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Sleep has fascinated people for millennia and yet it's barely understood. There are so many different aspects of sleep to consider, from the science behind it to why we dream and what they mean. The mysteries of sleep have also made it the perfect setting for fictional books as it's something we can all relate to. With so many books about sleep on the market, it can be difficult to know what to choose.
We chose Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, Ph.D. as our favorite book about sleep. It explains the science of sleep in a way that is easy to understand and helps readers change their habits and improve their sleep routine. We've also put together a top 10 list for you to consider and created a handy buying guide to help you make your choice!
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Table of Contents
Before buying a book about sleep, you should think about which genre you'd like to read, check the author's credibility, and decide on the right book format for you. Read our buying guide below to find out more!
There are many books about sleep and they cover many different genres and aspects of sleep. Try to identify if there’s a specific angle that intrigues you and look for books that cover that.
If you’re interested in what physically happens to the mind and body when we sleep, then this is the genre to look for. These books will cover topics such as the various levels of sleep, the importance of REM sleep, and brain activity. They will also introduce the effects sleep has on other functions, like memory or productivity.
Sleep doesn’t always come easily and there are plenty of books that give tips on how to change this. They will suggest ways to fall asleep quicker and for longer, and how to improve the quality of sleep that you get. Some books will also have tips for other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea.
A large component of sleep that has entertained and intrigued us for centuries is dreams. Often surreal and confusing, people have long searched for the meanings hidden in their dreams. If this sounds familiar, then look for books that analyze dreams. These may even double as journals for you to record your own dreams.
Sleep is a popular plot device in many fictional books - especially those that lean towards thriller and horror. The mystery of sleep and dreams gives authors plenty of scope for the kind of novel that can’t be put down! If you enjoy reading a good story, consider picking up a fictional book.
If you’re looking at fictional books, this isn’t important! However, if you’re considering non-fiction books, you should take this into consideration. You'll want to be certain that the information you're reading is true, and not based on pseudoscience.
Check the credentials of the author to make sure that what you’re reading is well-researched. Although the basic mechanics of sleep have been identified, there are still many unknown aspects. A credible non-fiction book will make it clear which parts are facts and which parts are theories and will have research to back up the theories.
Though this may seem like a no-brainer, don’t blindly trust the “Ph.D.” or “M.D.” qualification tacked onto the end of an author’s name; see what exactly they’ve gotten degrees in and what they’ve studied!
When looking at books that give advice on how to deal with insomnia or improve your sleep, check the reviews to see if the book has helped others. Different things work for different people so a few negative reviews shouldn’t be a deterrent, but you can get a general feel for how effective the advice is and whether it offers anything new.
Even better, find out if the author has a similar background to you (for instance, whether or not they suffer from insomnia).
Books aren’t just physical anymore - the vast majority are now also available as eBooks and audiobooks. Depending on your reading style and the book itself, choosing a different format may be more beneficial to you.
If you’re looking at books that will give you advice and tips on how to sleep, then why not choose the audiobook? This way, you can try some of the techniques while relaxing in bed with the lights off.
The ability to search within an ebook can be very useful when looking for specific information in non-fiction books. An index will help you find some information but isn’t as powerful as being able to search the entire book for specific words or phrases. You can add notes and as many bookmarks as you wish, too!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Matthew Walker Why We Sleep | $10.29 Low Mid | Easy Explanations of the Science Behind Sleep | ||
2 | Robert A. Johnson Inner Work | $14.59 Mid | A Psychological Approach to Dream Analysis | ||
3 | Stephen King Insomnia | $16.39 High Mid | A Thrilling Novel About a Man Who Can't Sleep | ||
4 | Marc Weissbluth Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child | $11.49 Low Mid | Create Healthy Sleeping Habits for Your Children | ||
5 | Cottage Door Press 365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes | $11.16 Low Mid | A Wide Variety of Bedtime Stories and Rhymes | ||
6 | Shawn Stevenson Sleep Smarter | $20.82 High | Easy Techniques to Implement to Help You Sleep | ||
7 | Adam Mansbach, Ricardo Cortés Go the F**k to Sleep | $12.58 Mid | Humorous Book for Parents | ||
8 | W. Chris Winter The Sleep Solution | $17.00 High Mid | Helps You Understand Sleep and Insomnia | ||
9 | S. J. Watson Before I Go to Sleep | $14.99 Mid | A Slow Build With a Satisfying End | ||
10 | Stearn Robinson, Tom Corbett Dreamer's Dictionary | $8.99 Low | Dream Analysis Dictionary for Believers |
The focus of this book is the power of sleep and the effect it can have on multiple aspects of our lives. It describes the importance of sleep, how it can be used to improve our lives, and gives practical tips on how to improve it.
The author is a professor of neuroscience and psychology and the director of UC Berkeley's Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab. The book does focus heavily on the potential negatives of not sleeping, so this could be a cause of anxiety for those already anxious about not sleeping.
Reviewers praise this book for how it balances scientific explanations with easy to understand prose. Many say that it made them understand the importance of sleep and helped them change their sleep habits for the better.
This book takes a psychological approach to dreams and their meanings as it is based on theories proposed by Carl Jung. As well as detailed background on the importance of dreams, the book will also teach you how to make sense of your dreams.
The author is a noted expert in Jungian psychology. This has long been a popular branch of dream analysis but may not be ideal for anyone that wants a casual and easy dream analysis handbook.
Reviewers say that this is a good introduction to Jungian analysis but also has enough detail and guidance to be of use to the more experienced. They say it is written in an easy to understand way and has interesting examples.
An insomniac widower takes late-night walks around the town. During these walks, he starts to notice strange events that he believes are more than just the results of sleep-deprivation.
Some readers found it difficult to get into this book, whereas others found that the ending was disappointing. The audiobook version is also criticized for its overbearing background music.
Many other readers liked this book and found it to be full of suspense. They say it is more disturbing and psychological than horror, and will make you worry about not sleeping!
This book is designed to help with any sleeping issues faced by children. It covers infancy through to adolescence and aims to give guidance for a wide variety of sleeping problems.
The author is a pediatrician with over forty years of experience. He has also founded a sleep disorders clinic for children and is a professor in clinical pediatrics at Northwestern University School of Medicine.
Some reviewers found this book to be too long and unfocused and say it lacks quick and easy-to-find guidance. However, reviewers that had the time to digest the information and fully implement the tips found it to be very useful.
Included in this book are a variety of stories and rhymes that are designed to be read to children at bedtime. It has many well-known stories that are all beautifully illustrated.
Reviewers say that the stories are very short and some are different from the most commonly known versions of the stories. They say there are more rhymes than expected.
Other reviewers love the illustrations and the variety of stories included in the book. They like the quality of the pages and say the cover is very classy. They enjoy reading this book to their children and appreciate that time together.
This book aims to not only improve your sleep but also your health. It details a variety of strategies to help you improve your sleep. It also includes a structured plan that you can put into action over 14 nights.
Some reviewers report that the information and techniques included in this book are nothing new. They also say that much of the content comes from the author's own experiences instead of credible science.
Still, many reviewers find the strategies and plan to be useful to them. They say that the techniques are mostly lifestyle-based, making them easy to implement.
This humorous book is full of beautiful illustrations and witty poems. Each poem aims to reflect the inner monologue of guardians that are struggling with insomniac children. Note, however, that this is not a book for children.
The humor of the book isn't for everyone. Some reviewers say that they found the rhymes repetitive and unfunny, and some also criticized the vulgarity in the book.
For many reviewers, though, the humor hit home and the rhymes were relatable. This book was especially popular as a gift for baby showers and new parents.
In this book, you will learn how sleep works and what can affect it, both positively and negatively. There are techniques designed to help a multitude of sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnea.
The author is a neurologist that specializes in sleep medicine. He has consulted with many sports teams, military groups, and businesses to improve their sleep.
The author's tone divided reviewers, as some found his humor to be condescending, whereas others enjoyed this colloquial tone. Reviewers found the explanations of sleep and insomnia to be very eye-opening and they felt they understood their sleep problems better after reading this book.
Whenever Christine falls asleep, she forgets all of her memories. Every morning she awakes with no recollection of her life or even the man lying next to her. With the help of her journal, she tries to piece together her life and what is really happening.
Some readers found this book to be slow-paced and repetitive, due to the nature of the story. Some also say it was difficult to empathize with the protagonist as her loss of memory meant she had little personality.
Other readers found this book to be thrilling. They enjoyed the slow-build of the story and could feel the protagonist's fear of sleeping. The twist at the end also gets much praise!
This dream analysis book has been popular for many years. It identifies the different types of dreams and has an A to Z of common dream imagery and their meanings.
Some reviewers were disappointed in this book as it doesn't take a psychological approach to analyzing dreams. Instead, it approaches dreams from a psychic standpoint and believes dreams foretell events.
Several reviewers love the tone of this book, though. They say that they have purchased multiple copies over the years and continue to follow their interpretations.
As well as arming yourself with as much knowledge about sleep as you can, there are other ways to have a peaceful night. We've picked some more products that will help you relax and enjoy a restful sleep.
No. 1: Matthew Walker|Why We Sleep
No. 2: Robert A. Johnson|Inner Work
No. 3: Stephen King|Insomnia
No. 4: Marc Weissbluth|Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
No. 5: Cottage Door Press|365 Bedtime Stories and Rhymes
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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