Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
10,125 global ratings
5 star
78%
4 star
14%
3 star
5%
2 star
2%
1 star
1%
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Review this product

Customer images

Customer image
Customer image
Customer image
Customer image
See all customer images

Read reviews that mention

matthew walker well written easy to read must read sleep deprivation life changing hours sleep highly recommend sleeping pills lack of sleep immune system everyone should read importance of sleep great book reading this book rem sleep eye opening eye opener thought provoking every night
Top reviews

Top reviews from United Kingdom

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Anna
3.0 out of 5 stars Not helpful for insomniacs!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 September 2018
Verified Purchase
*WARNING* Don’t read this if you suffer from any sort of sleeping problem. It will just make you worse. I thought it would be interesting but actually it just made me feel really anxious about sleeping, so much so that I developed full-blown insomnia! It’s all a bit scary for someone who is prone to sleeping problems. Read only when you’re in a healthy state of mind.
Read more
jlama
5.0 out of 5 stars An essential book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 May 2018
Verified Purchase
This book has been eye opening for me. Are there days when you don't have a clear mind? Are you sometimes forgetful? Are you sometimes less optimistic than you used to be? How patient are you? Do you feel you're not performing well enough at sports? Do you sometimes feel dizzy? Do you have headaches? Why do you think that is? Are you having too much coffee? Are you having too little? Maybe you have high blood pressure? Or low? Maybe you need glasses or maybe it's your glasses or contact lenses that are making you dizzy and not focused and giving you headaches?

Well there could be a much simpler explanation. You could be sleep deprived. Lots of people are and many don't even know.

This book explains why we sleep, the positive effects of sleeping in your mind, body and health and the negative effects that not sleeping enough has on them.

I really enjoyed this book. I am sleeping more now and I definitely feel a lot better, more clear minded and energetic. I can now clearly understand the effect a few nights in a row of not sleeping enough have on me... and I can detect it and easily fix it by just going to bed earlier! Life changing.
Read more
R. M. M.
3.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother unless you're a doctor
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 November 2018
Verified Purchase
There is far more detail than most people would want. I feel he rather overstates his case - you are given the impression that if you don't get 8 hours, and get it every single night, you're doomed to a life of failure and mediocrity. And I didn't find much prescription. If you are having sleep trouble, what's the good of being told how terrible that is without being told how to do something about it?

I have given 3 stars on account of the serious research that has gone into the book. Otherwise it would be even less.
Read more
Ella Guru
1.0 out of 5 stars Cod psychology
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 December 2018
Verified Purchase
I'm afraid this book is undermined by too many nonsequiturs. The fact that two things typically occur together does not mean that one causes the other. I note the huge number of glowing reviews on the book cover and within its introductory pages are written by journalists, not scientists. I'd be interested to know what scientists in the author's line of business thinks of it. Be very wary of accepting it's conclusions without a great deal of scepticism.
Read more
Debbie Young
5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should read this book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 June 2018
Verified Purchase
Everyone should read this book - and act on its advice. it's a thorough and wide-ranging review of all aspects of sleep and its impact on the individual and on society locally and globally.

First addressing the process of sleep, why the different phases of sleep are necessary to health, and how modern life and technology disrupt healthy and natural sleep patterns, Walker sets a persuasive context for the problems caused by lack of sleep, from "drowsy driving" (responsible for more avoidable deaths than alcohol and drugs combined) to medical errors by sleep-deprived doctors, from depleting personal happiness to severely hampering the immune system.

At my age, the particularly powerful wake-up call (ho ho) for me is the much greater chance of premature death, even in your sixties.

We're reading this book for the BBC Radio Gloucestershire Book Club in June, and I'm glad this will help give his findings more of an audience. It's already an international bestseller, but I wonder how many people have truly changed their sleeping habits long term as a result? I hope I can find the resolve to change mine before it's too late, and I will be pressing this book on everyone I know with evangelical zeal. Part of me is also gratified to find scientific confirmation of old wives' tales and instincts about sleep: "an hour before midnight is worth two after", "Sleep is nature's healer", "Got to get my beauty sleep", etc. These and many more are all unassailable according to Walker. if we put old wives in charge of the world, it would be a much healthier, happier and peaceful place.
Read more
Islander
5.0 out of 5 stars A game-changing view that clearly explains the importance of good, regular sleep.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 May 2018
Verified Purchase
This book was recommended by a work colleague, and although I have only just begun reading it, I am already discovering some eye-watering details about how the inevitable, relentless lack of sleep, and disturbed sleep, encountered in my profession (I am a long-haul airline pilot) is doing my health serious long-term damage! If you are a long-term shift-worker, or enjoy (!) burning both ends of the candle, you must read this.

Matthew Walker's writing style is engaging, as are his Youtube videos, and you will learn important information that could, literally, prevent your life from being prematurely curtailed!
Read more
kilara
5.0 out of 5 stars I can’t rate this book highly enough. As a ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2018
Verified Purchase
I can’t rate this book highly enough. As a mental health professional I am referencing this frequently and recommending it to my patients. A must read for everyone and especially for parents
Read more
Gonçalo
5.0 out of 5 stars Made me understand the impact of sleep in learning
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 April 2018
Verified Purchase
This is the best book I read in years.
The author is a neurologist and talks about how the brain works when we are sleeping.
How sleep helps the learning process, memory, etc.
There is a science behind sleep, that few people know about. I wish I had read this book when I was in university.
Read more
See all reviews

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Abhishek Debnath
5.0 out of 5 stars Trust Me, Don't Mess With Sleep
Reviewed in India on 7 August 2019
Verified Purchase
Sleep is a mystery. And this book is a lifesaver.

For normal folks like you and me, and for doctors or scientists as well, sleep's been always a mysterious phenomena. We humans sleep (preferably) one third of our whole life. This is an enormous amount of time which demands some attention. Though historically the attention has not been allotted to sleep it deserves, academically or culturally.
If you read this book (and you should; whether you love or hate or enjoy or avoid or have problem with or have some queries on sleeping) you'd understand why the evolutionary process didn't eliminate sleep from our biological dictionary. Why, though seemingly unnecessary/time-wasting/futile/unproductive, we still need to get a good night's sleep to get a long list of physiological, biological, psychological benefits. And if you by any chance fail to get the necessary amount of sleep (voluntarily or otherwise), you're a big gambler who doesn't have the idea about the grave repercussions. (No kidding.)

This book will be beneficial to everybody except those smart dudes who have unwavering faith in some generic and prejudiced sayings like: "Six hours of sleep is enough for a functional adult" or "You'll have chance to sleep all you need when you're dead" or "Our great leader sleeps only four hours/day, hence I should do the same to be like him." etc.

Don't trust them for Kumbhkarna's sake. Don't mess with sleep.

Some curious takeaways from the book:
● Not only the starting phase of sleep is important, when you're going to wake up in the morning is equally significant too. If you get up earlier without fulfilling your sleep-quota, there will be consequences. Serious consequences.
● Melatonin doesn't make you feel drowsy; it just reminds your brain, "Time to go to bed, fella." Part of a whole set of timekeeping mechanism actually. The chemical substance which in fact pressurize your system to make you feel sleepy is named Adenosine.
● Dreaming makes you more visionary/creative/shrewd, really. And dreaming is not just some "commercial breaks" between slumber, it has serious impact on your mindset/thinking/worldview/self assessment and many things more.
● Homo sapiens is "biphasic" in case of sleep requirement. That is, we humans are biologically inclined to get sleep two times a day. Taking a siesta is not just a cultural phenomena in origin, but deeply biological. Dozing after lunchtime is absolutely human-like, nothing shameful if you think so.
● It's not mere practice that makes a person perfect. Practice, followed by a good night of sleep is what required for perfection. And the writer is serious about that.
● You can sleep as many hours trying to recover/make up the sleep that you've lost or skipped; but make no mistake, humans can never "sleep back"/rebound the sleep once lost.
● "Night owls" are real, not myth. As real as the "Morning larks" are. Don't bully them; or feel guilty of being one.
● Caffeine is the most widely used (rather abused) addictive psychoactive stimulant drug in the world. It is also the only addictive substance that we readily give to our children and teens.
● And a lot more.
Read more
Customer image
5.0 out of 5 stars Trust Me, Don't Mess With Sleep
Reviewed in India on 7 August 2019
Sleep is a mystery. And this book is a lifesaver.

For normal folks like you and me, and for doctors or scientists as well, sleep's been always a mysterious phenomena. We humans sleep (preferably) one third of our whole life. This is an enormous amount of time which demands some attention. Though historically the attention has not been allotted to sleep it deserves, academically or culturally.
If you read this book (and you should; whether you love or hate or enjoy or avoid or have problem with or have some queries on sleeping) you'd understand why the evolutionary process didn't eliminate sleep from our biological dictionary. Why, though seemingly unnecessary/time-wasting/futile/unproductive, we still need to get a good night's sleep to get a long list of physiological, biological, psychological benefits. And if you by any chance fail to get the necessary amount of sleep (voluntarily or otherwise), you're a big gambler who doesn't have the idea about the grave repercussions. (No kidding.)

This book will be beneficial to everybody except those smart dudes who have unwavering faith in some generic and prejudiced sayings like: "Six hours of sleep is enough for a functional adult" or "You'll have chance to sleep all you need when you're dead" or "Our great leader sleeps only four hours/day, hence I should do the same to be like him." etc.

Don't trust them for Kumbhkarna's sake. Don't mess with sleep.

Some curious takeaways from the book:
● Not only the starting phase of sleep is important, when you're going to wake up in the morning is equally significant too. If you get up earlier without fulfilling your sleep-quota, there will be consequences. Serious consequences.
● Melatonin doesn't make you feel drowsy; it just reminds your brain, "Time to go to bed, fella." Part of a whole set of timekeeping mechanism actually. The chemical substance which in fact pressurize your system to make you feel sleepy is named Adenosine.
● Dreaming makes you more visionary/creative/shrewd, really. And dreaming is not just some "commercial breaks" between slumber, it has serious impact on your mindset/thinking/worldview/self assessment and many things more.
● Homo sapiens is "biphasic" in case of sleep requirement. That is, we humans are biologically inclined to get sleep two times a day. Taking a siesta is not just a cultural phenomena in origin, but deeply biological. Dozing after lunchtime is absolutely human-like, nothing shameful if you think so.
● It's not mere practice that makes a person perfect. Practice, followed by a good night of sleep is what required for perfection. And the writer is serious about that.
● You can sleep as many hours trying to recover/make up the sleep that you've lost or skipped; but make no mistake, humans can never "sleep back"/rebound the sleep once lost.
● "Night owls" are real, not myth. As real as the "Morning larks" are. Don't bully them; or feel guilty of being one.
● Caffeine is the most widely used (rather abused) addictive psychoactive stimulant drug in the world. It is also the only addictive substance that we readily give to our children and teens.
● And a lot more.
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image Customer image Customer image Customer image
Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
Carnivore
2.0 out of 5 stars disappointing
Reviewed in the United States on 8 October 2018
Verified Purchase
After hearing the author on the Joe Rogan podcast I excitedly bought the book...and then regretted it. The author went on a nauseating rant by telling us that sleep is important in 312 different ways...and yet didn't really offer any solid advice to help us get more sleep. In other words he stated the obvious, but didn't offer anything concrete or practical. I have no doubt he is an amazing sleep expert, but we all know that sleep is good for you. The challenge is figuring out how to get more of it or better quality.

I'll save you the money by summarizing the book:
"Sleep is really, really, really, really, really important. If you don't get enough sleep, you could have many problems because sleep is really, really, really important. I'm not going to tell you how to get better or more sleep, I will only tell you that sleep is really important."

Personally, I think he's holding out on this information for his next book. Grrrrrrrr.
Read more
J. Haddick
5.0 out of 5 stars If you don’t snooze, you lose
Reviewed in Germany on 14 March 2018
Verified Purchase
Nein, diese Wahrheit bezieht sich nicht auf den Snooze-Button des Weckers, sondern auf die Wichtigkeit des Schlafes. Den Snooze-Botton sollte man nämlich nach Möglichkeit gerade NICHT drücken, sondern mit dem ersten Weckerklingeln aufstehen. Warum – und unglaublich viel anderes wissenswertes – erklärt Matthew Walker in seinem Buch Why We Sleep. Walker ist Professor für Neurowissenschaften und Psychologie an der UC Berkeley und einer der führenden „Schlafforscher“ weltweit. Dabei forscht er nicht nur im Labor und am Schreibtisch. Walker war auch schon als Berater für Teams aus der NBA, NFL und der Premiere League tätig, sowie für Pixar, Regierungsorganisationen, Technologiefirmen und Firmen im Finanzsektor.

Das Buch ist in vier Teile eingeteilt: (1) This Thing Called Sleep: Hier erklärt Walker die biologischen Grundlagen des Schlafes und vermittelt ein Verständnis für die unterschiedlichen Schlafphasen. (2) Why Should You Sleep?: Hier geht es um die absolute Wichtigkeit des Schlafes und die Folgen von mangelndem Schlaf. (3) How and Why We Dream: Hier wird die Bedeutung von Träumen erläutert. (4) From Sleeping Pills to Society Transformed: Hier wird der gute und der schlechte Umgang mit Schlaf in unserer Gesellschaft dargestellt und ein Weg in die Zukunft gezeigt. Ein Anhang mit zwölf Tipps für gesunden Schlaf rundet das Buch ab.

Wer ein wissenschaftliches Interesse mitbringt, wird einiges lernen können (obwohl das Buch allgemeinverständlich geschrieben ist), aber auch der Leser, dem es primär um den praktischen Umgang mit dem Schlaf geht, kommt absolut auf seine Kosten. Man muss nicht jedes wissenschaftliche Detail verstehen, um von dem Buch profitieren zu können. Warum ist eine Stunde mehr Schlaf oft produktiver als eine Stunde mehr Lernen? Welchen Einfluss haben Alkohol und Drogen auf unseren Schlaf? Wie kann man Schlafproblemen entgegnen und warum sind Schlaftabletten oft die falsche Lösung? Welche Rolle kann ein Power Nap haben? Wie kann man mit Jetlags umgehen? Und… warum sollte ich den Snooze-Button meines Weckers lieber nicht nutzen? Auf diese Fragen und viele andere hat Matthew Walker Antworten. Absolut lesenswert!
Read more
Bharath Ramakrishnan
5.0 out of 5 stars Very important reading
Reviewed in India on 28 October 2018
Verified Purchase
Sleep has been a big mystery for long, as it has been unclear what purpose it serves, and why natural selection did not weed it out. After all, in earlier times, the period of sleep must have been one of considerable danger for humans (and even now for many animals and birds). And yet, sleep is a common requirement across the animal kingdom as well. In fact, birds and some sea creatures have the remarkable ability to sleep half a brain at a time.

Matthew Walker is a sleep scientist and does an exceptional job in this book of explaining what sleep achieves for us. In fact, sleep deprivation is extremely dangerous and there is not enough awareness of this. Modern lifestyle has dealt a blow to both our duration and quality of sleep, and the effects are already quite apparent.

While sleep has not completely revealed all its mysteries to us, a lot is now known after painstaking research over several years. Our sleep shuffles between NREM, Light and REM sleep – and all of them have their purpose. NREM sleep fortifies our memory helping in longer term recall, while REM sleep & dreams lend emotional balance and help us get to the big picture. The book discusses a large number of experiments detailing what happens when we skip sleep. Depending on the sleep cycle and the quantum of deprivation, the ill effects are nothing short of disastrous – lower immunity, failing memory, loss of emotional balance, pre-disposition to serious diseases such as diabetes, dementia and even cancer. Getting adequate sleep (~8 hours) on the other hand makes people more creative & productive other than being healthy.

Somehow, our cultures today do not emphasise the importance of sleep, as much as we do exercise and diet. So much so, that sleeping less is mistakenly regarded as a confirmation of working hard and being more ambitious. The assumption that each of us can do with varying periods of sleep is largely a myth as well. While a genetic mutation allows a few to function effectively with around 6 hours of sleep, this is extremely rare. Almost all of us do need ~8 hours of sleep. There are tips on improving sleep quantity as well as quality all through the book, such as regulating caffeine in the later part of the day.

Most of us are guilty of not according sleep the importance it deserves, and this book is an eye opener. This is a book everyone should read. There are very important points of note for individuals, educational institutions, hospitals, organisations and even governments.
Read more
E P Bharucha
5.0 out of 5 stars Sleep - What lack of it does to you
Reviewed in India on 4 August 2018
Verified Purchase
A very lucid explanation of sleep and why a full 7 to 8 hours a night are required.

I have spent a lifetime of cutting down of sleep time to get some more work done. If I had read the book earlier, I would organised my life differently.
Read more
See all reviews