Richard Glover's read all the parenting books. Here's how you ruin a child

Australian men are more likely to be more socially disconnected than Australian women, and are less likely to form strong connections with people beyond their partners. And while a majority of men think of their female partners as their best friend, less than half of their spouses feel the same way. So let's get into why the male friendship recession exists — and may actually be deepening — and how you can turn it around.

We've all had that one friend who likes to embellish their stories and fancies themselves a bit of a yarn-spinner. Lenny's friend Marcus has been like this since primary school, but now they've reached middle age, is it time to leave the white lies in the past and call his friend out?

When you visit a new town, where do you go to find out the must-see sights, the best coffee, and the comfiest bed in town? Social media? A tourism website? Or do you make a beeline for the visitor information centre to get the inside info that only a local could know? With so much tourist information now available online, some visitor centres are scaling back face-to-face services, or closing their doors altogether. But do those friendly, helpful faces and real-life conversations offer something a digital experience never will?

There have been repeated calls from across the political divide this week to turn down the heat of our political discourse. After the alleged attack on MP Helen Haines, the way we converse and debate with each other has been called into question. So how has philosophy considered the art of debate and how to engage in respectful discussion?

A survey report released this week says 76 per cent of Australians would have to make sacrifices to their budget if their rent or mortgage rose by $20 a week. For some, that would mean going without food and medication. Housing advocacy group Everybody's Home surveyed 1,150 people between July and September and found one in four were worried they would become homeless if rents continued to rise. Experts agree there's no quick or easy fix. So what would help? From a cap on rental increases to stronger build-to-rent initiatives, we explore the practical measures being put forward to help people find a secure, affordable place to call home.