“When the going gets tough, the tough take a nap.”
No one needs to be reminded how important a good night’s sleep is for improving our health. But, whether it’s thanks to work, social time, family life or those existential moments spent staring at the wall, getting a good rest isn’t always easy. Studies have shown that not only does poor sleep patterns impact our immediate mood the next day, but sleep loss can also have profound effects on our heart health and brain functions. Thankfully, this is where books about sleeping can come in handy. Not only is reading before bedtime a great way of quietening down your brain, but books can be a great way of raising awareness and providing some exercises and strategies that help you get a good night’s kip. So, if you’re struggling with shut-eye, join us today at What We Reading as we run you through the most useful books on sleeping!
Why We Sleep: Unlocking The Power Of Sleep And Dreams – Matthew Walker
First up on our list of books about sleeping is Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep. In it, the neuroscientist and sleep expert provide an all-new exploration of sleep, delving into how impacts every part of our physical and mental well-being.
Utilising the latest cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, Walker explains how sleep can be used to improve our ability to learn, regulate hormones, promote better moods and energy levels, prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s and diabetes, slow the effects of ageing and increase our longevity. Finally, he provides readers with immediate steps on how they can go about getting a better night’s sleep every night.
The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken And How To Fix It – W. Chris Winter
W. Chris Winter’s The Sleep Solution is an exciting journey of understanding and self-discovery designed to help readers not only make sense of what’s going on with their sleep – both in terms of what is preventing them from having a good kip, and how to solve these issues.
Drawing on over twenty-five years of experience in the field, the neurologist and sleep expert helps readers better grasp the ways in which food, light and activities help or hurt the process of sleeping, how to live without sleeping pills, how to incorporate sleep and naps into hectic lifestyles and think more outside the box when it comes to treating sleep conditions randing from restless leg syndrome, circadian sleep disorders to insomnia. Dubbed the ‘Sleep Whisperer’, The Sleep Solution is one of the best books about sleep for readers looking for the best interventions that they can fit into their specific lifestyle.
Dreamland: Adventures In The Strange Science Of Sleep – David K. Randall
David K. Randall’s Dreamland began when he started sleepwalking. Having never given sleep much thought before then, one-midnight crash into a hallway wall triggered an investigation into the strange science behind this daily exercise.
This book about sleeping explores the research that is going into the dark hours of shut-eye that make up about a third of our lives. Taking readers from children’s bedrooms to military battlegrounds, Dreamland shows how studying sleep is not as straightforward as you might think. From how men and women sleep differently to whether killing someone whilst sleepwalking would count as murder, Randall’s work is a journey through the bizarre, sometimes disturbing and always fascinating things that occur when our heads hit the pillow.
Sleep Smarter: 21 Essential Strategies To Sleep Your Way To A Better Body, Better Health And Bigger Success – Shawn Stevenson
Sleep is consistently one of the most criminally overlooked aspects of health. A proper sleep pattern helps shed fat for good, combat disease, encourage productivity and improve virtually every part of your mind and body. That’s what Shawn Stevenson learned when a degenerative bone disease destroyed his hopes of becoming a pro athlete. Through better sleep and optimised nutrition, he not only healed his body but also reached business and fitness achievements he never thought possible.
Stevenson’s book on sleeping, Sleep Smarter, shares his invaluable tips and tricks to unlocking a good night’s sleep. Through his 14-Day Sleep Makeover, readers learn all about creating the ideal sleep sanctuary, how to hack sunlight to regulate circadian rhythms and the stress-reduction exercises you need to keep yourself both physically and mentally sharp.
Sleep – Nick Littlehales
Nick Littlehales is an elite sleep coach who has worked with some of the biggest sports stars in the world. From football, and rugby to cycling, his groundbreaking practical techniques have revolutionised the way in which athletes approach sleep, unlocking higher levels of mental and physical recovery, achieving peak performance and cementing a winning mindset.
In his self-help guidebook, Sleep, he shares his strategies for every reader to make use of. From your personal sleep cycles and characteristics to posture and bedding, he provides a roadmap for finding the highest possible quality of sleep recovery. If you’re looking to improve your mood, motivation and decision-making skills, this book about sleeping from one of the best experts in sport provides some handy insights.
Unwind Your Mind: Harness The Power Of ASMR To Sleep, Relax And Ease Anxiety – Emma Whispers Red
ASMR has undoubtedly been one of the most viral phenomena in recent years. Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response is a form of sound healing sometimes described as ‘brain tingles’. The benefits of ASMR are similar to those experienced in mindfulness and meditation, helping those who practice it feel sleepy, relaxed and present in the moment.
In Unwind Your Mind, ASMRtist Emma Whispers Red reveals how readers can use its quiet power to find calm in an increasingly hectic world. Through her easy-to-follow daily practices, readers will discover the sounds and patterns that unlock its powerful potential. Whether you’re looking to feel less anxious or improve your sleep pattern, Unwind Your Mind is a must-read for anyone looking to learn more about ASMR.
The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night At A Time – Arianna Huffington
In The Sleep Revolution, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Arianna Huffington outlines the sleep deprivation currently rocking society, and its far-reaching effects on our health, happiness, careers and relationships. She argues that what is needed is nothing short of a sleep revolution.
What follows is a sweeping, scientifically rigorous and deeply personal exploration of sleep from all angles. Tackling everything from the history of sleep, the role of dreams in our lives, the consequences of sleep deprivation to the new golden age of sleep science, Huffington serves as a stellar guide for a journey into understanding where we’re going wrong with sleep, and how we can begin fixing things.
Sleep For Success: Everything You Must Know About Sleep But Are Too Tired To Ask – James B. Maas
Dr. James B. Maas and Rebecca S. Robbins provide a wake-up call for people who want to be happier, healthier, less stressed and more successful in today’s non-stop world in his book about sleeping, Sleep for Success. The book contains a number of simple steps that readers can follow to ensure they get the eight hours of sleep they need.
Through a series of quizzes, readers are able to accurately assess the state of their sleep. From there, they are given a comprehensive overview of the science behind sleeping before delving into the practical strategies best suited for them. One of the best sleep books for addressing specific sleep challenges for particular demographics such as women and travellers, Maas and Robbins are convincing in their psychological approach to changing attitudes and behaviours for the better.
Yoga For Better Sleep: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science – Mark Stephens
As modern science unveils some of the mysteries of our sleeping, dreaming and waking states, age-old yoga practices have proven to be some of the most effective techniques for enjoying better sleep, a clearer mind and a healthier body. Research suggests that 65 per cent of Americans are sleep-deprived. With deprivation worsening issues such as high blood pressure, obesity, and depression, Mark Stephens’ Yoga for Better Sleep is an invaluable resource.
Yoga for Better Sleep provides easy-to-do and effective yoga activities selected by long-time instructor and teacher trainer Stephens. Blending ancient wisdom with modern practical insights, this is one of the best books about sleeping for not only achieving a better night’s rest naturally and drug-free but also understanding the neuroscience and psychology behind it.
Check Out These Bedtime Books To Fall Asleep To
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
