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richardrbecker's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.25
Matthew Walker makes a case for more sleep. As an English scientist and the Center for Human Sleep Science director at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in neuroscience and psychology, he lays a compelling case for 7-9 hours of sleep (at least 8 hours, ideally).
His argument took four years to write, which is why it became a best-seller several years ago and still has some traction today. The book is broken into four parts: Introduction, Importance, Dreams, and Health.
The opening is especially interesting as Walker gives us the story of sleep: circadian rhythm, history, and evolution. In this area, we learn that everything sleeps — even worms do something that resembles slumber. Walked also talks about how sleep rhythms change in humans as they age.
The importance of sleep begins to get into our biology and benefits. It covers correlations between sleep and sports injuries and car crashes, sleep and general health, sleep and memory, etc. Eventually, he draws a more important conclusion, linking lack of sleep to cancer, heart attacks, and a shorter life.
The third part covers dreams, mainly from a neuroscience perspective on REM and NREM sleep. And the final section does a deeper dive into societal prejudice against sleep, sleeping pills, and other stuff we muck up because we're generally overtired. Walker goes as far as suggesting ADHD-like behaviors could be a symptom of not enough sleep and provides a better understanding of insomnia and how to correct it without medication.
The book's popularity has drawn its fair share of criticism, but nothing genuinely notable for the average reader. I enjoyed it, learned a few things, and certainly took some of it to heart. (I already knew there was a link to cancer and lack of sleep, having worked on an oncology course with a doctor.) If there is any criticism in the writing, it's mainly that Why We Sleep becomes a bit repetitive at times (and that literary put me to sleep once or twice). But overall, it was a solid read recommended to me by a health coach, and I've already put a couple of sleep-improving practices in place.
His argument took four years to write, which is why it became a best-seller several years ago and still has some traction today. The book is broken into four parts: Introduction, Importance, Dreams, and Health.
The opening is especially interesting as Walker gives us the story of sleep: circadian rhythm, history, and evolution. In this area, we learn that everything sleeps — even worms do something that resembles slumber. Walked also talks about how sleep rhythms change in humans as they age.
The importance of sleep begins to get into our biology and benefits. It covers correlations between sleep and sports injuries and car crashes, sleep and general health, sleep and memory, etc. Eventually, he draws a more important conclusion, linking lack of sleep to cancer, heart attacks, and a shorter life.
The third part covers dreams, mainly from a neuroscience perspective on REM and NREM sleep. And the final section does a deeper dive into societal prejudice against sleep, sleeping pills, and other stuff we muck up because we're generally overtired. Walker goes as far as suggesting ADHD-like behaviors could be a symptom of not enough sleep and provides a better understanding of insomnia and how to correct it without medication.
The book's popularity has drawn its fair share of criticism, but nothing genuinely notable for the average reader. I enjoyed it, learned a few things, and certainly took some of it to heart. (I already knew there was a link to cancer and lack of sleep, having worked on an oncology course with a doctor.) If there is any criticism in the writing, it's mainly that Why We Sleep becomes a bit repetitive at times (and that literary put me to sleep once or twice). But overall, it was a solid read recommended to me by a health coach, and I've already put a couple of sleep-improving practices in place.
jblmk's review against another edition
4.0
The least one can do is schedule nine hours for sleep in a day
eharrison's review against another edition
1.0
DNF. This is a well written book. However, the bias and inclusion of unscientific information, just as side notes, that it is written with got to a point I could not continue reading.
tshrope's review against another edition
4.0
Lots of excellent information about the importance of sleep. Covers everything from sleep effecting our mental and physical health, to our ability to earn more money and be more more successful as individuals and businesses. Walker truly tries to hit every aspect of everyone's life to show how sleep effects it. It's an important book that could benefit all who read it.
My warning is, like any Passionate advocate (aka Zealot) of a particular theory they will only talk about studies and give anecdotal stories that support their theory (think confirmation bias). When you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail. I have seen this in other books about diet and exercise as well; books about the evils of sugar and wheat etc. will tell you how they effect every aspect of your life as well. Walker sites studies he has done as evidence, but does not mention if these same studies have been replicated by other scientists with the same results. He barely mentions genetics and the fact that no matter how much sleep you get it will not ward off diseases that are passed down genetically. So you need to take some of his claims with a grain of salt.
Overall Walker absolutely makes a strong case why sleep is the foundation to good health, and everyone who reads this will benefit. I have already made a concerted effort to get more sleep each night having read this.
My warning is, like any Passionate advocate (aka Zealot) of a particular theory they will only talk about studies and give anecdotal stories that support their theory (think confirmation bias). When you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail. I have seen this in other books about diet and exercise as well; books about the evils of sugar and wheat etc. will tell you how they effect every aspect of your life as well. Walker sites studies he has done as evidence, but does not mention if these same studies have been replicated by other scientists with the same results. He barely mentions genetics and the fact that no matter how much sleep you get it will not ward off diseases that are passed down genetically. So you need to take some of his claims with a grain of salt.
Overall Walker absolutely makes a strong case why sleep is the foundation to good health, and everyone who reads this will benefit. I have already made a concerted effort to get more sleep each night having read this.
debr's review against another edition
5.0
Listen up America, and large parts of the rest of the world (and I hope it’s been widely translated): Read This Book!!!! Not only is it full of absolutely mind-blowing evidence of the importance of sleep and how it affects every facet of our lives- and the lives of most species with whom we share the planet- it is also astonishingly well written. I have learned so much reading this book (just ask my friends and family who are ready to disown me if I don’t stop sending them screenshots and quoting from it)!
Ok there are two things in here I have to kvetch about. Dr.Walker, please do not spread the misconception that children sleep less and do less well in school if they have to ride the bus instead of having their parents drive them. I absolutely guarantee that equation is not so simple and highly context dependent as to whether there is actually sleep lost to a bus schedule. And the sustainability mind in me is horrified that you are suggesting putting more people in individual cars is a viable solution. All you have to do is look at the school traffic congestion in my one suburb to know that’s a bad idea.
Also, I was pissed at his statement that bus driver unions are an impediment to shifting school day timing. Nope I don’t buy that for an instant unles you can show me evidence. All that sounds like is a baseless right-wing theory that unions stand in the way of progress. Come on- districts can make these shifts and work with all their staff to make these changes work.
Ok I had to get that off my chest. Back to the glowing review that really, this book is so eye-opening and insightful and important when it comes to understanding the purpose and importance of sleep.
After reading this book I think I honestly may turn into a sleep fascist for myself and everyone I know.
Ok there are two things in here I have to kvetch about. Dr.Walker, please do not spread the misconception that children sleep less and do less well in school if they have to ride the bus instead of having their parents drive them. I absolutely guarantee that equation is not so simple and highly context dependent as to whether there is actually sleep lost to a bus schedule. And the sustainability mind in me is horrified that you are suggesting putting more people in individual cars is a viable solution. All you have to do is look at the school traffic congestion in my one suburb to know that’s a bad idea.
Also, I was pissed at his statement that bus driver unions are an impediment to shifting school day timing. Nope I don’t buy that for an instant unles you can show me evidence. All that sounds like is a baseless right-wing theory that unions stand in the way of progress. Come on- districts can make these shifts and work with all their staff to make these changes work.
Ok I had to get that off my chest. Back to the glowing review that really, this book is so eye-opening and insightful and important when it comes to understanding the purpose and importance of sleep.
After reading this book I think I honestly may turn into a sleep fascist for myself and everyone I know.
_uncle_rico's review against another edition
4.0
A well written and informative book on the benefits of quality sleep and the repurcussons of poor sleep and poor sleep habits. There's knowledge Nuggets in the book that most people can take and apply quite easily.
dimayj's review against another edition
3.0
This book is about sleep, its effects on our brains and bodies, and the consequences of insufficient sleep.
It’s divided into 4 parts. In the first part, the author describes how brains generate sleep, the sleep cycle, jet lag, the effects of caffeine and pulling “all-nighters”, and how sleep changes across the lifespan. In the second part, the author explains the benefits of sleep on memory and learning and the effects of sleep loss on the body and the brain (with implications on driving, emotional regulation, and psychiatric illnesses). The third part delves into dreams and their benefits. In the last part, the author describes sleep disorders and goes through current-day causes for sleep deficiency. He also explains the effects of alcohol and sleep medications and suggests non-pharmacological methods for improving sleep. Towards the end, the author discusses “sleep and society” (workplace, education, and healthcare) and proposes a sleep intervention model that spans from the individual to the societal level.
The book offers a fair overview of the neuroscience of sleep and dreams. There are some actionable takeaways regarding sleep hygiene and overall reasonable points, such as the importance of sufficient sleep, the need to change society’s attitude towards sleep, possible misdiagnosis of some sleep-deprived children with ADHD, the effects of blue LED light on sleep, etc.
Nevertheless, I have major issues with the book, some of which are: there are several hyperbolic claims and alarmist exaggerations with regards to the effects of sleep deficiency on the body (such as cancer, the cardiovascular system, and genes). Further, although the author acknowledges on some occasions that correlation doesn’t prove causation, in several other places he presents correlational data with statements that imply causation (e.g. the relation between sleep loss and obesity and between sleeping pills and infection). Finally, the book lacks proper citations (few studies are selectively cited in the footnotes while many others are left out, and there’s no list of references at the end of the book).
It’s divided into 4 parts. In the first part, the author describes how brains generate sleep, the sleep cycle, jet lag, the effects of caffeine and pulling “all-nighters”, and how sleep changes across the lifespan. In the second part, the author explains the benefits of sleep on memory and learning and the effects of sleep loss on the body and the brain (with implications on driving, emotional regulation, and psychiatric illnesses). The third part delves into dreams and their benefits. In the last part, the author describes sleep disorders and goes through current-day causes for sleep deficiency. He also explains the effects of alcohol and sleep medications and suggests non-pharmacological methods for improving sleep. Towards the end, the author discusses “sleep and society” (workplace, education, and healthcare) and proposes a sleep intervention model that spans from the individual to the societal level.
The book offers a fair overview of the neuroscience of sleep and dreams. There are some actionable takeaways regarding sleep hygiene and overall reasonable points, such as the importance of sufficient sleep, the need to change society’s attitude towards sleep, possible misdiagnosis of some sleep-deprived children with ADHD, the effects of blue LED light on sleep, etc.
Nevertheless, I have major issues with the book, some of which are: there are several hyperbolic claims and alarmist exaggerations with regards to the effects of sleep deficiency on the body (such as cancer, the cardiovascular system, and genes). Further, although the author acknowledges on some occasions that correlation doesn’t prove causation, in several other places he presents correlational data with statements that imply causation (e.g. the relation between sleep loss and obesity and between sleeping pills and infection). Finally, the book lacks proper citations (few studies are selectively cited in the footnotes while many others are left out, and there’s no list of references at the end of the book).
rdengerous's review against another edition
5.0
Matt Walker hits you with statistic after statistic in an onslaught of scientifically backed punches to your brain with a simple message, "Go the fuck to sleep".
This should be read in conjunction with the as referenced: https://youtu.be/teIbh8hFQos
This should be read in conjunction with the as referenced: https://youtu.be/teIbh8hFQos