There are not many stories left buried in James Ellroy’s past. In 1996, at the age of 48, he penned his memoirs, in which he paired his life story with that of his dead mother, Jean Ellroy, a nurse ...

For many, a cold shower promises alertness, a brisk wake-up and perhaps a refreshing jolt to start the day. Yet beneath that sharp shock of temperature lies a physiological response that may have ...