The Promise of Sleep

By: William C. Dement

Narrated by: Jeff McCarthy

Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Healthful sleep has been empirically proven to be the single most important factor in predicting longevity, more influential than diet, exercise, or heredity. And yet we are a sleep-sick society, ignorant of the facts of sleep - and the price of sleep deprivation. Dr. William Dement, founder and director of the Stanford University Sleep Research Center, takes us on a fascinating tour of the sleeping body and mind, revealing the price we pay for ignoring sleep - an epidemic of heart disease, 33 percent of traffic-fatigue related accidents, and immeasurable mental and psychological disadvantages. Dr. Dement offers a hands-on prescription for vibrant good health and longevity, including: self-tests to determine how much sleep you really need; information on the role of prescription and over-the-counter sleeping aids; the latest research on how sleep affects the immune system; how to combat insomnia, snoring, jet-lag; and much more.

©2000 William C. Dent, M.D., Ph.D., All Rights Reserved (P)2000 Simon & Schuster, Inc., All Rights Reserved

Great sleep information

If you could sum up The Promise of Sleep in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, Habit Changing

Any additional comments?

I bought this title to learn about sleep, and I did just that. I now go about my life with many of the lessons learned from this book affecting my daily planning. I enjoyed some of the history behind sleep science and knowing that we are in the infancy of field.At times the author would descend into what he believes social policy should be around sleep. I could do without these distractions and some of his covert political partisanship. If you can ignore these policy statements there's lots to learn about sleep in this book.

Health Fanatics Take Notice!

You cannot over estimate the importance of sleep for your health, both physical and mental. That is the message forever etched on my mind after enjoying this book.

I'm a guy who pays a lot of attention to nutrition and exercise. It was not until I read this book, however, that I seriously considered how sleep is no less important than food and exercise in affecting body fat, muscle mass, heart health, hormone balance and so on.

The author does a very nice job setting out in non-jargon laden language the science of sleep. Its remarkable to learn how "busy" the brain becomes during sleep. Data is sorted and stored. Nerves are refreshed and energized.

No longer will I envy the guy who claims he "gets by with just 4 hours of sleep." We learn that even if this person is functioning at what appears to be a "normal" pace, he is actually working at a fraction of his capacity, and probably endangering his long term health.

I especially liked the closing chapter in which the author gives us his suggestions for bringing on more healthful sleep.

I highly recommend this book. A fantastic companion piece to this book is the Learning Company's lecture, "Stress", which also addresses sleep and health issues at length.

Great things to know

This book was really helpful to me. It helped me realize that I suffer from sleep apnea and didn't know it. It gives hope to anyone who might or might not have a sleep disorder. It's practical stuff that will help ANYONE get a better life's sleep. More people should know how important sleep is in our lives!

Very insightful!!

This book did a fantastic job of explaining all things SLEEP. Love the practical tips/approach at the end as well to help with your personal sleep habits.

Great book on sleep disorders

Just a great book on sleep apnea. I was recently diagnosed to have sleep apnea and this was a great review on the research and treatment of this disease.

excellent information!

I'm a Physician Assistant and was not taught most of this information in medical school. I'm also apparently pretty sleep deprived, but now I have all the tools I need to fix that, and a much higher level of motivation to do so! Well written, technical stuff well explained. The narrator mispronounced a few medical terms, but I doubt that would bother the average listener. Fairly short, easy to get through, exactly what I wanted from the book description.

Awesome

Lifechanging book on the real value of sleep and how to manage and understand your sleep and feelings of wakefulness during the day.

worth reading

good to know stuff. kind of dated info, but if you don't know in the first place, well....

Very illuminating

A must read for anyone who is interested in leading a quality life. The author an expert in the
science of sleep elaborates in very simple language the profound role sleep plays in our life.
It helps us appreciate how by adhering to some simple rules we can turn around our lives for
better.

I love this book and the narrator is great

I found this book so interesting- I love knowing the "why" behind things and I like lay science.

The narrator's voice reminds me a lot of Garrison Keillor- it is very nice.

I do wish I had gotten the unabridged print book rather than the audio though.