teacher who used her skill in storytelling to engage primary school children in drama productions
Scott Galloway on the masculinity crisis: ‘I worry we are evolving a new breed of asexual, asocial males’
When his book Notes on Being a Man was released last month, it raced to the top of the bestseller lists. The US author, tech entrepreneur and podcaster explains his theories on dating, crying – and the rise of Donald Trump
Spain has too rosy a view of Franco’s regime. Let’s remind ourselves of its horrors
Little is taught about the murderous, incompetent dictatorship – and now almost one in five young people say Franco was good for the country, says historian Giles Tremlett
A former Tory councillor tried to ban my novel Pigeon English. Why should pupils suffer because of him?
My book, which draws on my upbringing on a diverse and deprived Luton council estate, has been used as a GCSE text. But one man objected to its profane language and depictions of violence and sexual behaviour
Kemi Badenoch wants to end ‘rip-off degrees’ – but I wouldn’t have created Horrid Henry without mine
I studied Old and Middle English. Although I didn’t know it, I couldn’t have chosen a better subject to train me to become a children’s author, says author Francesca Simon
A vampire novel that smells of garlic? Well, if it gets people reading …
The limited editions of Jennifer L Armentrout’s latest fantasy novel come with Hellmann’s aoli-imbued ink, in a coffin-shaped presentation box. It’s a no-brainer, writes Carys Afoko
UK libraries urged to remove children’s books with URL hijacked by porn site
Puffin issues alert to schools and local authorities over books in popular Spy Dog series by Andrew Cope
John Searle obituary
American philosopher whose Chinese Room thought experiment rebuts the idea that computers can think as humans do
‘Bans are disheartening’: US author criticises Dorset school’s removal of her book about race
Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give was taken off year 10 reading list at Budmouth Academy after parent complained
Dorset school urged to reinstate banned book about race to reading list
Budmouth Academy in Weymouth removed The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas after complaint from parent
I toured UK council estates and learned this: all our lives are poems just waiting to be written
I knocked on doors, spoke to people about hopes and concerns, and wrote poetry to share with them. It could and should be an art form for everyone, says poet Rowan McCabe
Brian Lewis obituary
Other lives: Founder of a community publishing and arts body that aimed to give ordinary Yorkshire folk a voice