Why We Sleep

Why We Sleep is a compelling and eye-opening book by Matthew Walker. Published in 2018 by Simon + Schuster Inc., this book delves into the fascinating world of sleep, exploring why it is so crucial to our wellbeing. As a renowned neuroscientist and sleep expert, Walker provides an in-depth look at the powerful effects of sleep on our health, brain, and life. The book is a mix of cutting-edge scientific research and practical advice, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the importance of sleep and how to improve their own. It's a standout in its genre, providing not just information, but also solutions and strategies to help readers improve their sleep and, by extension, their lives. Why We Sleep is not just a book; it's a wake-up call about the power of sleep. Published by Simon + Schuster Inc., it's an essential read that has left a lasting impact on the genre.

"The first sleep book by a leading scientific expert--Professor Matthew Walker, Director of UC Berkeley's Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab--reveals his groundbreaking exploration of sleep, explaining how we can harness its transformative power to change our lives for the better. Sleep is one of the most important but least understood aspects of our life, wellness, and longevity. 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 we don't sleep. Compared to the other basic drives in life--eating, drinking, and reproducing--the purpose of sleep remained elusive. An explosion of scientific discoveries in the last twenty years has shed new light on this fundamental aspect of our lives. Now, preeminent neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker gives us a new understanding of the vital importance of sleep and dreaming. Within the brain, sleep enriches 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 mollifies painful memories and creates a virtual reality space in which the brain melds past and present knowledge to inspire creativity. Walker answers important questions about sleep: how do caffeine and alcohol affect sleep? What really happens during REM sleep? Why do our sleep patterns change across a lifetime? How do common sleep aids affect us and can they do long-term damage? Charting cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, and synthesizing 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; increase longevity; enhance the education and lifespan of our children, and boost the efficiency, success, and productivity of our businesses. Clear-eyed, fascinating, and accessible, Why We Sleep is a crucial and illuminating book"--]cProvided by publisher.