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  • Why We Sleep

  • The New Science of Sleep and Dreams
  • By: Matthew Walker
  • Narrated by: John Sackville
  • Length: 13 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (10,781 ratings)

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Why We Sleep

By: Matthew Walker
Narrated by: John Sackville
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The number one Sunday Times best seller.

TLS, Observer, Sunday Times, FT, Guardian, Daily Mail and Evening Standard Books of the Year 2017.

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, read by John Sackville.

Includes a bonus PDF of graphs and diagrams.

Sleep is one of the most important aspects of our life, health and longevity and yet it is increasingly neglected in 21st century society, with devastating consequences: every major disease in the developed world - Alzheimer's, cancer, obesity, diabetes - has very strong causal links to deficient sleep.

Until very recently, science had no answer to the question of why we sleep, or what good it served, or why its absence is so damaging to our health. Compared to the other basic drives in life - eating, drinking and reproducing - the purpose of sleep remained elusive.

Now, in this audiobook, the first of its kind written by a scientific expert, Professor Matthew Walker explores 20 years of cutting-edge research to solve the mystery of why sleep matters. Looking at creatures from across the animal kingdom as well as major human studies, Why We Sleep delves in to everything from what really happens during REM sleep to how caffeine and alcohol affect sleep and why our sleep patterns change across a lifetime, transforming our appreciation of the extraordinary phenomenon that safeguards our existence.

©2017 Matthew Walker (P)2017 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

"Astonishing...an amazing book...absolutely chocker full of things that we need to know." (Chris Evans)

"Matthew Walker is probably one of the most influential people on the planet." (Evening Standard)

"Startling, vital...a life-raft." (Guardian)

What listeners say about Why We Sleep

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Eye Opener to the importance of Sleep

Without a doubt a very interesting book about the importance of sleep. However I would probably recommend (as the author does) to dip in and out of the book rather than expect a novel or story. Since listening to the book on audible I have bought the paperback so I can use it for reference in future.
If you are unsure about reading the book listen to the authors podcast interview with Joe Rogan (Joe Rogan Experience and Matthew Walker #1109). This gives you a fascinating taster of what the book is about and made me download it!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

Highly highly recommend this book. Off to sleep now!!! This should be part of school curriculum

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent read.. a must for anyone

narrator was brilliant. such an interesting read with vast benefits from learning. buy...read...
improve you life

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The PDFs are missing in audible, but the book is great!

It’s important to see the PDFs because they contain diagrams referred to in the text.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Sleeping beauty was on to something...

Slightly boring at times but totally fascinating. I mean we all know we need to sleep but really we all don't know the extent of it. Wish I knew half of this info earlier in life.
I am a good sleeper and now I will never apologising for going to sleep again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Essential reading

The first time I started to read this book I felt so bad because I was travelling through time zones and shift working, including night duty and could not change my work situation.
Two hours into the book I stopped as I had to rewind on so many occasions to relisten (i kept falling asleep) I was so tired.
Fast forward 6 months and in a different job with regular work hours and no night duty I happily, on my second attempt, have completed this incredibly important audible book.....making the effort to complete this book is essential, the difference I feel when I focus on maximizing quality sleep and length is literally... like night and day! no pun intended. I will likely, at some stage, have to again travel through time zones and work irregular hours, including night duty, but by putting into place all that I have learnt from this book I can ensure that there is minimal negative impact on my body.
ps narration brilliant, I plan to now buy hard copy

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow, needed to know this 10 years ago!

Great book, so informative, i found the narration excellent. It is amazing that the information in this book is not more widely known.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Insightfull

This book is so packed with fascinating facts from the get go, I'm relistening to catch anything I missed through minor distractions. A local proposal to push out school starting times, while highly impractical, now makes sense, to cite just one new insight.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A must read book for anyone in the modern world

A must read book for anyone in the modern world - especially parents, the elderly, people who have trouble sleeping and those who wrongly think that "sleep is for wimps" .

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent but missed a point

Although it is thoroughly researched and analysed, it focuses on why we need sleep. The benefits of sleep and the implications of less/no sleep is argued very well. However I don't recall him ever analysing too much sleep and its effect. I found the reader a little monotone.

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