Book recommendation: Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams

[ChicagoGranny]

Review by K.J. Charles:

This book is genuinely terrifying. The author, a sleep scientist, lists the devastating consequences of getting less than 7-9 hours regularly and it is so much worse than you might have thought. SO much worse. We're basically all going to die.

I'm not even kidding--being just an hour short on sleep a day will do serious damage to your immune system almost immediately, and the Western world is in the grip of a massive sleep deprivation epidemic. Lack of sleep is a carcinogen, literally. It also destroys your ability to control your emotions and understand those of others, your memory, your creativity; it predisposes you to eat more *and* to put on more weight; oh, and it is closely linked to ADHD for the young and Alzheimers for the old.

Basically, if you go on Twitter and think "why is everyone and everything so absolutely awful" it's probably related to society-wide chronic sleep deprivation that people don't even realise they have. This book is genuinely horrifying (ironically, it will keep you up all night fretting). Some of the more striking findings are the absolute madness of night shifts and junior doctor rotas, the self destructive cruelty of school starts that require kids to be awake at 6, and the hecatombs of deaths caused by tired drivers. We've once again managed to set up a social structure apparently designed to cause as much mental and emotional harm as possible to humans. Well done us.

I would really like to dismiss all this as alarmist nonsense but the weight of research and the author's qualifications for writing this makes that quite hard, so instead I might just go to bed early forever. Really very scary and depressing to read, but seriously important. (Also highly readable and clearly written, unlike many books by experts for laypeople.)

[ChicagoGranny]

Well, that's just great. Read a book that terrifies you, and then sleep better.

[total_nonsense]

Thank you to the OP, as books are often not returnable--even when they fall short of expectations.
Some authors are just in it for a quick buck, and skip the research.
We need to not encourage shoddy wordsmiths.

The author is a neuroscience professor at Berkeley that has dedicated his career on studying sleep.
I'd encourage you to do some research on your own before criticizing.

For some of us OSA is just one piece of the puzzle of healthy sleep. I have insomnia and an assortment of other psychiatric disorders that interfere with my sleep and this book has been pretty insightful. I can really recommend it to anyone here, it's pretty fascinating to learn more about the specific ways sleep deprivation messes up with your brain.

Post edited because I can't spell.

[freetimecreations]

Review by K.J. Charles:

This book is genuinely terrifying. The author, a sleep scientist, lists the devastating consequences of getting less than 7-9 hours regularly and it is so much worse than you might have thought. SO much worse. We're basically all going to die.

I'm not even kidding--being just an hour short on sleep a day will do serious damage to your immune system almost immediately, and the Western world is in the grip of a massive sleep deprivation epidemic. Lack of sleep is a carcinogen, literally. It also destroys your ability to control your emotions and understand those of others, your memory, your creativity; it predisposes you to eat more *and* to put on more weight; oh, and it is closely linked to ADHD for the young and Alzheimers for the old.

Basically, if you go on Twitter and think "why is everyone and everything so absolutely awful" it's probably related to society-wide chronic sleep deprivation that people don't even realise they have. This book is genuinely horrifying (ironically, it will keep you up all night fretting). Some of the more striking findings are the absolute madness of night shifts and junior doctor rotas, the self destructive cruelty of school starts that require kids to be awake at 6, and the hecatombs of deaths caused by tired drivers. We've once again managed to set up a social structure apparently designed to cause as much mental and emotional harm as possible to humans. Well done us.

I would really like to dismiss all this as alarmist nonsense but the weight of research and the author's qualifications for writing this makes that quite hard, so instead I might just go to bed early forever. Really very scary and depressing to read, but seriously important. (Also highly readable and clearly written, unlike many books by experts for laypeople.)

That was my take on the book too, especially the part I highlighted in red. I applied what was in this book to my sleep apnea and it reinforced my will (maybe it scared me...Ha Ha) to wear my CPAP as much as possible. The parts I read in the book answered my why I sleep questions and made me place the need for a good nights rest on an equal level as my career, loan payments, car maintenance and whatever else. In the past there were few instances were I would be late or leave early for my work, however I would always be late to go to bed and early to rise. Also, I would read to further my career but paid scant attention to ways to improve my sleep and the need as many of you have pointed out that not wearing/optimizing my CPAP might lead to early death. Scary.

[chunkyfrog]

. . .
I usually get books from the public library. The public library system is impressive here (San francisco bay area , CA). It is free and they got most of the books I search for.

I agree with going to the library first, as libraries commonly have limited funds with which to invest.
If it cannot be found in the library, it may not have "made the cut".
Or it could be too new--I cannot afford to beta test a book that might be a disappointment.
And yet I have way too many books--frogs appear to be slow learners.
I am also aware that credentials do not guarantee quality/thoroughness,
as many books are directed to the general public--not scholars or nerds.

[brookfox]

Just looked at the table of contents on Amazon. Looks like an interesting book for those interested in what science has so far managed to figure out on the importance of sleep and the effects of sleep deprivation. I'll probably request it from my library.

I can also highly recommend the course "Secrets of Sleep Science: From Dreams to Disorders" by H. Craig Heller of Stanford in The Great Courses catalog (subscription required). He spends one lecture covering apnea.

[greatunclebill]

The author is a neuroscience professor at Berkley that has dedicated his career on studying sleep.
I'd encourage you to do some research on your own before criticizing.

Berkley......Is that the same as University of California BerkEley that brainwashes rich kids? Still not impressed.

[Cpapian]

I get pretty much all my books through the public library system in ebok forum. I can read them on my tablet where ever I happen to be. If they don't have a book, I can recommend it and be first on the wait list when they get it. No late fees, books are automatically returned. Check out if your library, or a library near you has this feature.

As to "Why we sleep" I found tons of good and interesting information and found the book very helpful. Like others, it has helped me focus on my sleep issues with some success. He writes about his research and doesn't stray into areas beyond his area of expertise. Why would anybody criticise him for that. Really!

Anybody who finds this book "genuinely horrifying" is exaggerating.

I read a lot. Pretty much every author strays into that over the top area. Makes me wonder if the editors and publishers are at fault. Thinking that that is what the public wants. One has to learn how to weed through that and take from the book that which is helpful. It only took a few hours to read and it was time well spent.

[total_nonsense]

Berkley......Is that the same as University of California BerkEley

Thanks for pointing this out
Edited original post to correct spelling.

[palerider]

We're all going to die?!?!?!!

Egads, when did this start?

[SusanWink]

Thanks for the recommendation. My library has it, so I’m going to check it out. Looks interesting.

[Lucyhere]

Thank you to the OP, as books are often not returnable--even when they fall short of expectations.
Some authors are just in it for a quick buck, and skip the research.
We need to not encourage shoddy wordsmiths.

The author is a neuroscience professor at Berkeley that has dedicated his career on studying sleep.
I'd encourage you to do some research on your own before criticizing.

Not gonna happen. It's so much easier to immediately criticize while having no idea what you're even talking about.

[chunkyfrog]

Poor Lucy! If not for my occasional gaffe, she would have nothing whatsoever to "contribute" .

[Lucyhere]

Poor Chunkyfrog! Out of over 25,000 posts, maaaybe 100 "contribute" to the discussion and actually make a bit of sense.

[jnk...]

We're all going to die?!?!?!!

Egads, when did this start?

'Bout midway through this thread?