Lawrence Epstein (2)

Wow, there sure are a lot of things that can cause disturbed sleep! I was delighted to see this book in the library because there is so little solid information available about sleep. When I started reading it, I was not disappointed. It has good solid research based information.

Lots of interesting points in the first six chapters - so much so that i read portions of it aloud to my family as we were riding in the car.

Part 2 is Chapters 7 through 19, and goes into more detail about specific sleep disorders, and thus was of lesser interest to me. I liked that the book is clear about possible side effects of treatments, and cautions on when it might be appropriate to use and when it might be better to not use a particular treatment. Especially Part 1, rather than being prescriptive, the book is descriptive; leaving room for sense and good judgement. In Part 2, for some disorders the recommendations are quite specific.

"Experiments ... have found that the natural circadian rhythm varies by individual, from as short as 23 hours to as long as 25.5, with the majority falling between 24.1 and 24.5 hours." (Page 183)

"Compared to sleep, napping, and caffeine, other measures are relatively ineffective. ... Will power is not a factor; like a car that's out of gas, the brain automatically shuts down at a certain level of sleep deprivation." (Page 206)

Overall, it is refreshing to have a comprehensive discussion on sleep. This book covers it's importance, and specifics on how to get a good night's sleep.
… (mere)