Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
About this product
“ Why We Sleep is an important and fascinating book…Walker taught me a lot about this basic activity that every person on Earth needs. I suspect his book will do the same for you.” —Bill Gates
A New York Times bestseller and international sensation, this “stimulating and important book” ( Financial Times ) is a fascinating dive into the purpose and power of slumber.
With two appearances on CBS This Morning and Fresh Air 's most popular interview of 2017, Matthew Walker has made abundantly clear that sleep is one of the most important but least understood aspects of our life. Until very recently, science had no answer to the question of why we sleep, or what good it served, or why we suffer such devastating health consequences when it is absent. Compared to the other basic drives in life—eating, drinking, and reproducing—the purpose of sleep remains more elusive.
Within the brain, sleep enriches a diversity of functions, including our ability to learn, memorize, and make logical decisions. It recalibrates our emotions, restocks our immune system, fine-tunes our metabolism, and regulates our appetite. Dreaming creates a virtual reality space in which the brain melds past and present knowledge, inspiring creativity.
In this “compelling and utterly convincing” ( The Sunday Times ) book, preeminent neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker provides a revolutionary exploration of sleep, examining how it affects every aspect of our physical and mental well-being. Charting the most cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, and marshalling his decades of research and clinical practice, Walker explains how we can harness sleep to improve learning, mood and energy levels, regulate hormones, prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes, slow the effects of aging, and increase longevity. He also provides actionable steps towards getting a better night’s sleep every night.
Clear-eyed, fascinating, and accessible, Why We Sleep is a crucial and illuminating book. Written with the precision of Atul Gawande, Andrew Solomon, and Sherwin Nuland, it is “recommended for night-table reading in the most pragmatic sense” ( The New York Times Book Review ). Read more
Editor's Take
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams gets broadly positive feedback for being engaging, accessible, and packed with practical sleep science. Amazon reviewers say the book is well-written, fascinating, and useful for understanding how sleep affects health and performance. Book review sites and blog reviewers also praise its clear explanation of complex neuroscience and its eye-opening warnings about sleep deprivation.
At the same time, some readers are critical. Reddit discussions include complaints that the book overstates some claims and relies too heavily on weak or disputed evidence. Shortform’s review notes that the book has been praised for readability, but also criticized for research quality and interpretations.
Overall sentiment is mixed but leans positive: many readers recommend it as an important, approachable introduction to sleep science, while a smaller group warns that its claims should be read critically.
Price History
Specifications
| Publisher | Scribner |
| Publication date | June 19, 2018 |
| Edition | Reprint |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 368 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1501144324 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1501144325 |
| Item Weight | 2.31 pounds |
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 1 x 8.38 inches |
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,767 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1 in Neuroscience (Books) #2 in Sleep Disorders #4 in Anatomy (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (34,424) |
