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| − | {{:wikipedia:Why We Sleep}}
| + | #redirect [[Why We Sleep]] |
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| − | {{Short description|2017 book by Matthew Walker}}
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| − | {{Distinguish|Why We Nap}}
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| − | {{Infobox book
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| − | | name = Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams
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| − | | image = Why We Sleep book cover.png
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| − | | author = [[Matthew Walker (scientist)|Matthew Walker, Ph.D.]]
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| − | | language = English
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| − | | genre = [[Science book]]
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| − | | published = 3 October 2017, [[Penguin Random House]]
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| − | | pages = 368
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| − | | isbn = 978-0-241-26906-0
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| − | | isbn_note = (Hardback)
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| − | | publisher = Simon & Schuster
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| − | }}
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| − | '''''Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams''''' (or simply known as Why We Sleep) is a 2017 [[popular science]] book about [[sleep]] written by [[Matthew Walker (scientist)|Matthew Walker]], an English scientist and the director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the [[University of California, Berkeley]], who specializes in [[neuroscience]] and [[psychology]]. In the book, Walker discusses about the importance of sleeping, the side effects of failing to do so and its impact on [[society]].<ref name="guardian1">{{Cite news |last=Cooke |first=Rachel |date=2017-09-24 |title=The shorter your sleep, the shorter your life: the new sleep science |language=en-GB |work=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/24/why-lack-of-sleep-health-worst-enemy-matthew-walker-why-we-sleep |access-date=2017-09-24 |issn=0029-7712}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Valtonen |first=Anu |date=2019 |title=Why We Sleep: The new science of sleep and dreams |journal=Organization Studies |volume=40 |issue=9 |pages=1 |doi=10.1177/0170840619831946 |s2cid=150689987 }}</ref><ref name=":5" />
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| − | Walker spent four years writing the book, in which he asserts that [[sleep deprivation]] is linked to numerous fatal diseases, including [[dementia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/sep/21/why-we-sleep-by-matthew-walker-review|title=Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker review – how more sleep can save your life|last=O'Connell|first=Mark|date=2017-09-21|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-09-24|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/sleep-deprivation-epidemic-health-effects-tired-heart-disease-stroke-dementia-cancer-a7964156.html|title=A 'catastrophic sleep-loss epidemic' is killing us, warns leading scientist|date=2017-09-24|work=The Independent|access-date=2017-09-24|language=en-GB}}</ref>
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| − | ''Why We Sleep'' has gone on to become a bestseller under ''[[The New York Times]]'' and ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' that questions its namesake from the viewpoint of [[neuroscience]]. The book has received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Walker's research and views on the science of sleep, while criticizing the book for its certain claims regarding [[sleep]].<ref name=":0" />
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| − | == Background ==
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| − | According to Walker, who had never written a book at the time, he was motivated to write the book after an encounter with a woman who peeked at his work related to sleep and its benefits for [[health]], with the woman stating, "When that comes out, I want to read it".<ref name=":2"/> Walker described this encounter as a sincere "independent ratification" that made him write the book.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Ganesh |first=Janan |date=2019 |title=Sleep expert Matthew Walker on the secret to a good night's rest |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e6ccdcac-133d-11e9-a581-4ff78404524e |url-status=live |website=Financial Times}}</ref> The book took Walker roughly four and a half years to write.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Cooke |first=Rachel |date=2017 |title='Sleep should be prescribed': what those late nights out could be costing you |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/24/why-lack-of-sleep-health-worst-enemy-matthew-walker-why-we-sleep |url-status=live |website=The Guardian}}</ref> Walker and his team spent roughly 20 years studying the rejuvenating ability sleep has, to much avail.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Kamp |first=David |date=2017 |title=Exploring the Necessity and Virtue of Sleep |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/books/review/snooze-michael-mcgirr-sleep-dreams.html |url-status=live |website=The New York Times}}</ref> Walker's [[communication]] style, in which he makes use of "metaphors and analogies effectively," allowed him to explain ideas related to sleep in detail.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Jones |first=Roger |date=2018 |title=Books: Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams: Wake Up to Sleep |journal=British Journal of General Practice |volume=68 |issue=669 |pages=1 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cookson |first=Clive |date=2017 |title=Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker – for a longer life, press snooze |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e9dc72b2-a535-11e7-9e4f-7f5e6a7c98a2 |url-status=live |website=Financial Times}}</ref>
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| − | [[File:Matt Scientist Headshot.jpg|alt=An image of Matthew Walker, the author of Why We Sleep.|thumb|An image of Matthew Walker, the author of Why We Sleep.]]
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| − | At 18 years of age, Walker, who was a medical student at the time, became an "accidental sleep researcher" and moved over to studying neuroscience because of his habit of asking many questions. It was during his [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] at London's [[Medical Research Council (United Kingdom)|Medical Research Council]] when Walker learned about how little information there was on sleep.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Kresser |first=Chris |date=2019 |title=Why We Need Sleep, with Dr. Matthew Walker |url=https://chriskresser.com/why-we-need-sleep-with-dr-matthew-walker/ |url-status=live |website=Chris Kresser}}</ref> A scientific paper helped Walker with his research after his failure to determine the differences of [[Neural oscillation|brainwave]] activity between various dementia found in people, with the paper's contents describing the areas of the brain each variant of [[dementia]] attacks. It was then Walker realized that in order to measure his patients' [[Neural oscillation|brainwave]] patterns properly, they need to be asleep. Walker spent six months teaching himself how to set up his sleep laboratory, which allowed him to voice his findings on sleep differences amongst his patients.<ref name=":1" />
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| − | Walker noted that many people misinterpret the amount of sleep they actually receive, likely caused by deep thought during the light sleep phases.<ref name=":2" /> Following the release of the book, Walker went on to describe his book has having the potential to make readers sleep and jokingly admitted to being concerned to hear if his book kept people awake at night.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Cookson |first=Clive |date=2017 |title=Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker – for a longer life, press snooze |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e9dc72b2-a535-11e7-9e4f-7f5e6a7c98a2 |url-status=live |website=Financial Times}}</ref>
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| − | == Contents ==
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| − | The book is written from a [[neuroscientific]] view and is mainly devoted to discussing about the impact sleep has on the functions of the [[human brain]]. The book is divided into four parts, each section focusing on how sleep works, its benefits, the reason why dreams occur and sleep issues surrounding society.<ref name=":0" /> The book is written in a way so that it does not need to be read sequentially. <ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last=Pandi-Perumal |first=Seithkurippu R. |date=3 January 2018 |title=Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker, Ph.D. |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s41782-018-0034-0 |journal=Sleep and Vigilance |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=93–94 |doi=10.1007/s41782-018-0034-0 |s2cid=188627621 |via=The University of Sydney Library}}</ref> In the book, Walker discusses about the effects of the widespread effect of [[Sleep deprivation|sleep-loss]], in which the goal in mind being that readers will endeavour in achieving eight hours of sleep once they learn about the connection sleep loss has to other health issues, such as [[Alzheimer's disease|Alzheimer's disease]].<ref name=":1" /> Other details about lack of sleep explained by Walker include adults who sleep for less than 6 hours at the age of 40 and above have a higher chance of suffering a cardiac arrest or a stroke during their lifetime.<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal |last=Torrens |first=Christopher |date=2018 |title=Book review: Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker |url=https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.113.21 |journal=Physiology News |volume=113 |issue=1 |page=21 |doi=10.36866/pn.113.21 |s2cid=214376318 |via=The Physiological Society}}</ref>
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| − | [[File:Alzheimers brain.jpg|thumb|[[Alzheimer's disease]], according to Walker in his book, has a connection to [[sleep loss]].]]
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| − | "Sleep pressure and circadian rhythms", the driving forces and the framework of sleep, are brought up by Walker in the book. Other sleep behaviors, such as [[non-rapid eye movement sleep]] and [[rapid eye movement sleep]], and the impact sleep has on "synaptic pruning" and the creation of memories during a human's [[Maximum life span|lifespan]] are also covered. <ref name=":11">{{Cite journal |last=O'Brien |first=Kylie |date=2021 |title=Review of Why we sleep [Book Review] |url=https://doi.org/10.3316/informit.802466191337690 |journal=Journal of the Australian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=1 |via=The University of Sydney Library}}</ref> NREM and REM are further explained by Walker to be the two sleeping basics, with 5 cycles present in a person's good night sleep.<ref name=":6" /> The book mentions about "morning types" and "evening types" of people, with Walker writing about how spending fewer amounts of time sleeping benefited earlier human predecessors who slept in groups of people due to their time period being safer than now.<ref name=":0" />
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| − | The book emphasises on the significance of having a good night's sleep without the feeling of uneasiness or guilt of laziness.<ref name=":7" /> Walker, in his book, defines insomnia as a disorder that usually related to an overwrought commiserating nervous system that's usually caused by anxiousness. He goes on to addresses the P.T.S.D victims' [[Nightmare|nightmares]], stating that their [[Dream|dreams]]' ability to heal them by reducing the emotions connected to a distressing memory is affected by an unusual quantity of [[Norepinephrine|noradrenaline]] being created. Walker also believed that dreams carry information regarding fundamental emotions while admitting that they can be quite apparent to people, resulting in no explanations required to describe them.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Heller |first=Zoë |date=2018 |title=Why We Sleep, and Why We Often Can't |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/10/why-we-sleep-and-why-we-often-cant |url-status=live |magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref>
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| − | The values of sleep and the consequences of [[sleep deprivation]] are also brought up in the book. One particular research conducted in the past, where people volunteered themselves to sleep for only six hours in a span of 10 nights, is brought up by Walker. This resulted in the volunteers being "cognitively impaired" along with their [[Brain damage|brains being heavily damaged]], regardless of the three week eight-hour sleep schedule they received later.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Joy |date=2019 |title=Book Review: Why We sleep By Matthew Walker |url=https://www.happybeds.co.uk/blog/book-review-why-we-sleep-by-matthew-walker |url-status=live |website=Happy Beds}}</ref> Actions carried out by sleep-deprived people, such as answering emails at every hour of a day, are brought to question in the book.<ref name=":8" /> Walker wrote that research proves that sleeping after studying allows for "memory, integration and retention benefits" to occur.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last=Armstrong |first=Ruth |date=2019 |title=Why We Sleep: The new science of sleep and dreams |journal=Clinical Psychology Forum |volume=318 |pages=1 }}</ref> He further wrote that sleeping has the ability to retain [[Memory|memories]] and amend the abilities of [[Learning|human learning]].<ref name=":9" /> Many organizations, who make creativeness, productiveness and resilient workers valued, give themselves a "sleep bonus", with the amount of extra sleep received being determined through [[electronic monitoring]].<ref name=":10" /> Walker further noted that companies are changing their workplaces by allowing more "flexible working" and comfort zones for people to rest.<ref name=":8" />
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| − | Walker's research on what impacts sleep is brought up in the book, with temperature influencing sleep being one of them.<ref name=":5" /> A five-step guideline is written in the book, with Walker explaining how to prevent "self-euthanasia" from missing sleep. The guideline also brings up "individual-level transformation" and a reformation of society.<ref name=":7" /> The book teaches about the basics behind how sleep works [[Neurologically typical|neurologically]] and [[biologically]]. The impact of [[caffeine]] on sleep is written in the book, with Walker noting its effects on the [[adenosine]] that allows people to fall asleep. It is further explained that caffeine will take more time to exit the body as it ages, with younger people having the ability to break caffeine down at a fast pace.<ref name=":9" />
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| − | Walker wrote the book in a "reader-friendly" in areas such as discussing about [[neuroscientific]] techniques and how they were created.<ref name=":0" /> The book ends with Walker's advice for better sleep through 12 tips, with one of the tips written in the book being to have an eight-to-nine-hour period of sleep.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last=Hawken |first=Jonathan |date=2020 |title=Why We Sleep by Matthew walker |url=https://doi.org/10.1136/practneurol-2019-002471 |journal=Practical Neurology |volume=20 |issue=4 |page=345 |doi=10.1136/practneurol-2019-002471 |s2cid=212567273 |via=The University of Sydney Library}}</ref>
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| − | ==Critical reception==
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| − | Why We Sleep has garnered a generally positive reception from critics, with Walker admitting to not knowing his book would be a hit amongst readers. The book would go on to make Walker famous in his field of expertise.<ref name=":2" /> The book became an international bestseller, including a #1 on the [[The Sunday Times Bestseller List|Sunday Times Bestseller]] in the UK, and a #8 on the [[The New York Times Best Seller list|New York Times Bestseller]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/295665/why-we-sleep/|title = Why We Sleep}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2017/11/12/science/ New York Times, Bestsellers, Science]</ref> It received numerous other reviews, including the Guardian, BBC, NPR, Financial Times, UC Berkeley and Kirkus Reviews.<ref name=guardian1/><ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20170911-are-you-a-sleep-procrastinator|title=Are you a sleep procrastinator?|last=Gray|first=Richard|access-date=2017-09-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/books/review/snooze-michael-mcgirr-sleep-dreams.html|title=Exploring the Necessity and Virtue of Sleep|newspaper=The New York Times|date=10 October 2017|accessdate=4 May 2018|last1=Kamp|first1=David}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/review-why-we-sleep-the-new-science-of-sleep-and-dreams-by-matthew-walker-tsbx2wr6f|title=Review: Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker|first=Oliver|last=Moody|date=30 September 2017|accessdate=4 May 2018|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/10/17/whywesleep/|title=Everything you need to know about sleep, but are too tired to ask|date=17 October 2017|accessdate=4 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/matthew-walker/why-we-sleep/|title=Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker |website= Kirkus Reviews|accessdate=4 May 2018}}</ref> Critics praised the book for Walker's convincing studies on the importance of sleep and its impact on society.<ref name=":3" />
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| − | Seithikurippu R. Pandi-Perumal praised Walker's structuring of the book, calling it informative, organised and intelligibly written while noting its informative yet reader-friendly nature.<ref name=":7" /> In a review from [[Bill Gates]], he noted that the book teaches about the importance of sleeping, despite some points in the book not being convincing. He also noted that the book aided him in sleeping better, pointing out that it took a longer time to finish the book as he followed Walker's word on putting the book down to go to sleep.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Gates |first=Bill |title=This book put me to sleep |url=https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Why-We-Sleep |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=gatesnotes.com}}</ref> Kylie O'Brien's review described the book as "beautifully written" and filled with scientific facts that clarifies the question its title asks.<ref name=":11" />
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| − | A review by Christopher Torrens in [[The Physiological Society]] described the book as informative and helpful, noting the book's evidence related to the consequences of having little to no sleep. He praised the book's style and formatting of being able to be read "from cover to cover or by cherry-picking chapters in whatever order you choose".<ref name=":8" /> A review by Joy Richards described the book as "tremendously terrifying" and unforgettable.<ref name=":9" /> Ruth Armstrong wrote that the book was loaded with recent research towards sleep, noting the change in his sleeping patterns.<ref name=":10" />
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| − | Criticism surrounding the book involved the book telling stories about sleep instead of explaining facts about it.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Breed |first=Rosa |date=2020 |title=Why We Write About Sleep. |url=https://www.spiegeloog.amsterdam/why-we-write-about-sleep/ |url-status=live |website=Spiegeloog}}</ref> A review from Alexey Guzey, an independent researcher with a background in economics and no published papers or peer reviewed work, criticized the book in an essay entitled ''Matthew Walker's "Why We Sleep" Is Riddled with Scientific and Factual Errors''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guzey.com/books/why-we-sleep/ |title=Matthew Walker's "Why We Sleep" Is Riddled with Scientific and Factual Errors |website=Alexey Guzey |date=January 23, 2022 |access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> The criticism was discussed on the BBC series ''More and Less''.<ref>{{cite episode | title = Dozy Science | episode-link = | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0819trp| series = More or Less | series-link = | network = BBC | station = Radio 4 | air-date = 25 January 2020}}</ref> Guzey's criticism was also discussed by [[Andrew Gelman]], a statistician at Columbia University.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2019/11/24/why-we-sleep-update-some-thoughts-while-we-wait-for-matthew-walker-to-respond-to-alexey-guzeys-criticisms/ |title="Why We Sleep" update: some thoughts while we wait for Matthew Walker to respond to Alexey Guzey's criticisms |website=Columbia University |date=November 24, 2019 |access-date=March 9, 2022}}</ref> In a later post on Columbia's statistics blog, Gelman indicated that Walker's purported removal of a bar from a graph could be a "smoking gun," commenting that it entered "research misconduct" territory.<ref name="gelman-dec-27">{{Cite web|url=https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2019/12/27/why-we-sleep-data-manipulation-a-smoking-gun/|title=Why we sleep" data manipulation: A smoking gun?|website=statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu|last=Gelman|first=Andrew|date=2019-12-27}}</ref>
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| − | The book's failure to answer its own title 'Why We Sleep' has been criticised, with renowned sleep researcher [[William C. Dement|William Dement]] commenting that people only need sleep due to the sleepiness accumulated.<ref name=":8" /> Anu Valtonen found fault in the book naming neuroscience as "the science that provides the knowledge of sleep and dreams" and its overlooking of other disciplinary areas related to sleep. She also criticised the book for lacking certain information on sleep, such as the "social aspects" of sleep or "socio-historical" route of sleep hygiene.<ref name=":0" /> Rosa Breed criticised Walker's lack of references when writing the book, noting that there was no proof in certain statements made by him, such as Walker's suggestion of sleeping for eight hours as a necessity.<ref name=":14" /> Jonathan Hawken felt that some of the book's contents were rather selective, criticising the book's lack of in-depth analysis towards the effect of sleep [[apnea]].<ref name=":12" />
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| − | == Controversies ==
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| − | The book has spawned controversy related to Walker's belief that the amount of sleep received worldwide has decreased. A researcher on sleep, Jim Horne, disagreed with the idea regarding how people are weighed down by a lack of sleep and that everybody was required to sleep for at least eight hours.<ref name=":6" /> Bill Gates wrote that he disagreed with Walker's claim that sleep and Alzheimer's disease have a strong connection to each other.<ref name=":13" /> Anu Valtonen voiced her concern regarding the speculation the book makes when taking a neuroscientific stance on the main insights into how sleep and dreams function.<ref name=":0" />
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| − | Some critics felt that Walker's way of writing made the book feel similar to a [[horror story]].<ref name=":0" /> Rosa Breed felt that some ideas brought up by Walker in the book were thought to be disturbing, noting Walker's suggestion for having people's sleeping behaviours be measured by "health insurance companies" to be prying.<ref name=":14" /> Some of Walker's claims were based on laboratory studies without supporting real-world evidence, making them questionable to critics.<ref name=":6" />
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| − | ==References==
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| − | {{Reflist}}
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | * {{cite book|last=Walker|first= Matthew| date = October 3, 2017|title=Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams|publisher= Simon and Schuster|isbn= 9781501144318|url= https://www.google.com/books/edition/Why_We_Sleep/4Nm_AQAACAAJ|access-date=March 9, 2022 |ref=none}}
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| − | [[Category:Popular science books]]
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| − | [[Category:Sleep]]
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| − | [[Category:Neuroscience books]]
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| − | [[Category:2017 non-fiction books]]
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