You know the feeling when you find a book that just clicks? That’s how I felt about Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep. It’s like a light bulb went on—finally, someone gets the battle I’ve been fighting since high school, the one against insomnia.
Now, Dr. Walker isn’t your run-of-the-mill sleep doc. He’s got a PhD in neurophysiology and leads the Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab at UC Berkeley. The guy’s basically a sleep scientist superhero, so you can bet he knows his stuff.
His book isn’t just about why sleep matters. It’s a gold mine on how it can sharpen your mind, brighten your mood, and even help keeping cancer and Alzheimer’s at bay. Plus, there’s hope for aging folks like me. And get this, he’s not just some dry academic; he calls himself an “awkward British nerd,” which makes his writing feel you’re chums chatting over a cuppa’—assuming your friend has fascinating things to say about neurophysiology.
“Downstairs in the body, sleep restocks the armory of our immune system, preventing infection and warding off all manner of sickness. Sleep reforms the body’s metabolic state by fine- tuning the balance of insulin and circulating glucose. Sleep further regulates our appetite, helping control body weight through healthy food selection rather than rash impulsivity. Plentiful sleep maintains a flourishing microbiome within your gut from which we know so much of our nutritional health begins. Adequate sleep is intimately tied to the fitness of our cardiovascular system, lowering blood pressure while helping keep our hearts in fine condition.”—Matthew Walker, Why We Sleep.
I jumped around a bit while reading, but every part I read was a treasure trove of “aha” moments and practical tips for chasing that elusive good night’s sleep. If you’re even a little curious about the physiology of sleeping and dreaming or you’re just plain tired of being tired, you need to check out this book. Trust me, your brain (and your body) will thank you. This book’s a solid 5-star read.