Monday, September 22, 2014

The Secret Life of Sleep by Kat Duff


Title: The Secret Life of Sleep
Author: Kat Duff
Publisher: Atria Books / Beyond Words
Publication Date: March 18, 2014
ISBN: 9781582704685
Number of Pages: 256
How I Got It: NetGalley
Format: Kindle

NetGalley Description:
Unlock the astonishing facts, myths, and benefits of one of the most endangered human resources—sleep.

Birds do it. Bees do it. Salamanders do it. Even round worms do it. To the best of our knowledge, all creatures display some form of sleep behavior, a regular time of quiet when they settle into familiar postures, lose awareness of the outside world, and rest.
Yet for many of us, rejuvenating sleep is as elusive as clean water and dark nights. More than 60 percent of Americans experience a sleep problem at least twice a week, and though experts recommend getting seven to nine hours of shut-eye each night, nearly a third of adults get only six hours or less. In response to this emerging endangered resource, award-winning author Kat Duff blends myth, history, science, culture, and story with a contagious curiosity to unveil the hidden and invaluable healing benefits of sleep.
Drawing on the latest scientific research, literature, personal experience, as well as cultural and spiritual traditions from around the globe, The Secret Life of Sleep will help us better understand what we’re losing before it’s too late.


My Review:
Did you sleep good last night? I did. But that isn't always the case. I've had sleep problems in the past and now have them occasionally. I know that my absolute minimum amount of sleep necessary for me to function the next day is 6 hours, but I really need 8-9 to feel well rested and not in need of a nap the next day. Everyone talks about their sleep patterns and studies show that plenty of people would sacrifice all sorts of other comforts in exchange for sleep. Too often sleep is sacrificed. This book was so interesting in that it was both scientific but understandable. Information from sleep studies as well as how industrial progress has affected sleep are discussed. I have always been a big advocate of sleep and believe in taking steps to be sure me and my family get enough. Bedtime rituals, good sheets, etc. but this is sometimes seen as a weakness from others. Friends, co-workers, and bosses have been less than supportive of something I know is vital for my health and daily performance. I learned a lot from this book and am now armed with statistics and scientific information to provide to the next person who believes sleep is some sort of inconvenience. 


** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **

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