Emily (Books with Emily Fox on Youtube)'s Reviews > Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams

Like when you lose sleep thinking about how bad it is to be losing sleep... I do that ...

When I read this and learned how bad not sleeping was but then also how bad sleeping aids are… so much sleep anxiety!!

I dont agree that if someone its not sleeping well or has anxiety shouldn’t read this book, mainly because the main porpoise of this book its to educate people about the negative impact and consequences that bad sleeping habits can cause in someone life, even the development of life threatening diseases. So i get your point of how all this information can impact on a person, but not informing yourself about this important matter its not the best solution, i fully recommend this book, that after finished reading it, couldn’t believe how i was never told about a quarter of this information on a doctor consult.

I got halfway through this book then went looking for fact-checking as some of the claims seemed a bit over the top (you know in non-fiction when the author claims that their position will fix every single issue with the world… I get sceptical). I recommend this review of the first chapter, it points out some pretty basic errors. https://guzey.com/books/why-we-sleep/
Matthew Walker has said he would respond to them but so far it doesn’t appear that he has.

Don't agree that people with sleep problems or anxiety shouldn't read this. If anything, they should be the ones who SHOULD read this.

yes I read it to and for the first 3/4 if the book I was freaked out. But it was realy informative and I promise you will be back to your old leaping patterns in no-time. At least I was ...

Exactly why I don't want to read it xD I already struggle with sleep why need to know all the ways I'm hurting myself it's not like I can change it :/ thanks for the warning

lol i literally went from sleeping well to 3 hours a night during reading this book

not because of it though, turns out my bed sucks ass so i changed it

Ellie wrote: "I got halfway through this book then went looking for fact-checking as some of the claims seemed a bit over the top (you know in non-fiction when the author claims that their position will fix ever..."

Thank you for that link. It's good to know that it's not as extreme as I thought. It's unsettling that there have been so many egregious claims made by Walker in his book. I am curious to know why the book isn't critiqued more when there are apparently so many false claims in it.

However I do think he makes some good points, things that I'm trying to incorporate into my sleep hygiene and it's been helping.

Ann
what are these egregious claims? or one of them at least

Theo wrote: "Ann
what are these egregious claims? or one of them at least"
Mentioned in the link Ellie posted above he falsely cites studies or turns around what the results actually mean. For one thing he claims that sleeping too little doubles your risk for cancer or significantly shortens your life span according to this: https://guzey.com/books/why-we-sleep/...
To be fair Walker also mentions that sleeping too long can have negative effects.

Honestly I was mainly reading the book for tipps on how to sleep better/fall asleep easier. Some of the things I've done since reading the book have helped so that's what I'm trying to continue with. I don't know why people think reading this means they have to sleep 8 hours on the dot. People need to find what works for them, because everyone has different needs.

oh i agree. people have different sleep needs.

also... sleeping too long? i never knew that was a thing, and i was surprised while reading it lol.
how do people sleep for too long?

Being sick or having chronic illnesses can lead to either shortened or lengthened sleep time and both can be either good or bad. Like mental illnesses for example can prevent people from falling asleep but also lead to sleeping longer or not getting out of bed at all, because you do not feel refreshed after getting some sleep. That often leads to people trying to sleep more.

For me personally I usually don't wake up without an alarm clock so that I can end up sleeping for too long which often makes me feel more tired than if I had slept less!

Sleep is just such a complex thing.

I felt exactly the same way. The book basically said "any second you're not sleeping, you're dying". Surprisingly, that thought makes it hard to sleep.

i don’t sleep well and i have anxiety but i already own the book :/ what should i do?

I thought this was a great book, cause who benifits by sticking their head in the sand ala ostrich? Tips on how make your sleep better and also he is clear on the fact that not all things just depend on sleep, it is a mix. I you are in doubt read it and then at least you know it worth fighting for.

Hey Emily I just listened to a podcast called Maintenance Phase, episode is called “The ‘Sleep Loss Epidemic’” and they debunk pretty much all the big claims he makes. Might make you feel better!

Thanks for sharing this, based on some reviews I was actually wondering this. Feels very counter productive when surely majority of readers might struggle from insomnia and are looking for help, more pressure and anxiety won’t help you fall asleep, it will probably make it worse!

This is what I thought during the first chapter. If you are already worried about not getting enough sleep (especially when you're already trying everything but just won't fall asleep), the first chapter will make you even more anxious. For me there used to be a time where every single day I would be afraid of not being able so sleep or sleep to lightly that night. Especially since I knew the consequences for the next day or week. Not being able to function. Losing my job or having to quit my studies. If you already live with this fear if not sleeping, sleep can become this big thing in your mind that can ruin your entire life. You already feel like you can't control it or have no impact on it. My advice would be, if this is you right now, stay away from books that explain you how terrible it is to be deprived from sleep (including all the diseases it can cause and even death). First find ways in which you can be more relaxed with your situation. Even if you have sleepless nights, have some more empathy for yourself and remind yourself it's not the end of the world even though it can sometimes feel like this. Sometimes you first have to heal other parts of yourself. Good luck!

Lack of sleep seems to be a symptom of a lack of exercise. and probably too much caffeine. Don’t need a book to stop drinking coffee after 9am or get 30 minutes of cardio in a day (plus strength training)