The rise of Madonna, Barbra Streisand in her own words, plus the stormy relationship of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor are among this year’s highlights

Dream-seeking bears, a pancake-making lion, an ingenious guide to rewilding and more

From the ocean bed to the stars and the multiverse, five novels to transport you

From life-changing recipes to a Caribbean journey: five mouthwatering favourites

From psychology to AI, pandemics to popular culture, we survey the bigger picture

A splendidly tricksy locked-room mystery, a fortune teller in Georgian high society and Indian mobsters make this year’s list

Hip-hop history, real-world wishes and the forgotten watercolourist in Turner’s shadow are among the subjects of this year’s finest comics

Rory Stewart’s bridge-burning memoir; the rise and demise of Liz Truss; and what Trump’s aide saw at the White House