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agob187's review against another edition
4.0
Would love to read an updated version. Was very helpful and informative.
diz_tn's review against another edition
1.0
DID NOT READ/DO NOT RECOMMEND
Avoid this book if your insomnia is caused by physical issues. Seems to only be useful for those with sleep anxiety.
********
I've never rated a book that I haven't read before. This time is a first. But I feel that it's important. I read an article that summarized a few of the tips from this book and it angered me, so here you go.
The book says things to the effect of [I'm paraphrasing]..."there is no conclusive evidence that lack of sleep causes health problems." And "no matter how little sleep you get, you will still be able to get through your day, stop worrying about it." <--THIS IS A HUGE PIECE OF BULLSHIT IF YOU HAVE REAL SLEEP PROBLEMS.
I don't know what evidence (if any) the author presented as I didn't read the book, but there are NUMEROUS studies showing a lack of sleep can cause heart disease, obesity, impaired driving, etc., etc., etc. And if impaired driving is an effect of lack of sleep, then how in god's name can he claim that anyone "will get through the day just fine" in spite of not sleeping??????
It seems that much of the book deals with those who have what's called "sleep anxiety" and that is indeed what the author of the article I read had. However, sleep anxiety is not a physical disease. By saying sleep problems are due solely to not being able to relax/stop thinking (i.e. telling us it's all in our minds), this book is a disservice to those of us with real physical diseases who cannot solve our sleep issues simply by "positive thinking". I probably would have paid money for this book, thinking I could find tips to ease a few of my sleep issues (although I know I can't solve them completely), and I would have been upset and angry at the lack of useful information in there. That's why I'm writing this "review".
Looking at the other reviews here on Goodreads (and from what the author of the article I read said), it seems that even for psychologically caused sleep issues, these recommendations only work some of the time.
****
Note: I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, unexplained by any other health issue. I have been examined by many doctors, including a neurologist, and several psychiatrists, including a sleep disorder psychiatrist. The sleep psychiatrist proclaimed my "sleep hygiene" as being well within accepted norms and that I had no psychologically caused sleep problems. My psych eval/treatment consisted of doing a lot of the things it looks like this author recommends in this book and none of them worked at all for me and I'd tried all those tricks many times before looking for relief. I've also had a sleep study done, and was told I have no physical sleep problems they could find (sleep apnea, narcolepsy, etc.).
Avoid this book if your insomnia is caused by physical issues. Seems to only be useful for those with sleep anxiety.
********
I've never rated a book that I haven't read before. This time is a first. But I feel that it's important. I read an article that summarized a few of the tips from this book and it angered me, so here you go.
The book says things to the effect of [I'm paraphrasing]..."there is no conclusive evidence that lack of sleep causes health problems." And "no matter how little sleep you get, you will still be able to get through your day, stop worrying about it." <--THIS IS A HUGE PIECE OF BULLSHIT IF YOU HAVE REAL SLEEP PROBLEMS.
I don't know what evidence (if any) the author presented as I didn't read the book, but there are NUMEROUS studies showing a lack of sleep can cause heart disease, obesity, impaired driving, etc., etc., etc. And if impaired driving is an effect of lack of sleep, then how in god's name can he claim that anyone "will get through the day just fine" in spite of not sleeping??????
It seems that much of the book deals with those who have what's called "sleep anxiety" and that is indeed what the author of the article I read had. However, sleep anxiety is not a physical disease. By saying sleep problems are due solely to not being able to relax/stop thinking (i.e. telling us it's all in our minds), this book is a disservice to those of us with real physical diseases who cannot solve our sleep issues simply by "positive thinking". I probably would have paid money for this book, thinking I could find tips to ease a few of my sleep issues (although I know I can't solve them completely), and I would have been upset and angry at the lack of useful information in there. That's why I'm writing this "review".
Looking at the other reviews here on Goodreads (and from what the author of the article I read said), it seems that even for psychologically caused sleep issues, these recommendations only work some of the time.
****
Note: I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, unexplained by any other health issue. I have been examined by many doctors, including a neurologist, and several psychiatrists, including a sleep disorder psychiatrist. The sleep psychiatrist proclaimed my "sleep hygiene" as being well within accepted norms and that I had no psychologically caused sleep problems. My psych eval/treatment consisted of doing a lot of the things it looks like this author recommends in this book and none of them worked at all for me and I'd tried all those tricks many times before looking for relief. I've also had a sleep study done, and was told I have no physical sleep problems they could find (sleep apnea, narcolepsy, etc.).
cavy's review against another edition
1.0
Did you know the author worked at HARVARD??? You know, the IVY LEAGUE school HARVARD. He also played college football and he was, like, SO good at it he could have gone pro except HARVARD hand-picked him to work on their research study about a disorder he has no experience with. Wait, what is this book about again? *checks* Oh, that's right. It's about how you're stupid idiot dummy pants who did not attend HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL and are too stupid to sleep. Good thing this college football player from Harvard is here to show you the light, you stupid pleb.
I actually threw this book in the trash around the half-way mark. I was sick of the constant name-dropping and condescending tone. What I learned (besides that the author is associated with Harvard) is that insomnia is fake news, I'm sleeping better than I think I am, and I need to just get over myself and stop all this "insomnia" business.
I actually threw this book in the trash around the half-way mark. I was sick of the constant name-dropping and condescending tone. What I learned (besides that the author is associated with Harvard) is that insomnia is fake news, I'm sleeping better than I think I am, and I need to just get over myself and stop all this "insomnia" business.
idesofmarch's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
aimesericks's review against another edition
4.0
Much of this book was information that I already knew, and I found some parts to contradict other parts; however, I've noticed that I have more positive thoughts associated with sleep after reading Say Goodnight to Insomnia. Furthermore, I do not allow the cycle of negative thinking to begin after a couple restless nights, which has been an issue for me in the past. Definitely worth the read. Nothing earth shattering, but overall a positive message about sleep.
wildx's review
informative
inspiring
4.0
In the past two years, while I've struggled with insomnia, I have read so many books on sleep and this has been, by far, the book that has helped me the most with my sleep anxiety issues. I know already that I'll be coming back to re-read all the sections I have bookmarked whenever I go through challenging periods again.
four_sharks's review against another edition
4.0
I developed a bad case of insomnia after my child was born from waking up in the middle of the night every night. This book, in conjunction with the Insomnia Coach app helped me change my thinking about my insomnia. It has since improved after working on it for about 4 weeks. I still have to wake at night with my child so I think it would improve even more once he sleeps through the night.
One thing that is really helpful this book taught me is the concept of core sleep, that you’ll be able to function well on just 5.5 hours of sleep, and many people can function for months and months on even less sleep without much impact to anything except their mood. This helped me not freak out so much when I do have a bad night. I definitely recommend this book to anyone struggling with insomnia.
One thing that is really helpful this book taught me is the concept of core sleep, that you’ll be able to function well on just 5.5 hours of sleep, and many people can function for months and months on even less sleep without much impact to anything except their mood. This helped me not freak out so much when I do have a bad night. I definitely recommend this book to anyone struggling with insomnia.