Life Time

The New Science of the Body Clock, and How It Can Revolutionise Your Health

By: Russell Foster

Narrated by: Russell Foster

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

A guide to using the science of the body clock to create the optimum personal routine. Sleep better, work better, feel better.

Every second of the day, tiny biological clocks are ticking throughout your body, from the neural pathways of your brain to your very cells. But modern life is disrupting this ancient and delicate mechanism in ways we are only just beginning to understand. Artificial light, jet lag, night shifts, air pollution, and out-of-sync work and meal routines are conspiring to push us out of joint. This is not only exacerbating mental health issues such as depression and fatigue, but also increasing the risk of obesity, heart disease, dementia and even cancer.

In Life Time, Professor Russell Foster, a world-leading expert on circadian neuroscience, takes us on a fascinating journey through our days and nights. Using surprising examples and cutting-edge science, he busts long-standing myths about the best daily routine: from how to use light for a better night's sleep to using meal times to supercharge your metabolism, from the optimal time to have sex for conception to the extraordinary effects the time we take medication can have on our risk of life-threatening conditions such as strokes.

Holistic yet accessible, Professor Foster helps each of us achieve the optimum natural routine with insight into:

• How to sleep and wake in your natural rhythm from birth to old age
• The natural time to eat to supercharge your metabolism
• How medicating at certain times of day can improve immunity

In the 21st century, we have thrown away an essential part of our biology. But using science, we can get back into the rhythm, and live healthier, sharper lives.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Russell Foster (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Good first half, very technical second part

This is a good book to learn about sleep and specially circadian cycle, which goes beyond sleep and include many other bodily functions. It's quite a technical read, delving into every hormone in the body, at times resembling a textbook more than a book for general readership (which might have been the author's intent), especially the latter half.

I think that if this had been my first book on the topic, I would have enjoyed it better. I definitely enjoyed "Why we sleep" more, though I think Russel's one has a more positive tone, which I appreciate.

Again this feels very much as a text book, if you really one a deep dive on the circadian science, go for it, but be prepared to be bombarded with hundreds of names and complex medical terms.

Deep sleep explained

Absolutely wonderful.
I found this new book on sleep and how it affects the human body enlightening and a valuable asset to my work as a Sleep Consultant in New Zealand. I discovered many prudently researched facts on the importance of sleep.
Russell Foster's fascinating outlook on sleep is both refreshing and reassuring as it is backed up by research from Oxford University, UK. I’m a Sleep Consultant, but also looking for a good read and this book fulfilled both those needs