Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
Written by Matthew Walker
Narrated by Steve West
4.5/5
()
About this audiobook
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).
Matthew Walker
Matthew Walker is a professor of neuroscience and psychology at UC Berkeley, the Director of its Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab, and a former professor of psychiatry at Harvard University. He has published over 100 scientific studies and has appeared on 60 Minutes, Nova, BBC News, and NPR’s Science Friday. Why We Sleep is his first book.
Related to Why We Sleep
Related audiobooks
Keep Sharp: How to Build a Better Brain at Any Age Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary of Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cracking the Aging Code: The New Science of Growing Old - And What It Means for Staying Young Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Neuroscience of Excellent Sleep Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Nocturnal Brain: Nightmares, Neuroscience, and the Secret World of Sleep Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Biohack Your Brain: How to Boost Cognitive Health, Performance & Power Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Age-Proof Brain: New Strategies to Improve Memory, Protect Immunity, and Fight Off Dementia Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Morning Mind: Use Your Brain to Master Your Day and Supercharge Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Survival of the Sickest: A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Intelligence Trap: Why Smart People Make Dumb Mistakes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Second Brain: A Groundbreaking New Understanding of Nervous Disorders of the Stomach and Intestine Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Glucose Revolution: The Life-Changing Power of Balancing Your Blood Sugar Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Brain Food: The Surprising Science of Eating for Cognitive Power Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Healthy More Resilient Brain Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Life Time: Your Body Clock and Its Essential Roles in Good Health and Sleep Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLifespan: Why We Age—and Why We Don't Have To Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Courage to Be Disliked: How to Free Yourself, Change Your Life, and Achieve Real Happiness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Art of Thinking Clearly Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Sleep Well: The Science of Sleeping Smarter, Living Better and Being Productive Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Gene: An Intimate History Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How I Learned to Understand the World: A Memoir Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Wellness For You
Roxane Gay & Everand Originals: Built for This: The Quiet Strength of Powerlifting Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Silent Patient Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Highly Sensitive Person Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Last House on Needless Street Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Moneyzen: The Secret to Finding Your ""Enough"" Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Do the Work Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Grow Up: Becoming the Parent Your Kids Deserve Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Switch on Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Living Untethered: Beyond the Human Predicament Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Happiness Makeover: Overcome Stress and Negativity to Become a Hopeful, Happy Person Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It. Goes. So. Fast.: The Year of No Do-Overs Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You Can Make It Easy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Glucose Revolution: The Life-Changing Power of Balancing Your Blood Sugar Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Why We Sleep
2,083 ratings177 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was truly a revolutionary book for me. I used to be proud of being able to function "well" despite chronic sleep deprivation--I've now slept 7-9 hours every night for almost 3 weeks and am already seeing positive changes in my health, energy, and mood. I've since recommended this practical, easy-to-understand, and well-researched book to most of my family, friends and clients. I loved it and can't wait to see what happens for me as this becomes my established lifestyle!
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Riddled with inaccuracies. Cherry picked data to support his case
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Brilliant...i never knew that much background on sleep and this book was a real eye opener
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5nothing new, mostly a academic book and good for research
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very good source for information on sleep. Fact versus fear based. strongly recommend for everyone.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book explains the power of sleep. Everything positive and negative in your life may be due to sleep. I’ve been giving people sleep advice as I read. Night
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5i liked this book but the guys voice was kind of hard to listen to. The information its self is awesome. I might would pick just to read it myself rather then listen to it.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Incredible and impressive insights about sleeping. Definitely changed my perspective and my sleeping habits.
Highly recommendable.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Exceptional book with a lot of useful information and interesting facts about sleep. Covers a broad variety of studies made on sleep which gives different aspects on it. I would highly recommend listening to it.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The useful information is in the appendix. The rest of the book goes into great detail on the parts of sleep, how it affects different demographics, animals, and case studies supporting the necessity of sleep.
TL;DR Get yourself your 7-9 hours, you will be bigger, better, faster, strong, even live extra longer.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book have changed my life. Now i go to sleep at 10:00 pm and wake up at 05:00. I monitor my sleep. I don’t drink alcohol or coffee anymore and i feel great. What a book! I suggest you to read or to listen. Totally worth it.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sleep or else!
Read this book if:
- you don’t sleep more than 6 hours each night
- work late and try to catch up sleep on weekends
- have trouble falling asleep, often wake up in the middle of the night, or wake up too early
- unable to lose weight
Etc.
The first chapter will alarm you: sleep better or your mind/body will suffer the consequences.
The prose, pace, and organization of the science of sleep is fascinating and compelling.
This book will not bore you with academic detail of brain science.
When my son is old enough, he will read this book before many others.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Eye opening, or shutting, wealth of knowledge on sleep. We've been "sleeping" on sleep for way too long. This is an amazing and informative book with studies and tips on getting better sleep. Highly recommended.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Simply incredibly... Shocked me from the beginning to the end
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very informative book. Now, I view sleep very differently and make it more of a priority for my family and myself .
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5All basics about sleep and how one's lifestyle and age affects it are covered in this easy to comprehend book. Highly recommend!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Important book. You will never cut your sleep short again.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Book is great, but if you are not a great sleeper or have insomnia, it could make you very anxious about it
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Some parts were a bit technical but overall it was really informative.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Given my troubled relationship with sleep, this was beyond fascinating and highly terrifying. I learned a tons of things, some of which I really didn't want to know. Ignorance is a bliss, as they say. I will definitely try to improve my sleep hygiene more adamantly from now on. Unfortunately I didn't like the narrator, I didn't find him very engaging, but that's just my personal opinion. Basically everyone should read this. It was one of the most inspiring non-fiction books I've ever read.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5a shorter version would've been perfect but still very insightful
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent information about how sleep works, why we as a society have so much trouble with it, and what we can do about it.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Because of the easy to understand analogies, Matthew Walker succesfully presents sleep in all its shapes, stages and ages. This book made me realise that the quote "I'll have enough time to sleep when I'm dead" might actually kill me earlier in my life. As a student, this book opened my eyes and will help me to study efficiently and smartly. I strongly recommend it to anyone.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Eye opening book! Or eye shutting? Not sure after reading. Definitely must read for everybody.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5BEST book on the importance of sleeping, ever. So eye opening scientific based studies, with funny remarks and solutions for the individual, as well as at the institutional level. I don't write reviews like this, unless I strongly support the quality of the writing. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It was excellent book. It’s a book everyone should read/listen.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Really really loved this and learned a lot. It is a very dense book so I switched from print to audio & 100% don’t regret!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5En este libro encontrarás el secreto para vivir más tiempo más sano y más feliz
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Life and habit changing book! I wish I had known the information in this book when I was in high school, when I was raising my kids, when working in the high tech industry and basically, I wish I had known. Fortunately I can start making changes now. I got a sleep app. Trained myself to stop snoring. And am spending a lot more time in bed to get 8.5 hrs of sleep. I didn't know I needed so much sleep time. When I get it, I feel great! A must read for everyone!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is not a how to guide to get a better sleep. This is a book that explains the harm that lack of sleep can do to oneself and others, like smoking.