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

[kuk_sleeper]

I cam across this book "Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams". and I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in learning more about sleep. It explains about different sleep stages and what lack of sleep will do to your body (though I guess that will be like preaching to the choir in this forum). There is chapter about sleep issues though sleep apnea is not covered.

[ChicagoGranny]

There is chapter about sleep issues though sleep apnea is not covered.

Well, that should disqualify it from everyone's reading list.

[chunkyfrog]

There is chapter about sleep issues though sleep apnea is not covered.

Well, that should disqualify it from everyone's reading list.

[kuk_sleeper]

There is chapter about sleep issues though sleep apnea is not covered.

Well, that should disqualify it from everyone's reading list.

That was a bummer. But the book can't go deep into every sleep disorder so even it was covered it would less information that what is known in this forum.

[Shnorky]

Seriously the book is awesome, and helped me regulate my sleep to such an extent that at the last cpap check (yearly checkup to see if I'm using the machine the insurance is renting out for me) they were impressed.

Please read this book!

[chunkyfrog]

One of the "dummy" or "idiot" guides to sleep disorders was about as useless.
Barely mentioned apnea at all, much less treatment.
Must be something dirty about it.
Now we know why I'm here.

[bombayone]

This is a CPAP forum. I respect your recommendation. Your well intended recommendation will not be well received here. I plan on looking through the book and making my own judgement about its value. Thanks.

[freetimecreations]

If I only slapped a CPAP mask on and did not address other issues relating to the quality of my sleep it is like if I had high blood pressure and just popped a pill for it but still did not exercise, ate salty food, gained more weight and whatever else.
I skipped around in the book, some parts I did not read. It's a good book because my CPAP treats apneas and adds some white noise while the "Why We Sleep" book addresses other issues about my sleep. For me those facts offered in the book were important and interesting to know and when I apply them in addition to my CPAP I feel better the next day.

[bombayone]

Thanks for your intelligent response. On a focused forum like this one, we participants tend to lose a required broader perspective of a wholistic approach to treating apnea.

[Midwest_non_sleeper]

The book covers various sleep disorders but fails to even mention what is turning out to be one of the most prolific sleep disorders that is currently affecting up to an estimated 30 million Americans - not to mention the vast numbers of people Worldwide?

[chunkyfrog]

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.

[greatunclebill]

personally, i put on my mask, go to sleep, wake up and take it off. i know all i need to know about what goes on in between. i don't need to nor do i want to buy and read a book written by a self proclaimed expert. if i have questions i will get the answers from the real sleep experts in this forum and no book to buy.

[kuk_sleeper]

personally, i put on my mask, go to sleep, wake up and take it off. i know all i need to know about what goes on in between. i don't need to nor do i want to buy and read a book written by a self proclaimed expert. if i have questions i will get the answers from the real sleep experts in this forum and no book to buy.

I wouldn't classify this author as a self proclamied expert. He has a PhD in neurophysiology and has conducted research about sleep.

[kuk_sleeper]

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.

For the reason you have mentioned, I have stopped reading books unless they are recommended by multiple sources. Life is too short to waste on useless books.
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.

[kuk_sleeper]

The book covers various sleep disorders but fails to even mention what is turning out to be one of the most prolific sleep disorders that is currently affecting up to an estimated 30 million Americans - not to mention the vast numbers of people Worldwide?

To be fair he covers only 4 sleep disorders among many.
One place sleep apnea is mentioned (That I found, I didn't read the whole thing), is about danger of sleep apnea and driving.