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Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams Audiobook
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(4.80) - 5 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
“Why We Sleep is an important and fascinating book…Walker taught me a lot about this basic activity that every person on Earth needs. I suspect his book will do the same for you.” —Bill Gates
A New York Times bestseller and international sensation, this “stimulating and important book” (Financial Times) is a fascinating dive into the purpose and power of slumber.
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, memorize, and make logical decisions. It recalibrates our emotions, restocks our immune system, fine-tunes our metabolism, and regulates our appetite. Dreaming creates a virtual reality space in which the brain melds past and present knowledge, inspiring creativity.
In this “compelling and utterly convincing” (The Sunday Times) book, preeminent neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker provides a revolutionary exploration of sleep, examining how it affects every aspect of our physical and mental well-being. Charting the most cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, and marshalling his decades of research and clinical practice, Walker explains how we can harness sleep to improve learning, mood and energy levels, regulate hormones, prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes, slow the effects of aging, and increase longevity. He also provides actionable steps towards getting a better night’s sleep every night.
Clear-eyed, fascinating, and accessible, Why We Sleep is a crucial and illuminating book. Written with the precision of Atul Gawande, Andrew Solomon, and Sherwin Nuland, it is “recommended for night-table reading in the most pragmatic sense” (The New York Times Book Review).
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"I have a feeling that many things in life I would have done differently if I have read this book earlier.But it is never too late. I'm really glad I did it.True recommendations!!!"
— Gagi (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Walker is adroit at presenting his findings and their implications in language accessible to the lay reader…A persuasive, exuberant case for addressing our societal sleep deficit and for the virtues of sleep itself.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Vital…a life-raft.”
— The Guardian (London) -
“This is a stimulating and important book…The author is, as he puts it, ‘in love with everything that sleep is and does.’”
— Financial Times (London) -
“Walker is a scientist but writes for the layperson, illustrating tricky concepts with easily grasped analogies.”
— Library Journal (starred review) -
“Adopting a conversational style…Walker conveys his insights into the process of sleep with enthralling clarity.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“A well-organized, highly accessible, up-to-date report.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“Dr. Matt Walker brilliantly illuminates the night, explaining how sleep can make us healthier, safer, smarter, and more productive…Every reader will find value in Dr. Walker’s insightful counsel.”
— Mark R. Rosekind, PhD, NASA scientist
Awards
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New York Times bestseller
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A New York Times Bestseller in Audio
Why We Sleep Listener Reviews
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Giovanni Mirante, 12/24/2022
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Robert Clontz, 5/11/2022
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4/6/2021
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Kevin, 5/2/2019
About Matthew Walker
Matthew Walker is a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California–Berkeley, the director of its sleep and neuroimaging laboratory, and a former professor of psychiatry at Harvard University. He has published over 100 scientific studies and has appeared on 60 Minutes, Nova, BBC News, and NPR’s Science Friday.
About Steve West
Steve West, the winner of multiple Earphones Awards for narration, is an international actor who has starred on London’s prestigious West End stage, including productions of Mamma Mia! and Oh, What a Night! He is widely known for his television and film work in both the United States and the UK, and he has performed for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. He hosts his own television show for the UK live from Los Angeles.