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4.29 AVERAGE


A really interesting read, that was easy to read and further developed my understanding of sleep. Did make me worry a bit about my own sleep patterns, but I guess that means that it's done its job!
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Truly wonderful storytelling and should be considered essential reading. Definitely will be getting a good night's sleep after this one

This is a fascinating but mildly terrifying book. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Really interesting and gave me a lot to think about!

Really thrown off by the Edina and Mahtomedi shoutouts. 

This book blew open the door in my world on the benefits of sleep and the detriments of too little sleep. I knew of the importance of sleep but had no idea what far reaching consequence the lack of sleep can have on every system in the body. I changed my sleep habits immediately upon reading how detrimental it is to not sleep long enough. Improve every aspect of your life by getting enough shut-off eye.

Back in the mid 2019th as I enlisted in the army and became а recruit I wasn't quite aware of the consequences I could experience from sleep deprivation. Just like everyone else most soldiers should get their seven to nine hours of sleep every night. However that's not really feasible and the reality we gеt is a true nightmare.

It's no surprise that long- term sleep deprivation can lead to a serious health consequences including sleep disorders,extreme fatigue etc. In his book Walker explains how neglecting sleep undercuts your creativity, problem solving, decision-making, learning, memory, emotional well-being, brain activity, and even your life span. As being a witness of the decreasing motivation in many of my surroundings and seeing their attempts at the beginning to stay awake - with either caffeine, bunch of energy drinks, sweets has only proven by this book that we're seriously weakening our immune system. For example caffeine-it only the blocks the adenosine receptors in the brain without stimulating them. Caffeine’s effects peak after 30min and has a half-life of five to seven hours. In fact no other species on earth voluntary terminates their sleep- but here we are YaY.

Being obligated to be available all day and all night does spike up some pressure. Even as I continued to try to get a normal nutrition and physical training at the end both of my attempts that I used to regulate for so long, no surprise failed. Personally as increasing my time as a constantly suppressed private there are of course some tricks that you learn. Anyway even if you manage to take a nap it will be most probably disturbed (just coming at you like a big red constant alarm siren). Our lives are circling around those alarm clocks that lead to a spike in blood pressure and to an activation of the fight-or-flight branch of the nervous system. The snooze button makes it even worse because it repeats this stress...


Coming back to this book: The thing I liked the most was the style and organization - it had a flowing continuity that was easy to understand. The author manages to address even the oddest facts of sleep with fun and yet scientific attitude. The examples he chooses are relevant and relatable. You will get a tons of arguments to explain people why you are an owl, why school should start later, why you shouldn't take sleeping pills, and damn, why we sleep. It was truly interesting and sometimes boring, but you know what, as the author says at the beginning of the book:

" Should you feel drowsy and fall asleep while reading the book, unlike most authors, I will not be disheartened. Indeed, based on the topic and content of this book, I am actively going to encourage you that kind of behavior from you. "

Finally, the book whose author actually said that he will be happy if a reader fell asleep while reading it. Great one!