For her latest novel, Patricia Lockwood says she wanted to write about confusion

Though most people who develop COVID-19 experience mild symptoms and recover in two weeks, some have symptoms for months. This article discusses long-term COVID-19 symptoms and their implications for understanding chronic disease and disability.

More Americans are reporting that they’re having trouble with attention, memory, and focus. Many use the term “brain fog” to describe what they’re experiencing. But what is brain fog, and what causes it?

In June 2024, many Americans were shocked by President Joe Biden’s poor debate performance against Donald Trump. But according to CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson, that shock was the result of a systematic deception. In Original Sin, they argue that Biden’s cognitive and physical deterioration had been concealed from the public for years by his inner circle, family, and the broader Democratic establishment.

Based on interviews with more than 200 sources, the authors contend that Biden’s decline began long before the debate—and that this alleged cover-up represents one of the most consequential political deceptions in recent American history. Our guide covers their findings about Biden’s condition, how it was concealed, and how the truth’s emergence led to political disaster—while exploring the psychology of aging under extreme stress and how the demanding nature of the modern presidency creates unique challenges for older leaders.

More Americans are reporting that they’re having trouble with attention, memory, and focus. Many use the term “brain fog” to describe what they’re experiencing. But what is brain fog, and what causes it?

By studying the brain, the science of neurology brings the empiricism of science together with mankind’s deepest philosophical questions. What makes us human? What is the true nature of the self, memory, knowing, or action? The late neurologist Oliver Sacks dedicated his life to studying the mysteries and extraordinary powers of the human brain. In The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Sacks presents the case histories of some of his patients. Each story is a profoundly human narrative of struggle, survival, and, in some cases, hope.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is a memoir by psychotherapist and author Lori Gottlieb. She discusses a difficult time in her life following a sudden breakup with her long-term boyfriend. The incident upset her so badly that it drove her to seek therapy herself.

This book is the story of Lori’s time in therapy, interwoven with stories about Lori’s own patients. Though each of their situations is different, their shared struggles and how they overcome them reflect common experiences that all people share—in fact, Lori says that the reason therapists can be effective is precisely because they have those same struggles. As Lori and her patients work together toward health and understanding, they reflect on their pasts—how they got to be where they are now—and the futures they’d like to have.

At the age of 24, New York Post reporter Susannah Cahalan is stricken with a terrible disease. In a matter of weeks, it morphs from paranoia into hallucinations, seizures, and psychosis. It resists diagnosis even by the most prestigious doctors in the US. Only when Susannah becomes catatonic, staring death in the face, do two brilliant neurologists discover the problem: Susannah is suffering from an autoimmune disease that’s causing her antibodies to attack her own brain.

Cahalan’s harrowing portrait shows how frail disease makes us, ready to accept any diagnosis, even when we know it’s wrong; how the US healthcare system serves some patients better than others; and how maintaining a positive attitude is critical to recovery.

By studying the brain, the science of neurology brings the empiricism of science together with mankind’s deepest philosophical questions. What makes us human? What is the true nature of the self, memory, knowing, or action? The late neurologist Oliver Sacks dedicated his life to studying the mysteries and extraordinary powers of the human brain. In The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Sacks presents the case histories of some of his patients. Each story is a profoundly human narrative of struggle, survival, and, in some cases, hope.

In an age where digital connection has never been easier, an invisible epidemic of isolation threatens our well-being. In Together, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy reveals that loneliness is a public health crisis with consequences as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes daily. Through research and personal narratives, he demonstrates how our evolutionary need for connection shapes our biology and society, and he offers practical solutions for rebuilding meaningful relationships.

In this guide, we'll explore Murthy's framework for understanding the loneliness epidemic, from its definition and prevalence to its biological foundations and health consequences. We'll also discuss Murthy's multi-level strategies for fostering deeper connections in your life and community. Throughout this guide, we'll supplement Murthy's analysis with commentary exploring neuroplasticity research on social brain development, cultural differences in experiencing loneliness, and innovative models for combating the loneliness epidemic. We'll also incorporate insights from experts in other fields including anthropologist Robin Dunbar, Jan Gehl (Cities for People), and Robert Putnam (Bowling Alone).