David Robson is a science writer specialising in the extremes of the human brain, body and behaviour. He is the author of The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Transform Your Life (2022) and The Intelligence Trap: Why Smart People Do Stupid Things and How to Make Wiser Decisions (2019). He lives in London.

Written by David Robson

Photo of a cyclist in a red polka dot jersey racing past a cheering crowd on a yellow bicycle.

Physical fatigue is in the brain as much as in the body

The idea of ‘mind over muscle’ is more than motivational rhetoric – exercise science shows how the brain manages fatigue

by David Robson

Photo of a person reading a book at a cafe table with a yellow bag and iced coffee, seen through a window.
LOVE

How to enjoy being single

‘Happily ever after’ is a romantic myth. Defy society’s singlism and discover ways to embrace a joyful, independent life

by David Robson

Photo of a person admiring art in a gallery framed by a large red sculpture, with a wooden floor and a dark wall background.

A touch of absurdity can help to wrap your mind around reality

And now for something completely different: how a dose of the surreal or absurd helps to make sense of our place in the world

by David Robson