Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams - Softcover

Walker, Matthew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141983760 ISBN 13: 9780141983769

Publisher: Penguin, 2018

Synopsis

'Astonishing ... an amazing book ... absolutely chocker full of things that we need to know' Chris Evans

'Matthew Walker is probably one of the most influential people on the planet' Evening Standard

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Sleep is one of the most important aspects of our life, health and longevity and yet it is increasingly neglected in twenty-first-century society, with devastating consequences: every major disease in the developed world - Alzheimer's, cancer, obesity, diabetes - has very strong causal links to deficient sleep.

In this book, the first of its kind written by a scientific expert, Professor Matthew Walker explores twenty years of cutting-edge research to solve the mystery of why sleep matters. Looking at creatures from across the animal kingdom as well as major human studies, Why We Sleep delves into everything from what really happens during REM sleep to how caffeine and alcohol affect sleep and why our sleep patterns change across a lifetime, transforming our appreciation of the extraordinary phenomenon that safeguards our existence.

'Startling, vital ... a life-raft' Guardian

'A top sleep scientist argues that sleep is more important for our health than diet or exercise' The Times

'Passionate, urgent . . . it had a powerful effect on me' Observer

About this title

Review:

A neuroscientist shows how a good night's shut-eye can make us cleverer, more attractive, slimmer, happier, healthier and ward off cancer . . . it's probably a little too soon to tell you that it saved my life, but it's been an eye-opener (Mark O'Connell Guardian)

Passionate, urgent . . . it had a powerful effect on me (Rachel Cooke Observer)

Compelling and utterly convincing . . . you'll never think of your bedtime in the same way again (James McConnachie The Sunday Times)

A stimulating and important book . . . richly packed with science

(Clive Cookson Financial Times)

Uplifting . . . Walker is in love with sleep and wants us to fall in love with sleep, too (David Kamp The New York Times)

Matthew Walker is probably one of the most influential people on the planet (Katie Law Evening Standard)

Astonishing ... an amazing book ... absolutely chocker full of things that we need to know (Chris Evans)

'Amazing . . . I'm obsessed with this book'

From the Back Cover:

Sleep is one of the most important aspects of our life, health and longevity and yet it is increasingly neglected in twenty-first-century society, with devastating consequences: every major disease in the developed world - Alzheimer's, cancer, obesity, diabetes - has very strong causal links to deficient sleep.

Until very recently, science had no answer to the question of why we sleep, or what good it served, or why its absence is so damaging to our health. Compared to the other basic drives in life - eating, drinking, and reproducing - the purpose of sleep remained elusive.

Now, in this book, the first of its kind written by a scientific expert, Professor Matthew Walker explores twenty years of cutting-edge research to solve the mystery of why sleep matters. Looking at creatures from across the animal kingdom as well as major human studies, Why We Sleep delves in to everything from what really happens during REM sleep to how caffeine and alcohol affect sleep and why our sleep patterns change across a lifetime, transforming our appreciation of the extraordinary phenomenon that safeguards our existence.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 0141983760
• ISBN 13: 9780141983769
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368