Five Great Reads: Elections, eugenics and high school reunions
The Guardian’s weekend wrap of essential reads from the past seven days, selected by Jacqui Housden and Miles Herbert
TL;DR
- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's election victory in Brazil offers a potential playbook for social and environmental movements, highlighting the importance of grassroots mobilization, political messaging, and environmental advocacy.
- Cocaine use has significantly increased in the UK across various demographics, fueling crime and appearing among the far right, with wastewater analysis showing a 26% rise since 2021.
- Donating a body to science, while an unpopular choice, meets a high demand for medical cadavers and can offer a simpler, less fraught end-of-life process, though it carries emotional weight for families.
- The resurgence of eugenics, framed as 'the best baby' services, raises ethical questions about valuing human life and the normalization of ranking traits.
- Navigating high school reunions can be eased with preparation, focusing on potential positives, and managing expectations, as advised by experts.