Books: Why We Sleep

The last couple of months have been pretty busy at work, and I haven't been getting as much sleep as I normally do. Now I know that's a pretty serious problem, thanks to researcher Matthew Walker's book, Why We Sleep.

It's part evolutionary biology history, part medical report, and part how-to guide for improving your sleep patterns. Dr. Walker starts with "why" we sleep, in terms of how sleep developed, both for humans and most other animals on Earth (even insects sleep). Then he talks about "why" we sleep, in the sense of how the human body and mind need sleep to function, something that scientists are still trying to figure out. Finally, the book tackles "why" we sleep, in terms of eliminating the obstacles to proper rest that are ever-so-common in the 21st century: caffeine, alcohol, and late-night device scrolling.

As a "wake-up call" for better sleep (pardon the pun), Why We Sleep is surprisingly engaging and effective. I did some of the things Dr. Walker suggested (like quitting caffeine) and noticed that my sleep quantity and quality markedly improved. If you've ever woken up and felt fatigued instead of rested, try putting Why We Sleep on your nightstand.