Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams (2017)

I have been searching for a good book on sleep for a long time. A few months back, I read one, but it had too many charts. As a consequence, it was inaccessible for most people.

In this book, Matthew Walker breaks down the subject and outlines the sleep process, its importance, and the risks of sleep deprivation.

He ended the book with 12 recommendations for improving our sleep.

In my opinion, this book is an essential read for anyone. It can very well save your life. ( )

This is the sort of popular science book I enjoy. It is written by a researcher who is able communicate with a general audience. This adds a level of depth and authenticity achieved only the best of non-fiction written by outsiders to a field.

The topic itself is incredibly important. It turns out that sleep more than just something we can't avoid. It is the foundation of our health. Part of the reason it was hard to pinpoint the purpose of sleep is that it serves so many purposes. Sleep improves your ability to learn and retain memories, it makes creative connections, it removes the emotional sting from memories, it heals the body and strengthens the immune system, it improves the quality of waking activities (both intellectual and physical).

Or, to put it another way, routine sleep deprivation can increase the risk of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and more. A lack of sleep is associated with a shorter lifespan.

Even accounting for the fact that evolution seems to have been unable to get rid of sleep -- a period of each and every day where we are both vulnerable and not visibly productive -- this sounds like little more than overinflated health claims. So what evidence does Walker provide for the importance of sleep?

I won't go into every detail. The general approach Walker takes is two pronged. He presents a general model of how sleep works and how it repairs the body. This provides a theoretical underpinning which illustrates that the huge benefits of sleep may, in fact, be as large as advertised. Second, he presents findings from many studies which demonstrate the direct impact of sleep on specific areas. Some of these studies are extremely strong. Others are weaker. But taken as a whole, they present a compelling picture of the importance of sleep.

If you're interested in what you can do to improve your sleep, you'll get that throughout this book. You'll also get a whole lot more. The directly applicable advice is probably nearer a dozen pages than not, so whether or not the added depth of the other 400 pages are worth your while depends on how much you want to understand the foundation that advice is built upon.

As for the advice itself I'll just include a few highlights. Avoid caffeine; the less the better (none is best). Have a consistent sleep and wake time, including on the weekends. *Never* drive drowsy; it's at least as bad as driving drunk. At the societal level, schools need to start later and we need to stop glorifying those who deprive themselves of sleep.

Sleep well! ( )

Matthew Walker’s “Why We Sleep” is a brutally honest treatise on the sleep loss epidemic of our culture and the dangerous effects of sleep machismo(bragging about how little sleep we get and thinking 6 or less hours is enough). A must read for anyone trying to get a better night’s sleep and understand why they feel so tired. ( )

Excellent well needed book. I was reluctant to read it when I first saw it on the shelves - yeah, I already know sleep is important.

But trust me when I say you know less than you think. Knowing more specifics benefits of sleep and dangers of not getting enough is vital.

One big takeaway? The idea of 'making up' for poor sleep on one night with longer sleep on another doesn't work - it's not like a credit card. The damage is already done.

Inspired me to take my sleep much more seriously and genuinely prioritise it instead of pratting around on the internet for hours at night. Read it. ( )

One of the best books on sleep. The author explains what happens during sleep and why sleep is essential for good health. ( )