My Book Pick: The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time
- Director, Kayukawa Clinic, Yuhei Kayukawa, M.D.
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Aichi Insurance Physicians’ Newspaper
February 25, 2017
Arianna Huffington
Harmony
March 10, 2016
More than half a century has passed since 1960, yet the average amount of time Japanese people spend sleeping has decreased by more than an hour. Young people who are excessively absorbed in smartphones and the internet are certainly a serious concern, but an even greater problem is the number of workers who die from overwork or suicide due to overwork, particularly those whose working hours extend past midnight. At the root of this problem is sleep deprivation. The Sleep Revolution is a remarkable title.
Although sleep is the “ultimate form of health care,” more effective than virtually any other method, it is routinely neglected. In the first two chapters, the author describes the serious sleep crisis facing developed countries. Chapter three looks back at the history of sleep. During the Industrial Revolution, sleep, once treated with awe as the sole gateway to something sacred, became a casualty of the prevailing pursuit of progress and productivity. By the end of the twentieth century, technological advances had made it possible for people to continue working virtually without interruption. The book then turns to sleep science, exploring what actually happens inside our bodies while we sleep.
Far from being dormant, the brain is remarkably active during sleep, with various regions working intensely. Sleep deprivation has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes, heart attacks, stroke, cancer, obesity, and Alzheimer’s disease. Part Two, “The Quest for Better Sleep,” introduces new technologies, inventions, and other innovations designed to promote the sleep revolution. The book concludes by emphasizing that how we sleep, just like what we eat, is fundamental to our very survival.
Strictly speaking, perhaps the title should be The Restoration of the Reign of Sleep. Still, the eye-catching title is, as one would expect, masterful.
