New non-fiction books for April

This volume is for anyone who is struggling with addiction or thinks they might have a problem. It is a book for family and friends who live with the real-life consequences of addiction and want to know more about the illness and where and how to get help.

Before the Second World War, Josephine Baker (1906-1975) was one of the most famous performers in the world. She made her name dancing on the Parisian stage, but when war broke out she decided not to return to America. Instead, Baker turned spy for the French Secret Services. In this engaging, deeply researched study, Hanna Diamond tells the full story of Baker's actions for the French and Allied powers in World War Two. Drawing on previously unseen material, Diamond reveals the vital role Baker played throughout the war, from counterintelligence work for the Allied landings in North Africa to serving in the French Air Force in 1944-45.

Philip Burton (1904-95) is best remembered as the schoolmaster responsible for training and transforming his pupil Richard Jenkins into Richard Burton, world- famous star of stage and screen. Together they produced a remarkable symbiosis. This biography, drawing upon a number of previously unseen sources, provides a fresh angle on this compelling story. And by placing Philip Burton’s story centre stage, a remarkable figure also emerges in his own right. In a life that virtually spanned the twentieth century, he demonstrated resilience and transatlantic triumph against the odds.

'What to Grow for a Climate Resilient Garden' urges green-thumbed readers that are conscious of the environment to think deeper about the impact of maintaining a thriving garden on the future of the planet, and vice versa. With easy, practical ideas, it is the ideal book for experienced gardeners and a growing environmentally-inclined public looking for ways to make a difference. Eminent plant expert Dr Amanda Rasmussen explains what makes particular plants suited to certain conditions, along with easy-to-implement ideas for forward-thinking gardeners.

Postal paths span the length and breadth of Britain - from the furthermost corners of the Outer Hebrides to the isolated communities clinging to the cliffs of the Rame Peninsula in south-east Cornwall. As far back as the 1660s, postmen and women have been moulding and forging paths to deliver posts to homes across Britain, no matter how remote. A chance remark by a farmer about a postman's path led Alan Cleaver on a quest to discover more about this network of lanes, short-cuts and footpaths in the British landscape. What he found, through his walks, conversations and painstaking research, was more than just beautiful scenery. It was an incredible, forgotten slice of social history - the remarkable tales and toil of rural postmen and women trudging down lanes, over fields, and even across rivers to make sure the post always came on time.

The ultimate guide to using the air fryer to cook easy, delicious and healthy meals that will help you take control of, and even reverse, type 2 diabetes. Katie shows you how to prepare and cook easy and delicious meals that cater to diabetes and pre-diabetes using this most valuable kitchen tool. From breakfasts to simple midweek meals, whole joints of meat for a family meal to magical low carb desserts and cakes - always with its firm focus on weight loss and healthy eating.

Does life feel smaller than it used to? Does it seem that the people around you have taken a step back from doing hard things, preferring to stay in their comfort zone? In the era of TikTok as therapy, it's tempting to see ourselves as damaged and powerless - defined by our past traumas, our emotions and the struggles we face. But it's more important than ever to rise above the limiting beliefs and widespread anxiety that puts us in boxes, lowers our expectations and holds us back. In 'Rise Above', renowned psychologist Dr Scott Barry Kaufman unpacks the dangerous myths and misleading buzzwords swirling around the popular imagination.