Nodding Off: The Science of Sleep from Cradle to Grave

Do you sleep well? I love talking about sleep and it's been a few months since I last read a book about one of my favourite non fiction topics. It was great timing then when a copy of Nodding Off - The Science of Sleep by Professor Alice Gregory arrived in the mailbox, and I decided to pick it up for the Non Fiction November reading challenge.

The author approaches sleep by breaking it down by age, beginning with babies, children and teenagers, moving on to adults and new parents and finishing up with older adults together with some hints and tips.

In this manner, the author touches on a number of interesting topics along the way like sleepwalking, restless leg syndrome, teeth grinding and night terrors etc. however they weren't covered show more in any great detail.

Where Splitting by Amanda Ellison went into considerable medical detail to the point of being too scientific for this reader, Nodding Off was the opposite. It touched on fascinating topics like sleep paralysis and exploding head syndrome, but didn't provide enough information, leading me to put the book down and search elsewhere in order to satisfy my curiosity.

Regular Carpe Librum readers will know one of my favourite sleep topics is the fact that human beings used to sleep twice in one night, experiencing a period of wakefulness between the first and the second sleep. I was surprised - and pleased - to see Alice Gregory quoting from one of my favourite books At Day's Close: A History of Nighttime by A. Roger Ekirch when discussing this topic. But given she's an expert in the field of sleep and has been researching sleep for almost twenty years, I was disappointed she didn't have anything further to add on the phenomenon.

Nodding Off - The Science of Sleep by Alice Gregory is recommended for readers new to the topic of sleep and those seeking a general overview about that which is crucial to our health and well-being, sleep. Do you sleep well?

* Copy courtesy of Bloomsbury * show less

We spend approximately a third of our lives sleeping, and Alice Gregory discusses how sleep affects our mental and physical health, work performance, family relationships, and more. Sleep can be comforting or elusive (picture a frustrated individual tossing and turning at night, unable to settle into a comforting and restorative slumber). Whether someone is in pain, has kids who do not sleep well, is worried about job-related matters, or is addicted to electronic devices, he or she may end up sleep-deprived and unable to function properly during the day.

Gregory, who has a PhD and has written many scholarly papers about sleep, admits that there is still a great deal that we do not understand about this subject. Nevertheless, she presents show more intriguing ideas based on a host of studies that scientists have conducted over the years. Most of us know that the need for sleep changes as we age. The author discusses why we sleep differently as babies than we do as toddlers, teenagers, adults, and senior citizens. She focuses on various parts of the brain that affect sleep, different types of sleep (such as REM), and various sleep disturbances, including insomnia, night terrors, sleepwalking, narcolepsy, and even hallucinations.

"Nodding Off" is an entertaining and informative book about a topic that affects us all, but it may be too technical and detailed for the average reader. Gregory presents reams of data that touch on the possible ways that genetics, circadian rhythms, light, and our environment may affect our ability to sleep soundly. What is clear is that sleep remains a problem for many; pills and supplements are not a cure-all; we should ban televisions, cell phones, and other electronics from the bedroom; and carefully thought-out bedtime routines may help us enjoy more restful nights. Gregory urges us to consult our physicians if we have physical or emotional issues that adversely affect our ability to sleep. Sleeplessness or disturbed sleep can impair our aptitude for learning and remembering, disrupt households, and cause fatal accidents. "Nodding Off" does not provide many definitive answers, but it does introduce readers to promising areas of research. show less

Nodding Off covers the Science of Sleep over the whole gamut of sleep situations. It talks about different disorders, why babies sleep terribly, why teenagers need so much sleep, and how your sleep evolves over the years. Sleep is important, but we still don’t quite know the reason why. All we have are hypotheses and theories that a lot of researchers agree upon. The author Alice Gregory is very British. As an American, I don't know how I feel about terms like 'nappy.' Off the top of my head, I can't think of any other British slang she uses in the book. I enjoyed it quite a bit and found it to be very relatable.