The Wellcome Collection Non-Fiction Awards is a writer development programme for non-fiction on health and being human. It is open for applications until 11 November. Find more information and find out if you’re eligible to apply on the awards page.
Non-Fiction on Health and Being Human by Fran Barrie and Ellen Johl of Wellcome Collection
Non-fiction that touches on health comes in many guises, from memoir and reportage, to history and popular science. There are also many healthcare workers who are brilliant writers, including Atul Gawande, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Rachel Clarke, David Nott, Christie Watson, Leah Hazard, Gavin Francis – to name just a few. Here are a handful of the books that have inspired Wellcome Collection’s Fran and Ellen.
Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn
This is such an urgent and essential book, meticulously researched and beautifully written. It exposes how medicine has misdiagnosed women’s bodies and minimised women’s pain, how misogyny and myth have shaped women’s health, and the long-standing biases that endure. It was inspired by the author’s own experience of being ignored and dismissed by doctors, and she combines this deeply felt rage with incredible rigour and research.
The Outrun by Amy Liptrot
Amy Liptrot’s debut has recently been made into a film featuring Saoirse Ronan and it’s well worth revisiting the book. It’s a dazzling memoir, set between the wilds of Orkney and the hedonism of London, tracing Amy’s recovery from alcoholism and her father’s mental health struggles. A raw, visceral and life-affirming read, full of nature, wild swimming, dark and light.
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
A page-turning, frequently shocking exposé of the Sackler family and their roles in the opioid crisis, and the global epidemic of painkiller addiction. A brilliant example of important reporting and journalism, combined with masterful storytelling and pace.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
A classic. It tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African-American tobacco farmer, alongside the story of HeLa: her cancer cells, which were taken without her knowledge or consent, and which led to major medical breakthroughs (and made millions of dollars for other people). It’s a moving, haunting read about medicine, race, class, ethics, money, exploitation – and who owns our bodies.
Divided by Dr Annabel Sowemimo
Annabel is a sexual health doctor and an incredible activist who founded the community-based organisation, Reproductive Justice Initiative. Her searing debut explores how racism and colonialism have shaped science and medicine – and firmly reinserts the stories of Black and Indigenous scientists and doctors into the historical narrative.
Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong
This anthology is a call to arms that showcases the diversity and nuance of disability through many different stories and perspectives. It’s brought together into a galvanising whole by leading activist, writer and organiser Alice Wong.
The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde
We could have included several works by the great Audre Lorde on this list. Her writing is a thrilling fusion of the personal, political and poetic. This is her intimate and searching account of having breast cancer. It’s full of wisdom and fire.
Fran Barrie and Ellen Johl make up the books team at Wellcome Collection, working in close partnership with Profile Books to publish vital non-fiction on health – including works by Dr Gavin Francis, Emma Dabiri, Elif Shafak, Jack Hartnell, Susie Orbach and Daniel Tammet.
Published: 23 October 2024