Why We Sleep
by Matthew P. Walker, Matthew Walker · first published 2017
53% recommend31% neutral16% critical
Why HN recommends it
Approachable, in-depth look at the science and mechanics of sleep, from sleep stages to circadian rhythm and adenosine; suits laypeople who want to understand why sleep matters and how to improve it.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
With two appearances on CBS This Morning and Fresh Air's most popular interview of 2017, Matthew Walker has made abundantly clear that sleep is one of the most important but least understood aspects of our life. Until very recently, science had no answer to the question of why we sleep, or what good it served, or why we suffer such devastating health consequences when it is absent. Compared to the other basic drives in life—eating, drinking, and reproducing—the purpose of sleep remains more elusive. Within the brain, sleep enriches a diversity of functions, including our ability to learn, m
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…token, if you're in a good state, one or two days of disrupted sleep don't cause all that much damage. EDIT: 7. Forgot to mention this one: keep the room very cold. Matthew Walker (the guy who wrote Why We Sleep, which is a great book) recommends 65F.
on “Impacts of lack of sleep” ↗One of the many fascinating facts I learnt from Matthew Walker's "Why We Sleep" is that the biorhythms of teenagers are shifted to later hours compared to those of adults in all human cultures of the globe, even in those rare societies hardly affected by technology. In evolution…
on “Let Teenagers Sleep In” ↗…sleeping, to block out any ambient light, and I just started making an effort to listen to music while waiting to fall asleep. I think all of these things help to some degree. Also, check out the book "Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker.
on “Melatonin: Much More Than You Wanted to Know” ↗Every single person here, if your serious about diving into the science of sleep, should read Matthew Walker's book: Why We Sleep: https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501... His interview on Joe Rogan is a good summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwaWilO_Pig He covers everything from why we sleep (obv),…
on “Melatonin: Much More Than You Wanted to Know” ↗Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina, because it made me a better father; Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, because it taught me of the importance of something that I’d occasionally dismiss as a nuisance; Pain Free and Pain Free at Your PC by Pete Egoscue, because it completely changed the…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade?” ↗…spirituality (from a skeptic), and narrative. I expect his book will be a significant part of why psychadelic drugs will be legalized in the near future specifically for therapeutic purposes. Also +1 for 2017's Why We Sleep [2]. After reading it, I couldn't believe how shockingly ignorant I'd been of how I spend a full third of my life, and how much it affects the other two-thirds -- and the degree to which a lack of sleep…
on “Ask HN: Favorite nonfiction books of 2018?” ↗I am just finishing reading the fantastic book Why We Sleep [1], and as in so many well-meaning studies and articles, I can't help but feel like this effort is misguided. Just like an addict cannot accept help until they want it, I don't see how "adjusting" work…
on “New Office Hours Aim for Well Rested, More Productive Workers” ↗"Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker summarizes quite a lot of research on sleep. It leaves little doubt - we currently know of no safe way to significantly cut down sleep. I haven't seen the research presented in that…
on “The effects on cognition of sleeping 4 hours per night for 12-14 days” ↗I saw someone mention it in a HN comment before, but I'd like to restate it here since it is definitely one of those perspective-altering books: "Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker. The author is a professor and prolific researcher of the effects of sleep on the human body, and goes into nearly every nook and cranny of what sleep does for the human body. He has…
on “YC’s 2018 Summer Reading List” ↗…thinking, etc) [1] According to my experience, a good night of sleep is the best cure for procrastination, sadly, our current society don't optimize for sleeping well. --- 1: https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501...
on “Procrastination Has Nothing to Do with Self-Control” ↗I suggest you read "why we sleep" by Matthew Walker. According to him (phd in neuroscience from stanford) you are just short changing yourself -- you're opening yourself up to all sorts of heath conditions later on. Not telling you how…
on “Good sleep, good learning, good life (2012)” ↗Favorites that I read in 2018: * Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34466963-why-we-sleep) * Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem…
on “Ask HN: Favorite nonfiction books of 2018?” ↗I read over 40 nonfiction books this year. Here are some favorites. Life-changing: Why We Sleep Page-turner: How to Change Your Mind Most useful: The Consolations of Philosophy On startups: Troublemakers: Silicon Valley's Coming of Age Random but amazing: Shadow Divers (true story about deep…
on “Ask HN: Favorite nonfiction books of 2018?” ↗…amazing results. After trying a few of the tips on my 2 and 6 year olds there’s no doubt.. anyone who wants a girl or a women in their life to succeed should read this book. It’ll change lives. +1 for Why We Sleep, alarming, insightful and ultimately likely to add years the lives of those who read it. [1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/1613739397
on “Ask HN: Favorite nonfiction books of 2018?” ↗I highly recommend reading Matthew Walker‘s Why We Sleep [0] where stuff like the above mentioned is summed up. Great read! [0] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34466963
on “Weekend ‘catch-up sleep’ is a lie” ↗