A fascinating look at how important sleep is for our mental and physical health, and how our modern way of life could be doing us more harm than good. A real eye-opener!

Matthew Walker obviously knows his subject very well and is passionate about it, however, the level of this book is more that of a text book than for the average reader. He does say he will find it a compliment if anyone falls asleep reading his book and I have to say it did induce sleepiness in me more than once!

Despite it being a little hard to wade through there are some gems of advice worth mentioning. Like you cannot combat tiredness when driving. All those tips you think you have he warns - forget them - you cannot beat sleep. So the message is do not drive if you are feeling sleepy.

I did find some of the findings repeated within the book from a very slightly different angle, to the academic it matters, to me a casual reader I got annoyed with the repetition. This isn't the first book I've read on sleep so a lot of the material I was aware of, apart from of course the authors own research.

The most interesting thing I learnt from this book is that there is a direct correlation between the rise of heart attacks and the commencement of daylight saving. There is also a reduction in heart attacks when daylight saving ends. Like a lot of very interesting statements in this book, especially regarding Alzheimers, I was disappointed that there is seemingly no follow through for them - they are just research findings.

I'm giving this book four out of 5 stars purely because it is a little heavy going, however, if you are reading this for your studies I think you would give it 5 stars.

Fascinating, easy to read, inciteful. I would encourage everyone to read this. Has certainly made me reconsider my sleep habits. I have recommended it to many customers.

Explanatory with humour, 'Why we sleep' is an informative read. Lots of information I didn't know and will put into practice. Took a bit of time to read as it's got scientific stuff in there, plus research. Recommended.

This is a really fascinating book backed up by a lot of scientific evidence. I’ve always been a fan of getting my eight hours (so it was a little bit like preaching to the choir!) but I didn’t realise what a massive impact it can have on your overall health - just as much, if not more so than diet and exercise! I was especially shocked to read about how sleep-deprivation (getting less than 6 hours sleep the night before) can impact your concentration, particularly in relation to driving. The stats about car accidents are horrific!
I love reading a non-fiction book that can spark a discussion and make you want to talk with your friends about all the new facts youu’ve just learned - this is defintiely one of those books! It’s written in a very down-to-earth and easy to understand way even when talking about scientific research and experiments. I think it’s a book that more people need to read!!
There were a few bits I found less interesting and I tended to skip over those - it wasn’t boring to read at all, just my personal preference but that’s why I’ve given it 4 stars rather than 5.

According to this wonderfully entertaining and thought-provoking exploration of sleep, it appears that all our ills can be alleviated, if not prevented altogether, by getting a good night’s sleep. Cancer, Alzheimer’s, ADHD, heart attacks, diabetes, even obesity – all will succumb to the power of 8 hours of uninterrupted slumber. Not only we as individuals will be better off, but so will the world, as bad decisions are usually made by those who are sleep-deprived – from doctors to generals to financiers. More road traffic accidents are caused by sleepiness than drink/drug driving. And how about this little known fact? Heart attacks peak on the day after the clocks go forward and slump the day after they go back and we all get an extra hour. Who’d have thought the solutions to so many of our sorry world’s problems can be found between the sheets.
OK, so I exaggerate a little, but in essence that does seem to be sleep scientist Matthew Walker’s argument, and I must say I found it pretty convincing. As parents we know instinctively that our crabby child is simply tired, that our teenagers really do need to sleep later in the morning, and that sleep is essential to well-being and recovery after illness (although we probably wouldn’t fall ill if we got enough sleep). This book attempts to explain the science behind sleep, and does so in an easy to read and accessible way. Some reviewers have taken issue with some of Walker’s conclusions, and maybe they are correct to do so, but so what, I ask? If simply getting more and better quality sleep can have even a small effect on our mental and physical health, then I for one am willing to take the lessons of this book to heart. So sshhh now please, I’m off to get my 8 hours…..

This is an interesting book based on an enormous amount of research. It was written in an accessible way, if a little repetitive at times. There were some scary stories of what might happen to us if we don't get enough sleep, but very few solutions for those of us who do not manage the requisite 8 hours per night for whatever reason. Maybe a follow-up is needed- "How to sleep better...." ?
There were tables and charts throughout the book which just came out as headings in my downloaded copy.

Why We Sleep was a really interesting, accessible read. Walker discusses what sleep is, why it is important, and how our understanding of it has grown. I found new facts surprising me every few pages, and I finished this book with a much better understanding of why I should get my eight hours every night. I hope more people read this, because Walker will open their eyes or oen of the most important aspects of mankind and society's wellbeing.

Trouble sleeping? Do you want a life-saving health regime with absolutely no side effects? If you answer yes to either (or both) of these questions this book is required reading. Although the book suffers a little from the author’s understandable desire to share as much background and supporting evidence as possible, which can mean the wood can sometimes be hidden by a close up of too many trees, the key messages he shares with his readers are potentially life-saving and, certainly, quality-of-life-enhancing. There is no category of reader who is not capable of applying the author’s advice and thereby enhancing her/his health; educational potential; or employment prospects. In addition to its relevance to everyday life, CEOs, managers and politicians should also consider the advice offered in the context of policy and HR development.

Imagine a gripping psychological thriller, replete with clues ... data ... so you can make your own conclusions with a genial voice warning you of doom and gloom, yet uplifting in its conclusions and also unputdownable .. that's what we have here .. exhilarating gripping real science. We all sleep, so this matters to us all .. an accessible style, like an avuncular and familiar figure/voice. It kept me up reading, ironically!! Terrific...its confidence in its own conclusions may be controversial but it's awfully convincing.

Sleep is the poor cousin of diet and exercise, but no less important for it. One of the issues is that sleep has been so difficult to understand - when asked why people sleep, scientist William Dement said 'because we get sleepy'.

Rather than focus on the mechanics of sleep, Matthew Walker describes the effects of sleep and lack thereof. What results is a compelling book which should initiate life changes, prioritising sleep for overall health and performance. Hopefully the result will be less of a culture of sleep-deprivation-pride and more respect for those who properly rest, recover, and are ready for the day ahead.

Fascinating and well worth taking the time to read about how important sleep is to be a healthy being. It is an excellent measure of where you are with regards to understanding how Sleep affects your body and mind, why bringing sleep back into your health regime should be a major priority and, basically, are you getting enough sleep? If not then adjust your life to make it so.

Employers: take heed – don’t infringe on workers free time, give them time to unwind and sleep – your workers will be healthier, your business will be the better.

Makes you wonder about those who work in areas where they can be up for long periods with no sleep – medical professionals, armed forces, etc. – especially around decision-making!

Read how sleep relates to Alzheimer’s, cancer, general good health.

Yes, this does get a bit ‘technical’ but Matthew Walker does explain and gives some great, although occasionally not very nice, examples to help the reader to understand. In the end the message is pretty simple and one well worth taking on board.

So read the book and for a healthier life make time for sleep.

With thanks to the publisher, Penguin, via NetGalley for a copy in return for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5/4

An invaluable insight into why we sleep and the negative impact a lack of sleep can have. A fascinating read.

Not my usual type of book to read but thanks to Net Galley and the publishers I was given the opportunity to read a copy in return for an unbiased review. As many other have said, wish I'd been able to read this many years ago. Have to say that whilst certain parts of it are a little overly detailed in medical terms for me, it is nonetheless a life change publication and I have already implented a number of changes to my lifestyle and sleeping habits with positive results.

I got off to a good start with this book, I really enjoyed the way he laid out in simple terms how we sleep, how we evolved to sleep, why it's good for us, etc. However, after that I started to feel a bit like I was wading through mud. I don't have a scientific background, but I can usually hold my own with the odd weighty tome if it feels like theres going to be a point to it at the end. It felt like a each chapter went by the author kept promising to come to such and such a thing 'in a later chapter', and then would start going over old ground again. I started to feel very tired (heh) and bogged down, and the rest of the book felt a bit like a chore.
Still, I enjoyed learning how important sleep is, and about some of the lesser known sleep disorders. I wish that the author had gone into a bit more about these, but it was a long book and I understand there was a lot to fit in.

A very informative and thorough look at sleep. Academic and well-researched but accessible and sporadically interesting. The book will tell you anything you ever wanted to know about sleep and plenty more besides! And while it’s interesting, it can be a bit tedious at times. Still, it answers its title and is a very helpful overview of this large part of life on Earth.

As I studied sleep before, there were no absolute new information in this book, but I found it to be quite esaustive on every thing is necessary to know about why we sleep and the best way to handle sleep problems. so it was an absolutely interesting reading.

Io il sonno l'ho studiato quindi non é che in questo libro ci fossero informazioni particolarmente nuove, ma l'ho trovato particolarmente chiaro ed esaustivo per quanto riguarda le ragioni per cui "dovremmo" dormire di piú e meglio e come gestire gli eventuali problemi del sonno, quindi é stata comunque una lettura molto interessante.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!