The United States Of Hubris

Pundits who believe a team of NFL players could easily beat the All Blacks are buying into a sporting myth.

At Home In Fantasyland

Phil Twyford’s ambitious housing plans ignore the brute realities.

Making A Name For Yourself

The words we use for people and places assert our identity in the world.

Life As We Knew It

Google wants to give us back some of the time stolen by our smartphones.

Walk This Way

When in India, it pays to have an expert to take the guesswork out of where and what to eat.

Fresh Spark

A thread of positivity runs through the second solo album by the Fur Patrol veteran.

Hats, Heels And History

Curry did go on but who can blame him? Two billion in the congregation is some barn, and he was going to storm it.

Girl Misinterpreted

Did Vladimir Nabokov “pilfer” the story of a real-life US childabduction case for his novel Lolita as a new book claims? Brian Boyd sets out to disprove the theory and skewer the many lurid misreadings of the literary classic.

All Being Equal

Does our historically homogeneous and egalitarian society stifle ambition and foster a dislike of the tall poppy?

Filthy Lucre

As with many endeavours, the glory of sport is often spoilt by money.

The Huang Dynasty

A novel about an Asian family living in a US landscape of excess is fascinating and wickedly funny.

Fatal Attraction

Self-destructive Nadia is condemned to search for meaning in a crazy world.

Strung Along

The story of a luthier’s pursuit of love and happiness is an assured and rewarding read.

(Another) Crisis Of Masculinity

Weak thighs and scary YouTube videos lead to demotion from Chief Drencher to deckchair filler.

Beating The Drum For Dyslexics

Musical prowess has spinoffs for people with reading difficulties, not to mention video gamers.

Friendship Going Up In Flames

“Bestseller” is written all over this tale of self-deception from a Dubai-based New Zealand writer.

Married To A Bigamist

Giving birth to her father was just part of the weirdness for Ruth Wilson in .dramatising her family history

Electric Moments

Otherworldly band Beach House have gone from indie fringe to arts festival act.

Reality Bites

Ben Okri’s attempts at Orwellian dystopia tip over into the farfetched and fantastic.

These Mortal Coils

Our genes can increase our risk of illness, but advances in understanding how they physically interact with each other already offer some better-tailored treatments. Donna Chisholm reports.

The Golden Guitarist

One of the most gifted players of his generation, Peter Posa found fame thanks to one magical tune.

Pushing Up Daisies

Our traditional ways of dealing with death are changing, with Earth-friendly concerns sparking a surge in eco burials.

The Silent Treatment

A reimagined Magic Flute uses 21st-century wizardry to dazzle and delight.

Fantastic Mr Fox

The crowd will be hoping our No 1 plays well, but the curse of the All Blacks looms.

Looming Large

The charmingly irrepressible Joanna Lumley makes a tour of the Silk Road cities seem fresh and exciting.

The Agony & The Ecstasy

What it’s like to win the New Zealand Open.

The Fortune Sellers

Life insurance providers are under pressure to disclose sales incentives, which can distort their advice and are banned in some countries. But the industry is resisting.

The Advantage Of Surprise

Sussex-based American writer David Sedaris is noted for his humour, but finds that, in scratching beneath the surface of his feelings, he has the power to shock himself.

Turn On, Tune In

The No 1 modifiable factor in staving off dementia is, surprisingly, hearing.

What's In A Bowl?

There is a lot more to Japanese cuisine than sushi and instant noodles, as a new book of authentic recipes shows.