Sleep Better: The Science And The Myths

by Graham Law, Shane Pascoe

Scientific research into sleep has dramatically increased during the past decade, with greater understanding of the hormonal and brain activity during sleep which has a key influence on your health and wellbeing. This expert, accessible book presents a combination of sleep hygiene, evidence-based techniques, psychological skills, and mindfulness practices to help improve your sleep. It examines common myths and stereotypes which may damage your chances of sleeping well, and gives tips for dealing with your sleep problems effectively. Topics include:
How much sleep you really need
Sleep quality and quantity
Underlying issues, such as stressful life events, depression and anxiety
Physical clinical problems, such as snoring, sleep apnea and asthma
Perpetuating factors of sleep issues such as habits, perceptions, attributions, beliefs and thoughts
Insomnia - wired and tired
Psychoeducation to help with sleep problems, with a focus on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or ACT; CBT-I, along with stimulus control, sleep/bed restriction therapy, worry time, and paradoxical intention
Sleep hygiene, such as de-cluttering, eating, regular behaviours, exercise.
Behavioural sleep interventions for parents with babies and young children
Practical application of mindfulness

Genres: Health

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2017

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book from cover to cover, but I love that it is designed as more of a reference book. There are 40 stand-alone chapters that don't need to be read in any particular order. Any references to a technique mentioned elsewhere in the book directs the reader to the specific chapter for review. This makes it easy, as the chapters are numbered and titled so it's accessible by subject, without being repetitive when reading cover to cover. If you have any problems with sleep, I recommend this book, as there is likely some information that will be helpful to your specific situation. Not all chapters will be of interest to everyone, as we all have individual challenges, and the authors are very aware that every person is different and there is no one answer to solve all sleep problems. This book helps you to cater your resolution to your particular needs, without overwhelming you with information you don't need or already know.

And, there probably will be some info in this book that you already know, but it's still useful ans often presented in an entertaining manner. Personally, I still find it helpful to be reminded of the important things, even if I have already heard them. Anyone who has struggled for a significant amount of time with a sleep disorder will understand the concept of sleep hygiene and that it's up to the individual to make efforts toward resolving the problem. It's easy to slip back into bad habits, so I find value in reminders of the biological and hormonal reasons why it is worth the efforts to find and utilize good sleep habits.

I think this is a great resource and I'm glad I read it cover to cover and expect I will reference individual chapters from time to time. The biggest weakness, in my opinion is that some of the tips that the author reiterates, may not be practical to everyone's financial situation. For example, I lived for many years in a studio apartment in the city that was more expensive than most people pay for their mortgage and car payment combined. The author feels very strongly that the bedroom should be for sleeping, and should not be used for watching TV, working on your laptop, or other wakeful activities. He does not offer any options for those who have a one-room apartment and student loan debt haunting us in our sleep. I see other places where he tried to be inclusive and mentions problems associated with shift work, but for the most part, the recommendations are going to be most useful to the reader who has a middle class lifestyle with a separate room for sleeping and access to healthcare, for example. Or, maybe I'm just sensitive to his reminders that the bedroom is only for sleep and sex because now that I have a separate bedroom, I still don't get enough of either of those things to truly appreciate it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher and authors for providing me with an advance copy for review.

[Books In Brogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really great book for those of us who have sleep issues.  The information is presented in a way that allows you to find what you need easily and gives tips as well as information for each issue.This review was originally posted on Books In Brogan

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an interesting read. It contains tips and useful facts and figures about sleep, like do you really need eight hours sleep a night? How to measure your sleep patterns, learning healthy routines and more.

It has been written in an informal way but some parts of the book do read like a medical report or essay, which made the book hard to get through at times.


Overall though, it is an interesting guide, and will hopefully help you whether you have no sleep problems to mild or more severe ones.

Thanks to the authors and publisher for a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

[Tim Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read on sleep, covering a vast array of different topics but none in a particularly deep way. 40 chapters - most only a handful of pages long - that cover various myths on sleep, tips on how to sleep better as well as the experience of the authors during their work in the field as a sleep researcher and psychologist. I like how the book is very straight to the point and does not waffle, I could easily envisage another author turning this into a 500-600 page mammoth with little value add to the reader.

Recommended.

[Gwen - Chew & Digest Books - · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a person that spends nights wandering around, reading, or resorting to medication, you would think that I'd heard it all. Nope, there were some great nuggets in this book set up with small, almost bite-sized, chapters.

There were a couple that are indeed myths that I'm going to through back at those people that feel that they know "so much better" and enjoy it greatly. There was also a few things that I hadn't heard that I'll give a try to0.

[Tiago F · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting a little bit more depth. It's a decent resource for the overall population, but it's quite superficial. Also found the lack of structure a bit annoying. Worse of all, despite claiming to be a book about the science of sleep, it has no references whatsoever. I find that utterly unacceptable.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, easy to read and fun! I especially liked the tips given in each chapter.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[AB.books · Rating 3 out of 5]

easy read, straight to the point on facts and evidences.

[Delcio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several topics around sleeping validating myths against common sense and Science, and adding real useful knowledge to better sleep.