The Calm and Cozy Book of Sleep: Rest + Dream + Live (Volume 13)

by Beth Wyatt

Sleep is the ultimate act of self-care , yet the quest to get a good night’s rest is never ending. In The Calm & Cozy Book of Sleep , sleep coach Beth Wyatt helps you get the sleep you need for a healthy life, discussing a multitude of fascinating sleep topics , from sleep basics to waking up in the morning and beyond, Approaching sleep in a fresh, relatable, and non-clinical way, The Calm and Cozy Book of Sleep shares tried-and-true tips to help you fall asleep (and stay asleep) —effortlessly and naturally—and convinces you to learn to love sleep.

The Live Well series from Rock Point invites you to create a life you love through multiple acts of self-discovery and reinvention. These encouraging gift books touch on fun yet hardworking self-improvement strategies, whether it’s learning to value progress over perfection, taking time to meditate and slow down to literally smell the roses, or finding time to show gratitude and develop a personal mantra. From learning how to obtain more restful sleep and creating a healthy work/life balance to developing personal style and your own happy place, the Live Well series encourages you to live your best life.
 
Other titles in the series Progress Over Perfection ; Find Your Flow ; Be Happy ; Seeking Slow ; Finding Gratitude ; Eff This! Meditation ; The Joy of Forest Bathing ; Find Your Mantra ; It Had to be You ; Men’s Society ; Genius Jokes ; Beating Burnout ; Ayurveda for Life ; Choose Happy ; and You Got This .
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Health, Mental Health

128 pages, Hardcover

Published August 4, 2020

About the author

Beth Wyatt is a passionate sleep coach, sleep advocate, and influencer. She's also an artist, swing dancer, bedtime storyteller, host of The CALM+COZY Podcast and ukulele player. Beth lives in Ontario, Canada with her long-time partner, Jake, and their chocolate lab.

Follow Sleep Coach Beth on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/sleepcoachb...

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an insomniac who has a lot of issues with sleep due to a plethora of medications and health problems, I have read a lot of books on how to achieve sleep and deep, healing sleep at that. Many such books cover the exact same well-walked ground but I found this to be an invaluable resource. It can be read from cover to cover or dipped in and out of at will and given each section is signposted clearly they can be referred to when in need of advice on that particular topic. This is an accessible, comprehensive and extensively researched book and one I recommend highly. There is all the information you need and more, which is really what surprised me the most. An interesting and engaging one-stop-shop for your sleep needs. Many thanks to Quarto - Rock Point for an ARC.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this glorious guide to better sleep! I sure have troubled zzzzzzs and want to get eight hours of good rest nightly. THE CALM AND COZY BOOK OF SLEEP offers a host of strategies to do just that. You’ll learn sleep basics, calming routines and natural aids for better rest. How to sleep well with or without partners and pets. How to go to sleep easily and get back to sleep if interrupted. Author Beth Wyatt is a Sleep Coach who shares how she conquered her own insomnia, with effective tips that will help you too. And the illustrations? Lovely! 5 of 5 Well-rested Stars

Pub Date 04 Aug 2020

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group-Rock Point and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TheCalmandCozyBookofSleep #NetGalley

[Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

As someone who has struggled with fatigue, mild 'insomnia', and terrible sleep hygiene for years this book was literally life-changing within the first 30 pages. It was more informative than any of the professionals who have attempted to help me, and it was much less judgemental about it. The author, Beth Wyatt explains how she went from perpetual 'Night Owl' to an 'Early Bird' and changed her entire view on her sleeping habits and routine. If she managed to accomplish it in her late thirties, then the rest of us 'Night Owls' still have hope!

I was already aware of the 'blue light' and 'only use a bed for sleep' basics but there was so much new and interesting information presented in a calm and often funny way. I had no idea that a hot bath or even a glass of water near bedtime could cause sleep problems. Melatonin was explained in an easy to understand way, and the author even included a list of some foods that can help with its production.

The biggest help for me has to be working out the bedtime routine, and in fact, when to go to bed. I have never heard anyone actually say "just go to bed when you're tired" before, even though it's obvious. I get tired very early in the evening, sometimes even before 6 pm, but I often push to stay awake later to go to bed at a more 'reasonable' time, and I see now that this is potentially where I'm going wrong.

The illustrations were beautiful and I love how they were paired with the quotes about sleep. They were incredibly calming, and I spent a while just looking at them before moving onto the next part of the book.

I read it before bed, and I will absolutely be re-reading it again to take notes on how to improve my sleep and will be checking out the author's podcast. This book has already made me re-evaluate my relationship with sleep, and I'm so grateful for it.

Big fan of the caffeine nap and the general attitude towards naps as someone with chronic fatigue. It was brilliant. No other book, or source of information, that I have found has ever talked about naps as a positive thing except for children. And Beth Wyatt is right, why do we stop napping as adults when we clearly need to take a quick one to make it through the day?

Learning about bedroom colors was eye-opening and very interesting. My room is bright white with one black wall (not my choice), and if I ever get the chance to repaint, I'll be going for a greyish blue or green. It will be helpful in the future when deciding the colors of other rooms in the house too.

I love the way this book was written. It was not overly formal and factual, like other books on the subject, but it still presented all of the facts in an easy-going and jokey way. The balance of this to facts and information, for me personally, was just perfect.

The Calm and Cosy Book of Sleep by Beth Wyatt is easily the most helpful book I have ever read. I actually began using what I had learned on the very first night after reading this and recommended it to family and friends.

I would recommend this to everyone, regardless of whether they think they have sleep problems or not. It has the potential to help a lot of people and has already succeeded where several doctors and therapists have failed for me.

[Anubha (BooksFullOfLife, LifeFullOfBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, it helped me to know about REM sleep and other things like sleeping positions and habits to do and not to do before sleeping. It was a calming experience to read this book. The quotes and art work is just cherry on top! This book was a complimentary copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Cozy Book Spot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt sleep reading this book because read a book is what makes me sleepy. I used to take a while to sleep but once I started reading a book before bed it helped a lot. This book is very pretty and colorful and it has lots of tips to help you calm down and sleep better. There are some techniques and lots of thing you already knew but all the tips are together in this book. I already do most of the stuff in this book but different than what the book says, taking a hot bath or shower right before bed makes me refresh and then I sleep even faster.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sometimes struggle to sleep, so I was curious about this book. I wouldn't say there was much in the book about sleep that I had never heard before, but I liked the tone and a lot of the suggestions were given in a more approachable way than I had heard before. I definitely feel encouraged to make some positive changes to my sleep habits.

One thing that really stands out with this book is how pretty it is. There are soothing, abstract illustrations throughout the book that I really enjoyed. I imagine it will look really beautiful in a physical copy.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Calm and Cozy Book of Sleep by Beth Wyatt is a book that looks into the various actions you can change in your life to help you rest and sleep better.

While most of this was science I have learned over the years, I did learn one new tool, and that is the power of positive thoughts. For instance, if you wake up an hour before your alarm goes off, instead of being upset that you only have one hour left, be excited that you get one more hour of sleep. I have found changing to a positive mindset in other areas of my life to be life changing, but I never thought to apply it to sleep.

All the science and advice are presented clearly and concisely.

I really requested this ARC hoping my husband would listen to a professional if he wasn’t going to listen to me. We are working baby steps as he is resistant to change, but I am hopeful on a positive outcome, as many of these are things I changed in my life as a teenager and in college and they worked great for me!

The artwork in it was calming and peaceful and a nice added touch.

I think this book is perfect for those looking to fully overhaul their sleep habits, as well as those that could benefit even from the most minor of changes.

I received an electronic advanced reader copy from Quarto Publishing Group- Rock Point through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a ‘bad sleeper’ myself, this was such an interesting book to read. It provides a lot of good tips to make sleeping your priority, to make it into something you like to do and not something you have to do,... I will definitely try to incorporate some of these tips into my daily night time routine.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lara Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to know from whom I’m getting advice, so I flipped to the “About the Author” part of the book which identifies Beth Wyatt as a self-care coach certified in sleep sciences and life coaching. Her acknowledgements say that her publisher found her on Instagram and asked her to write a book on sleep.

The resultant book covers topics like your bedroom environment (for example, plants, paint colours and the very trendy use of essential oils), bedtime rituals, the issue of sleeping with pets or as a couple, sleep aids like earplugs and white noise, insomnia, anxiety and morning routines. Much of this is the sort of thing that you might have come across in magazine or website articles. And much of that just seems like common sense advice, whereas in this publication good sleep is elevated to radical self-care status.

What most noticeably sets this book apart from a collection of magazine clippings is the design, particularly the use of abstract landscape illustrations in predominately shades of blue highlighted with metallics from SpaceFrog Designs. One of those illustrations graces the cover. I 'd be happy to have those SpaceFrog illustrations on my walls. (Would they make my bedroom a better place to sleep?) I looked up SpaceFrog and they do in fact sell artwork so that’s a possibility.

Without the design and illustrations, I might give the book 3 stars for basic, useful information, but the design bumps it up a star.

I read a digital proof of The Calm and Cozy Book of Sleep via NetGalley and the publisher, Rock Point, an imprint of The Quarto Group.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Making sleep a priority is the ultimate act of self-care and self-love. By working with your internal body clock, you are embracing the science of sleep and its endless health benefits."
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Thoughts
My relationship with sleep has been up and down since I was a teenager. This has definitely affected my overall health. So I was intrigued by this book in hopes I might gain some insight into a better nights sleep.
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Wyatt has laid this book out into 8 sections:
Sleep Basics, Your Bedroom, Changing Your Thinking About Sleep, Getting Ready For Bed, Falling Asleep, Using Sleep Aids, While (Your Supposed To Be) Sleeping, Waking Up.
It was interesting learning about sleep, what our bodies do while we sleep, stages of sleep. Some info I knew, some was new to me. Like how your bedroom plays a part, and easy ways to transform your bedroom into a calm and inviting sleep space, how and what sleep positions are important, and how changing up your nighttime routine can create a peaceful transition into sleep, journaling and more. I did implement some of the strategies into my life and they helped with falling asleep and the sleep I got, but I have a toddler who regularly wakes at night so staying asleep for 7-8 hrs is not always option for me but I can improve the sleep I get before she wakes me.
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Thank You to the publisher for sending me this book opinions are my own.
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For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong

[Stef Bevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It is a quick read but very informative! Beth Wyatt covers a lot about sleep health and sleep hygiene. I actually really enjoyed the illustrations in the book as well, they are relaxing to look at. She covers using meditation and deep breathing as tools to help a racing mind at night as well as other peaceful bedtime activities and things to do to prepare for bed. Beth really highlights how we tend to thing of being tired and wanting to sleep as a bad thing when it should actually be something we really pay attention to. If you're tired midday, nap. If you're yawning and ready for bed ay 730pm, go to bed. There is no point acting like a hero and staying awake well beyond the point of being tired. If you struggle with sleep and have insomnia as I do, I recommend checking out this book.

[Jen Tidman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a really beautiful looking book in terms of the cover and the illustrations/art inside, and it does contain sound suggestions on sleep hygiene... but unfortunately for me, it didn't contain anything particularly new or that can't be found with a simple internet search. Still, it might make a thoughtful gift for someone you know is struggling with sleep issues.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a lovely book by one of my new favorite people. Beth's podcast has been a godsend for my sleep, and her book is more of the same tips and sensible wisdom delivered with humor wrapped in a gorgeous package. I am normally a Kindle person, but this was worth finding space for the hardcover. The artwork is as peaceful and cozy as Beth's voice. Highly recommend!

[Willa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book last winter after having my sleep interrupted most mornings by early-rising roommates. After a year, I am surprised and happy to say that I’ve fixed a lot of my sleep problems! The book isn’t a miracle antidote, but I think it has an important underlying framework: look at the sleep context rather than to hyper focusing on falling asleep and staying asleep. It kind of reminds me of how in sex therapy, people come in to work on frequency and orgasm and the way that we help with that often focuses on context and the person/people as a whole. We often find that hyperfixating on achieving a specific outcome actually hurts the chances of that outcome occurring. Similarly, this book normalizes that sometimes your sleep will be disturbed, sometimes you will wake up and don’t know why, and that it is best to focus on leaning into the ritual and practice of resting rather than obsessing over what’s not working. Some other things I learned or implemented from this book:
- earplugs. I was using Loops earplugs since the month before I got this book, but I then bought the sleep specific ones as well. This has made the most massive difference to my sleep.
- sleep mask and blackout curtains
- lavender pillow spray. I’m very sensitive to smells (in a positive way). I find that soothing smells have a powerful impact on my body’s alertness. The pillow spray has been wonderful for this.
- (trying to) mindset shift towards focusing on rest rather than thinking “I need to sleep” and being irritated or anxious if you wake up mid sleep. Lay still in bed, rest relax breath. Do NOT check your phone or iPad.
- going to bed when tired rather than seeing how late I can force myself to be awake so I can pack more into the day

The book is also super aesthetically pleasing which I loved :)

[Mariana Quesada · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First of all I have to say I'm not the intended target for this book because fortunately I've never struggled with sleep. So why then did I request it? Well, look at that beautiful cover! And every chapter is illustrated with the same gorgeous graphic style. I also was interested in it because my boyfriend does struggle with sleep and I wanted to know how to help him.

Filled with tips that go from bedroom colors, decoration and arrangement; sleeping positions, night and morning routines, to plants and smells that benefit your rest.

I liked that it also explains the why behind these tips and the way sleep cycles work.

It got a bit repetitive when it landed in new subjects and delivering the same remedy mentioned before. I have to say many of these things I already did without realizing they helped sleep, so I guess that's why I haven't had any trouble sleeping; so it appears that this is quite helpful for those who truly need it.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful little book filled with great tips to help people embrace the activity of sleep.
The book is written in a style that is very readable and easy to understand, as you would expect from an attractive gift book.
The cover draws you in from the get go. The illustrations within are beautiful ; calming colours of blues, greens and bits of gold. The end papers are one of those dark blues that I would love to have on my bedroom walls. Beth Wyatt, the author, even writes about bedroom decor and colours conducive to sleep, or rather the colours that certainly do not create calm.

As a holistic health coach who studied sleep as part of my training. I have read a few books on the subject which were interesting but the average person may not necessarily want to wade through huge content. Those books can be too overwhelming for many. I think Beth has done an amazing job of gathering the elements together in a way that anyone can and will find accessible. She offers great tips/ advice to help people create the ideal sleep practice.

I can think of a few people that this book would benefit. A few copies will be bought by me for Christmas gifts!!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing and informative book that offers readers small manageable changes they can make to their daily lives that will create significant change in their relationship with sleep. Readers understand how these significant changes can culminate in real improvement to their energy levels, relationships, and overall health. The author points out various areas and small inexpensive changes that will transform your perspective on rest and what it can do for you. I personally really enjoyed the book and the unique voice of the writer. Reading this felt like talking to a friend about an area of my life I don't often take time to reflect on. Everything flows really well so I could sit down and get through the book all in one sitting, while also bookmarking chapters and pages to come back to!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *

As someone who's struggled with sleep for a long time because of various things including chronic illness.
I'm always looking for different things to help me get a good night's sleep, so when I saw this book on Netgalley I knew I wanted to read it.

This book is filled with detailed, helpful advice, and goes into the science behind what our bodies need from sleeping.
It caters to a variety of different sleepers, and explains everything throughly in a way that's easy to digest and understand.

On top of that, this book is one of the most beautifully illustrated I've ever seen, and I'm wildly tempted to get a physical copy.

Highly recommend this book, especially if like me, you struggle with sleep.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find it difficult to rate non-fiction books as I've not read very many yet, but this book exceeded every expectation. I didn't put it down feeling unsatisfied or like I needed to do more research, I put the book down ready to employ the techniques in my own life.

I requested this ARC as my girlfriend was struggling with her sleeping habits (and mine weren't great either!). It was beyond helpful. Not only was the advice fantastic, but the science behind these techniques were explained AND everything was laid out in the most beautiful way, with gorgeous artwork separating the chapters.

This book was brilliant - it did what it said on the cover; helped provide calm and cozy sleep.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice little book if you are someone that doesn't get good sleep. I actually sleep pretty well myself but I am always looking for tips to make my sleep better. I was happy to find that I am already doing about 80% of the things this book recommends. Although I was able to find a few things I could change. And this would be a good book to have around as a reference that you could look at again and again. The section I really need to study is How to Become a Morning Person, even though I sleep well I am not sure I will ever be a morning person. I really love the cover art and the art and quotes within the pages.

[Lisa Kissane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I even talk about how much excellent information is contained within this short book, I must talk about the artwork. This could be one of the most beautiful books I've ever read - the graphics are stunning and pair perfectly with the topic.

Beth has done a wonderful job in this short-but-very-sweet book in offering useful and practical advise on getting the best from our sleep routine. I have a page scribbled full of notes and have already begun implementing some of the suggestions. To my delight, after only a single day of making changes, I already feel like I have a better grasp of my own sleep pattern and how to improve it to make sleep work for me. This morning, I woke before my alarm for the first time in a long time. Particularly in these crazy lockdown times, this was the thing I didn't know I needed.

As a lifelong napper (like Beth!) I was overjoyed to read the section on naps and how to ensure these are useful and do not hinder my sleep pattern in the evenings. Thank you, Beth, and I hope many, many others take as much positivity as I did from this book.

[Emmanuelle De Leener · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calm and cozy are the words! This book is so beautiful you want to spend the night reading it. Then the content covers almost all questions you could have on sleep. I highly recommend it!

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review.

This is a short and cute book about getting a better relationship with sleep. There's tips on setting a bedtime routine, calculating how many hours of sleep you need, and advice on how to stay asleep. This book is a refreshing view in a world that seems to value "rise and grind" instead of taking care of your physical and mental health.

It's an interesting look at how to sleep better and shape your relationship with sleep. It goes beyond the "night owl" or "early riser" dynamics and has tips on how to get the most rest out of a night (or day) of sleep.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Calm and Cozy Book of Sleep is an introduction to sleep, combined with a practical guide for improving sleep quality. The writing is gentle and easy to read, and though it doesn’t go into a lot of depth, I left the book feeling motivated to make some positive changes.

The book is split into eight sections with actionable steps, each consisting of a topic area and subheadings so it’s easy to look up a particular point. Between sections there are beautiful break pages with a quote and gorgeous artwork in the style of the front cover. Even the pages of text are pretty, with patterns around the edges. The ebook copy didn’t do this justice, and I expect that the physical version is a treat to flip through.

The book begins by explaining the author’s own journey with sleep, and I imagine that many people will be able to relate (I did). The advice and suggestions are not accusatory or judgemental, it’s about accepting and working with where you are now. Each technique and why it may help is explained in a clear way, and most of the ideas don’t require any additional resources. Some of the advice resonated more than others, and I expect that what helps varies for different readers. But with such a range of tips to try, hopefully most people will find something useful for them. Everything that someone who wants to improve their sleep needs to know is covered in this book. There are a lot of recommendations on the internet which sometimes contradict each other—all this information can be overwhelming, and it’s good to have it summarised in a book written by someone with plenty of experience.

As someone who has read a little around optimising sleep before now, I found the content relatively basic, though there were some ideas that were new to me. I still found that the book is a good reminder of the most useful points of sleep theory, and having just finished reading it, I’m motivated to make some positive changes. I’ve also found my new favourite sleep-time meditation in this book—it’s much simpler than the one I usually use, while still being a visualisation.

Overall, this is a great introduction to sleep, its science, and how to improve sleep quality and feel more rested. Many of the principles are simple but effective. As what helps is different from person to person, it’s great to have such a range of things to try, and the advice is practical and easy to implement. I’d heard of most of the principles before, but this book is still a good reminder. It would likely be more helpful for someone who is new to sleep theory and improvements, but it is still a useful summary for anyone who is already working to improve their sleep.

Thank you to Rock Point and NetGalley for providing an Advance Review Copy, which I have reviewed voluntarily and based on my unbiased opinion.

[Elizabeth Herr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

The title of this book immediately caught my attention - I'm a type 9 and we are all about being calm, cozy, and peaceful. The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful, I wish I had read this as a physical copy instead of a digital copy because I'm sure they are even more stunning in person. As far as the content goes, the majority of it I was already familiar with but as I'm not a great sleeper, it was a nice refresher. I did learn a few things, particularly about timing within the sleep cycle, and overall I appreciated Wyatt's perspective on sleep.

[Kacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is 2.5 stars for me. The introduction was nice, it felt like a friend taking you by the hand and leading you into a journey of better sleep. But the more I read the less it became like that. Often times it felt like the author wasn't really saying anything at all but repeating the same things over and over again. It felt like the author was stretching things out and adding things like a struggling college student trying to finish an essay. Things like step by step instructions on how to smell oil (???) and how to use diffusers. I also lost count of the amount of times the author mentioned people making fun of the fact you might go to bed early.

In saying that there were some useful tips and info (for instance the journaling, types of essential oils, plants, and waking up early). I just wish she went more into detail about certain things like REM sleep, the four general chronotypes, as well as maybe a bit more of a look into how grief effects sleep. I would have also liked to read a bit about dreams and nightmares but maybe I need to look into different types of books.

[Rebekka Steg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having listened to the author's podcast (of the same name) for a while, much of the content was familiar to me. Having it all together was wonderful though, and the book is so beautifully illustrated it was an absolute delight to read.
The Calm and Cozy Book of Sleep isn't really for people with actual sleep disorders (for that you should see a sleep specialist), but it is perfect for people seeking to prioritize their sleep and improve the quality of the sleep they are getting. Full of lovely ideas to make your bedroom calm and cozy and your sleep restful and restorative.
Recommended!

*I received a free copy through Netgalley, but the review is my own opinion*

[Fiorella · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review*

So, I have sleep disorders since two or a year ago because of anxiety and I felt the necessity to read this book. Sleep disorders are not great, your brain suffers and you feel tired, even when you want to rest you can't. I am now improving my sleep and actually took a lot of notes to practice everything.
I have to say this book was very complete, I understood how sleep works and appreciate that the content is straightforward and direct because some books kind of "make up" the information. Also, the design is cute.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book with simple guidance to not only understand your sleep and what’s important about it but also simple steps to help you sleep better and introduce little changes to improve the quality of your sleep and in turn improve your overall health. The book also contains some beautiful illustrations and quotes which really added to the feel of it. This would make a great gift for someone I think.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better sleep books I've read. Keeps the information simple simple and easy to follow. Making it one of the easiest sleep advice books to pick up