Why we sleep...

It is perhaps one of the most influential books which I have read in the recent past. We keep worrying about what we do when we are awake, trying to make ourselves more productive and efficient. But we hardly care for our sleep, in fact, it is seen as an unnecessary waste of time or seen as a sign of laziness. In fact, I came across this book when I was wanting to investigate more on a mention on the internet on how one can manage with less than 4.5 hours of sleep a day. I think this book puts things in perspective giving due importance to the essential 8 hours of sleep a day.

I also believe that nature did not anticipate how we will change and abuse things which were essential be is adequate exposure to sunlight or sleeping.

I will share some key insights from the book, but before that on the writing style. It is very easy to read, in fact, the ease with which the author moves between hard-core research, evolution and practical issues make it a pleasure to read. It is the first book written by him and will hope he will keeping writing for the public at large. But one caveat about the book is as you progress towards the second half the author starts relating a variety of issues which we face right from Diabetes to Cancer to sleep and at times it does become a little hard to believe.

Quick takeaways, everyone irrespective of age need to sleep for 8 hours a day, and even 6 hours will lead to sleep deficit which cannot be recovered fully ever.

I think the book made me appreciate the importance of sleep much better and hopefully will do it for others who read it,

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