The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time

by Arianna Huffington

JP Morgan’s Best Summer Read 2018

We are in the midst of a sleep deprivation crisis, and this has profound consequences – on our health, our job performance, our relationships and our happiness. In this book, Arianna Huffington boldly asserts that what is needed is nothing short of a sleep revolution. Only by renewing our relationship with sleep can we take back control of our lives.

Through a sweeping, scientifically rigorous and deeply personal exploration of sleep from all angles, Arianna delves into the new golden age of sleep science that reveals the vital role sleep plays in our every waking moment and every aspect of our health – from weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease to cancer and Alzheimer’s.

In The Sleep Revolution, Arianna shows how our cultural dismissal of sleep as time wasted not only compromises our health and our decision-making but also undermines our work lives, our personal lives and even our sex lives. She explores all the latest science on what exactly is going on while we sleep and dream. She takes on the dangerous sleeping pill industry and confronts all the ways our addiction to technology disrupts our sleep. She also offers a range of recommendations and tips from leading scientists on how we can achieve better and more restorative sleep, and harness its incredible power.

In today's fast-paced, always-connected, perpetually harried and sleep-deprived world, our need for a good night’s sleep is more important – and elusive – than ever. The Sleep Revolution both sounds the alarm on our worldwide sleep crisis and provides a detailed road map to the great sleep awakening that can help transform our lives, our communities and our world.

• ISBN10: 0753551896
• ISBN13: 9780753551899
• Publish Date: 7 April 2016 (first published 5 April 2016)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Ebury Publishing
• Imprint: Virgin Digital
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 416
• Language: English

Reviews

[Hillary]

I got this book because I had my battle of exhaustion. I did not pass out anywhere. Well yeah, I did.. Kind of... I was partaking in research of people with implants to see something. I am not sure what. I had woke up exhausted but I dragged  my butt to the gym at 5 am and exercised for two hours. Then got a coffee with double espresso. I hoped that would get me throughout the day. It did not. I got to the test, and I could not stay awake for the life of me. It was required that I was awake, but I kept falling asleep. The researchers had to keep waking me up. Luckily a friend had driven me to the test so afterwards, I collapsed from pure exhaustion into a deep sleep in the car. My friend even had to help me to my apartment. I crawled into bed and slept on and off for 72 hours.

The next time I went to the library, I saw this book and knew I needed to read it. I loved this book.  It delves into the history of sleep and how and why we have come to brag about how little sleep we have gotten the night before. I admit that I could count myself in that group. I used to brag about how little sleep I had gotten, but now I realise that I was not doing myself any favors. I was not operating at my best, and I am afraid that it showed in some of my works. I read this book a week ago, and after reading it, I made some serious changes.

I realize that I needed 12 hours of sleep a night. This is coming off of years of not sleeping well. My body is run down. I purchased some lavender essential oils. For some reason, lavender soothes me. I began drinking natural calm. I also have anxiety, so I take a rather large dose of it. I did not want to go back on Ambien, but after talking to my Dr., I realized that until I train myself to sleep (I have bipolar), Ambien would be ok for the short term.  I also created a whole ritual around getting ready for bed as stated in the book. I wash my face, brush my teeth change into pajamas (no sleeping in workout clothes!) and rub myself down with lavender. I then take my Ambien and drink my natural calm. I am happy to report a week later my sleep has improved. My mood has improved, and I am so much more productive during the day. If I feel sleepy, I take a nap. So 12 hours of sleep plus a nap on days when I need it. I am almost feeling human again.  My workouts have also improved. The books goes into detail on how elite athletes is using sleep and sleep coaches to maximize their performance. I don't have a fitness tracker at the moment, but I am thinking of getting one soon.  I am a data nerd, so I would love to see how my sleep quality measures up. The last couple of nights I have felt that I slept really good but maybe I was restless during some of it? I have no idea which is why I want a tracker.

One thing that shocked me was the chapter on sleep and fashion. We (me too) always think of models and people being awake all the time but no. She interviewed some of the top models, and it turns out that ALL of them count sleep as a way of looking good. Which makes sense. When you don't sleep, you tend to develop that haggard look.  That look does not flatter anyone.  I notice that my under eye circles are disappearing and people are commenting on how much better I look, so that is a plus.

I recommend  this book to EVERYONE. I have been pushing this book on everyone I know.. I believe that everyone should get at least 8 hours of good quality sleep. At this point in time, I need 12 hours because of how exhausted I was. I believe that my body is healing and restoring itself. Maybe down the road, I can get cut down to 10 hours but not right now. I think that this world would be a better place if only everyone got enough quality shut-eye. Politics would not be so nasty; relationships could be saved, and all sorts of good things could happen. So please get yourself a copy of this book then go to sleep!

 This review was originally posted on Adventures in Never Never Land