Running on Empty: Sleeplessness in American Teens

by Connie Goldsmith

Young adults need eight to ten hours of sleep each night, yet nearly half fail to get the sleep they need, and nearly a third have fallen asleep in school due to insufficient sleep. So many Americans--both teens and adults--lack quality sleep that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls sleep deprivation a public health epidemic. Chronic sleep deprivation leads to poor performance during the day and impacts stress levels, academic performance, and physical and mental health. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that sleeping difficulties contribute to one-third of auto accidents. And drowsy-driving can lead to fatalities.

Author and registered nurse, Connie Goldsmith presents a much needed scientific and informative approach to the topic of sleep, making the case for taking measures to get adequate and quality sleep each night to combat anxiety, depression, and stress. Running on Empty: Sleeplessness in American Teens provides readers with information on the why and tips for the how to sleep well.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Science

112 pages, Library Binding

Published April 6, 2021

Reviews

[Michelle Glatt]

Reviewing this for School Library Connection

[Heather]

Overall this was a great book geared towards helping teens understand how sleep works, the importance of sleep, and strategies for improving sleep (from sleep hygiene to psychological to drugs/supplements with a focus on what is risky and what has evidence).

What I liked about the book is that it folded in research studies in a clear and concise way, and included the physiology of sleep in a way that respects teen's curiosity and intellect without turning into a textbook. The book is a short 100 pages, well cited, and well laid out/very readable.

It is thorough in both identifying various sleep challenges and identifying ways to support sleep -sleep apnea, parasomnias, CBT-I, medication, mindfulness, diet, exercise, sleep environment, etc --I cannot think off the top of my head a particular gap in what was included.

What I am tentative about, and what prevents me from handing this book to teen clients, is the true but alarmist/anxiety-provoking stories in the opening chapter of parasomnias leading to (in one case) death that was initially attributed to suicide, and harm or potential harm.

Those stories sure would make teens sit up and pay attention to the importance of sleep, but for those clients of mine who have anxiety as part of their sleep challenge (in a loop of anxiety leading to sleep difficulties, and sleep difficulties exacerbating anxiety), it means it's a hard pass on me recommending it.

Excellent overall.

[Beth]

Well written explanation of the problems of sleep deprivation and how it might particularly affects teens, with some good quotes and text boxes there to encourage reading. Usually when I checked the back matter I would find the source for the references on the page, and there is a good glossary, bibliography and suggestions for further reading.

I felt it did what it said on the tin, and did it well but didn't really exceed its remit. Good but not great.

[S K]

Very informational and easily understandable!

[David Lay]

this was a well written book on the problems of sleep deprivation through teens. the chapters were well separated to allow for easy reading. it contained several topics over sleep deprivation and the affects it has on our brains during the sleep schedule.