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A review by leviofmichigan
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker
5.0
UPDATE: if you are thinking about reading this book, *do* read it. But listen to the Maintenance Phase podcast episode about it (linked below) first, skip the first chapter of the book COMPLETELY, and take all scientific claims with a grain of salt. The reason I’m not saying “don’t read this book, it’s riddled with errors,” is because, as I said in my original review, this was very inspiring and impactful for me. Also, since reading this book and taking my sleep more seriously because of it (and also since getting a Fitbit), I’ve realized for the first time in my life that the vast majority of my headaches come from sleep deprivation. So, because this book helped me come to a conclusion that has literally improved my day to day life and made me a happier person, I can’t bring myself to make it five stars, because fundamentally, I rate books based on 1) did the book do what it set out to do, 2) did I enjoy what it did, 3) was my life positively impacted by the book. So, the book didn’t prove that a sleep epidemic is happening, and maybe that’s what it set out to do. But I also think he just wanted people to sleep more, and I do sleep more than I used to. So, 5 stars, you inaccurate grifter, and if you ever write another book like this, keep the stuff about whatever random thing causing autism out, thank you!
Maintenance Phase, “The ‘Sleep Loss Epidemic’”, published 14 Dec 2021
https://podcasts.google.com?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xNDExMTI2LnJzcw%3D%3D&episode=QnV6enNwcm91dC05NzE2Mjg1
This may be the most impactful book I read this year just in terms of how much it literally impacts my day-to-day life. I track my sleep via a FitBit, which already helps me set aside more time for sleep because it makes me more aware of how much time I spend not sleeping during the night, but this book changed my outlook on sleep even more. Since I started reading this book, my average sleep time jumped almost 45 minutes. It's just a really convincing exploration of why we need sleep, and what happens when we don't get enough of it. 10/10, put this book on your tbr or you'll have a nightmare tonight.
Maintenance Phase, “The ‘Sleep Loss Epidemic’”, published 14 Dec 2021
https://podcasts.google.com?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xNDExMTI2LnJzcw%3D%3D&episode=QnV6enNwcm91dC05NzE2Mjg1
This may be the most impactful book I read this year just in terms of how much it literally impacts my day-to-day life. I track my sleep via a FitBit, which already helps me set aside more time for sleep because it makes me more aware of how much time I spend not sleeping during the night, but this book changed my outlook on sleep even more. Since I started reading this book, my average sleep time jumped almost 45 minutes. It's just a really convincing exploration of why we need sleep, and what happens when we don't get enough of it. 10/10, put this book on your tbr or you'll have a nightmare tonight.