Secrets of Sleep Science: From Dreams to Disorders

by H. Craig Heller

12 hours 17 mins

We spend about one third of our lives sleeping, but scientists are only beginning to understand how and why. One thing, however, is clear: Sleep is just as essential to life as nutrition and exercise. This course examines the latest research on the crucial phenomenon of sleep.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Health, Psychology, Medical, Education

13 pages, Audible Audio

First published July 8, 2013

Reviews

[Troy Blackford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent, well-presented resource that explored the physical aspects of sleep, as well as the psychological ones. I enjoyed this more than the similar 'The Twenty-Four Hour Mind' by Rosalind Cartwright, as this dwelt less on legal issues and more on more everyday human issues.

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and informative. A lot of scientific facts that you need a scientific background to follow.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe the Reviews, It's a Hard Listen


AT A GLANCE:
A well-produced and seemingly-exhaustive look at sleep science in 2013.

CONTENT:
Each lecture is carefully scripted to cover a single topic, with titles like "Sleep Across the Life Span" and "The Wheels of the Circadian Clock". This is bolstered by a 186-page PDF which is useful for retaining the many ideas explored here.
It must be noted that this course is not a pop-psych or even journalistic presentation; it more closely resembles an undergraduate textbook and should be treated as such. It is a hard listen, filled with technical jargon and some sentences that will be difficult to comprehend. The listener is assumed to have a passing familiarity with neuroanatomy and experimental scientific methodology. That said, there is a vast amount of useful material here that will be worth repeat listening. This is especially true of the two final lectures, "Improving Sleep" and "Sleep in the Future and the Future of Sleep".

NARRATOR:
Prof. Heller is a gifted lecturer. His voice is strong and precise, which is needed to carry this type of source material. I would advise him to start recording audio versions of science textbooks as I believe he would excel at it. Playback speed of 1x - 1.5x is perfectly intelligible.

OVERALL:
Recommended to those with a serious interest in the subject or an existing background in anatomy.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough series of lectures on many topics related to sleep. Involving biology, psychology, pharmacology and more on an introductory level. He definitely explains what you need to know to understand but I suspect it'll take more than one reading to fully grasp much of what was discussed. Really enjoyed it though and hope to give it another go after a while of digesting the information.

[Yaaresse · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing I like about the Great Courses is that they are challenging. After all, they are supposed to be college-level material. I fear this is changing recently as the company moves toward more "lifestyle" and "infotainment" models; however, this one is of the older style and so still expects the listener to exercise their brains.

I felt this GC title, catalog description, and preview were a little misleading. While there is information on sleep disorders throughout the material (including some very rare and fascinating disorders), only one lecture is about dreams, and even that one spends more time disparaging psychological theories about dreams than covering what is known or being researched about the process. The preview implied there would be a focus on human sleep and managing sleep disorders supported by information on the latest (in 2013) research and by information on neurology. In reality, the focus is on neurochemistry and neurophysiology, particularly that of small mammals used in research. And while I've long been aware of the prolific use of rats and hamsters in labs to conduct experiments that ethics says can't be done with humans, hearing the specifics in such detail in a very short time made even pragmatic me feel squeamish.

The material at the end of the course focuses more on human sleep problems and potential solutions, but it was about the same information as you can find in most magazine articles on the subject: keep a regular schedule, remove distractions and electronics from the bedroom, avoid stimulants or alcohol before bedtime, try meditating or soothing sleep preparation rituals, etc. The only one I don't recall him mentioning that shows up in every sleep hygiene article is the avoidance of "blue light" in the evenings. He sort of touched on this in the information about circadian rhythms, but I think the emphasis on blue light in electronic and LED lights is more recent than this production (2013). I do appreciate that the professor strongly emphasized that pharmaceutical sleeps aids can be helpful, but are most effective for short term use only and that long term use can do more harm than good.

What I didn't appreciate was the professor leading off with making truck drivers that scary, sleep-deprived, foolhardy villains of the road by cherry-picking research. I see his study saying that fatigue was an issue in a high percentage of accidents involving big trucks, but I notice he neither compared that to the number of auto accidents caused by fatigue OR mentioned the huge multi-agency, multi-year studies that showed an overwhelming majority of accidents involving commercial trucks were caused by drivers of passenger vehicles. I'm not saying fatigue is not a factor in some commercial (or private) vehicle accidents, but the way Dr. Heller chose to relay the information strongly implied that sleepy commercial drivers are "the" major problem. That's misleading and unfair.

But I digress....

Then there is the problem of dated material. Eight years have passed since this was written, and that is a long time in science. While it's still an informative course, it's time for an update.

[Jessica Weida · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 12 hour, 24 course lecture covers anything and everything you want to know about sleep. Since I suffer from insomnia, I wanted to get a scientific perspective since doctors only push pills. Definitely learned a lot and have some new things to try.
Note: I was completely lost when it came to microbiology and anatomy.

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since my day job is in EEG/Sleep Technical Support, this course was somewhat relevant to my day-to-day world. Although my role is more of an IT-type position dealing with hardware/software/networking issues, it is extremely interesting to learn the science behind what our equipment does and how it can benefit people with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. I have seen the sleep stages marked on EEG recordings, and knew they were related to different physiological responses during sleep onset, REM and NON-REM, etc, but was fascinated to learn the biology behind these "slow wave" processes. The research described in some of these lectures is very compelling, outlining the conclusive benefits of sleep to our brain and body.

Polysomnography is a growing field, and this is a great introduction into the scientific world behind sleep. The instructor Craig Heller presents the topics lucidly and always ends his lectures wishing his students "sweet dreams". All in all I would recommend this course to anyone looking to expand their knowledge on the elusive a enigmatic topic of sleep, it's disorders and benefits, dreams, and the latest research findings.

[Zhihua · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a very good series of lectures about sleep research, sleep medicine, and sleep disorders. It's very interesting and informative.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The earlier lectures in this set are a bit dense/dry but there's a lot of interesting stuff once you get past that.

[Katlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m reviewing and rating Secrets of Sleep Science based entirely on my own experience, as I have no background in science whatsoever, and know very little about the mechanisms of sleep. As a layperson, this course was difficult to follow. The professor spent many lectures on heavily scientific and technical topics, such as the chemistry behind action potentials. I took high school biology, so I have a super basic understanding of some of the topics explored, but I found it incredibly difficult to follow at times. I would listen to a lecture twice and still be confused at the end. The subject matter was also incredibly dry, so I often found myself daydreaming and had to rewind as well.

That being said, the lecturer does touch on some interesting topics such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy. Ironically, I wish he had gone more in depth on topics included in the later lectures. He covered some topics very lightly and others felt like they were covered in too great a depth. I learned a lot about the difference between healthy and unhealthy sleep, as well as some helpful tips to aid the former. He also really emphasized the importance of sleeping well repeatedly. Overall, I’m not sure who I would recommend this course to. I feel as if some of it would be both too complicated and over parts too simplistic, depending on the person. Regardless, I do feel as if I learned, despite feeling incredibly stupid most of the time. 2.5/5 January 29 2024

[Elwin Kline · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I liked it." - 3 out of 5 star rating.

This was an okay Great Course, not one of my favorites or anything remarkably outstanding though.

Obviously the topic at hand is sleep, but what I dislike is how the author seems to back pedal on a lot of the topics discussed. I suppose there are a lot of uncertainties and conclusions that cannot be fully met within this field of study. Either way, it leaves the reader/listener walking away with something that feels like it lacks meaning or anything solid.

I agree and like his 3 main pillars of human health, being: sleep, nutrition, and exercise. I also enjoyed his discussion on how alcohol isn't necessarily the cause of death when it comes to driving intoxicated, it is the fact that drivers fall asleep at the wheel and all the science surrounding that. It was a different perspective, and I must admit he is not wrong here. Additionally his discussions on overall good sleep best practices were fine as well, such as the bedroom only being for sleep and not a work or play area.

I felt like this could have been a lot shorter. When he started going off on the sleep science of squirrels and other animals, this seemed VERY out of scope and like filler content.

Overall though, this was slightly better than just "okay" and barely scrapes by with a "I liked it."

[Terry Koressel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of the Great Courses, but Secrets of Sleep Science did not live up to the excellence of the other Great Courses I've experienced. Don't get me wrong....I still recommend the course. I learned a lot about a subject that never crossed my mind as interesting. The only reason that I rated this Great Course as average is that the professor had a tendency, at times, to overload the lay reader (me) with technical science terms and concepts. It was difficult for me to understand, particularly since I was listening in a car. On the other hand, the subject of sleep was fascinating to me. A whole new learning experience. One of the true surprises to a non-sleep scientist is how little is known about sleep science, including the fundamental purpose of sleep at the molecular level. Science is its early stages of understanding this critically important body function. Other than the one complaint above, I do recommend Secrets of Sleep Science.

[Amy Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and surprisingly deep look at what we know about the science of sleep, which is way more than I thought from casual perusal of the occasional article. Heller is a good speaker (though his voice is a tad too soothing to listen to when I'm tired), and clearly knows his stuff. I like that he uses specific studies to support his claims, and notes when the evidence is weak or nonexistent.

The biggest caution I would have for anyone interested in the topic is that he describes some animal studies in enough detail to make me wince. There are some horribly cruel things done to animals (rats, mice, and cats specifically mentioned) in the name of science. I don't know how to evaluate if the cruelty is worth it, tbh, but many such studies have given us information to improve human lives. Anyway, approach with caution if that sort of thing bothers you.

[Ryan Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content Warnings: Discussion of death, brief and non-explicit reference to sex

Heller brings his consumate science-mindedness to his lectures, stating questions and hypotheses and then exploring them through real-world experiments. He employs gradual build up to understanding of highly technical descriptions but always comes back to practical visualizations and narratives to drive home his points.

Some key takeaways for me include how to use light at the beginning of the day to reset the circadian rhythm and the extreme danger posed by almost criminally under diagnosed sleep apnea - particularly in men. I am now encouraging snoring friends and family members to get checked for apnea and may even do so myself.

[Biblioworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

С удовольствие послушал до конца и в целом рекомендую.

Профессор излагает как базовые представления о механике сна, вполне коррелирующие с тем, что мне приходилось читать ранее.

Так и любопытные эксперименты и напрвления, о которых ранее не приходилось слышать.

Все это в легкой для понимания форме и с забавными анекдотами из жизни.

Но все же не 5 звезд.
Местами профессор углубляется в ненужные не профессионалу излишне детальные описания.
Ну и из расчета на объем курса мне показалось маловато информации.
Впрочем, возможно потому, что я уже прочел пару других книжек на эту тему.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know who the target audience for these lectures is. They are conceptually interesting, but very uneven. There is too much focus on the chemical workings of the brain during the first two thirds of the book, which have a degree of complexity that is simply not present in the final third, when there is more focus on sleep disorders. The disorders are presented in a very nonchalant manner, rather quickly, and you don't come out feeling like you learned enough about any of them. Overall, as somebody coming from the psychiatric field, I did not feel like I extracted enough knowledge in relation to the time invested in this title.

[Horia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem, yet be warned! It's not for everyone. It can slip with ease into the really deep technical realm. I found it enticing as it was dragging me in slowly into the hidden parts of sleep, its mechanisms and its functions.

The author avoids answering The question "why do we need sleep?". And yet, he describes everything and anything there is to explain about the processes around it.

As always, the great courses series delivered.
Will definitely read other books from this publisher.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many are saying it's a hard read, and I did get lost in an early part or two and a couple later parts.
The author/lecturer is good at explaining it like you're five. So if there's a tricky part, try again or pass over it, as it only gets really difficult in a few parts.

However, for those that do find it is too difficult I recommend "Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Content wise it is almost exactly the same, but more accessible from being slightly easier to understand, containing less of the complex and hard science as is in this one.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the most difficult Great Courses I have taken (which is over 100!). The lecturer is a professor at Stanford, working with graduate students, and you can tell! A fourth of what he said was over my head, and I went to graduate school in a psychology/ brain field! Still, if you are willing to mentally skip over what he says, anyone can get something out of the course. Just listen to the 4 or 5 lectures that cover your main area of interest or concern. "Improving Sleep," lecture 23, is the one lecture anyone can benefit from. Definitely for academic adults.

[Fate's Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably a great starting point for those who haven't researched much about sleep. As someone with chronic insomnia, I spent years lessening whatever I could, so this didn't teach me much new. Ironically, I nearly fell asleep listening to the neuro chemistry lecture, and could easily have skipped that and neurobiology without feeling like I was missing any critical information. My biggest takeaway honestly is that you'd have to be Hitler level evil to be reincarnated as a lab rat.

[Mezzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time insomniac, I figured I might as well learn about all the sleep I'm missing out on. I enjoyed the lectures, some of which were review for me and some of which shared quite a lot of new (to me) information. I found the lecturer's scientific explanations to be accessible to those who haven't taken a science class in a couple decades while not noticeably dumbing things down. That's a pretty hard balance to manage, and I thought it was done well.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good information on how and why we sleep and what happens when things go wrong with sleep. Definitely reinforced the need for good and adequate sleep. It's very technical and granular in places, but I enjoy that deep dive into how things work. What I definitely didn't enjoy was the amount of animal testing/torture you have to wade through to get to the practical applications of the science presented. I found myself having to skip ahead in several spots to get away from the animal abuse.

[Thom Disch · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was way too technical for me. The details of the studies and the technical nature of most of the content could not hold my attention. This would have been fine if I was in a class and this was a foundation for other courses, but I'm looking to understand sleep not get a degree in the subject.

[Dav · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it does have some interesting findings conveyed, it oftentimes is too specific in the details of experiments being done and the specific configurations of those experiments. These details would largely be interesting to a specialist reader rather than a generalist which is probably how most people pick up this series.

[Keri (TheAudioAuditor) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio book review.

Fascinating at the beginning! I wish it had stayed Sleep 101 and not wandered into Sleep 375. The expansion into chemistry and biology, and all the terminology, really had my brain swimming. I was able to keep up with some of it, but a lot flew over my head in the less entry-level lectures. Still super interesting, and would recommend if you're looking to learn a bit more. I especially enjoy the final section, tips for better sleep. Really useful overall.

[C.A. Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot of good information in here, though I don't know why I keep trying to do Great Courses since I'm not an auditory learner. It's dense; I'd definitely have retained the info better if I had been taking notes. Fortunately I did have a good deal of context for much of it already, but those are the only parts I really remember.

[James Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these courses. I listened to the audio version, so you don't see the video of the presenter, and I guess he is showing slides, which usually isn't a problem but in a few places it sounds like there was a diagram that would have helped understanding. Good course, recommended.

[Andrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me realise that we still don't fully understand the reasons for sleep. Is it to restore brain energy? To compact and restructure memory? All of those things it turns out, but we are still not sure what exactly the sleep does and why it exists in all living creatures.

[Amazingsomeone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that it would have a lot about dreams and how to interpret them, but only one chapter was dedicated to it. Overall, I do not think that this book is suitable for general-audience.

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is literally a series of lectures. I did learn some things, but most of the content was dry and way, way beyond my understanding.