Many people have developed the habit of reading books at night to help them relax and fall asleep. It’s a great way to calm the mind and focus on a story instead of the events of the day or what you need to do tomorrow.
But in some cases, the best approach for sleep is not reading right before bed reading, but when you are still awake, alert, and ready to learn! If you’ve been struggling to fall asleep and are not getting enough rest each night, reading books about sleep may be just what you need.
The more you can learn about the nature of insomnia and how sleep works, the easier it should be for you to start getting better sleep regularly. With that in mind, here are ten books about sleep that will help improve your night.
1. Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams
Perhaps you are in the market for a sleep book that explains what happens during sleep and while dreaming. This book by Matthew Walker, Ph.D., who serves as director of the Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab at UC Berkeley, explains why we sleep and what problems tend to arise when we go without sufficient sleep. In “Why We Sleep,” you’ll gain a better understanding of REM sleep (rapid eye movement), the effects of sleep aids, and how you can improve your sleep.
2. The Insomnia Workbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Getting the Sleep You Need (A New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook)
Stephanie Silberman’s “Insomnia Workbook” is based on using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and touts this method as superior over using extra-strength sleep medicines. The book was written to give patients the information they’d get when seeing a sleep professional who uses CBT. You fill out a series of questionnaires and then examine how troubles with sleep can impact your day-to-day life. Next, you’ll learn different techniques that professionals use with their patients, and develop a plan for better sleep going forward.
3. How to Sleep Well: The Science of Sleeping Smarter, Living Better and Being Productive
Dr. Neil Stanley’s “How to Sleep Well” is a guidebook for the restless, designed to help patients stop sabotaging their efforts to sleep. You may find it hard to fall asleep, or if you do manage to sleep, it’s not deep enough. Some people wake up too often while others sleep through alarms. Readers will discover how to build a calming and peaceful bedtime routine that helps them get more restorative sleep now.
4. This Book Will Make You Sleep
Written by coauthors Dr. Jessamy Hibberd and Jo Usmar, “This Book Will Make You Sleep” recognizes that everyone has periods in life when it’s harder to fall asleep. Maybe you have a thousand thoughts at bedtime, such as your to-do list for the next day or ruminating about a problem at work or in your personal life. Read this book to help you eliminate bad habits before bedtime and develop techniques through cognitive behavioral therapy to wind down and get to sleep sooner.
5. The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How to Fix It
Cutting down on the fatigue and pain you feel because of insufficient sleep and avoiding the use of tranquilizers or other sleeping pills is the goal of “The Sleep Solution” by W. Chris Winter, M.D. The author has 24 years of experience as a neurologist and sleep expert to provide advice against medications. You might find napping to be beneficial, for example, or discover the relationship of lighting and meal times to getting deep sleep.
6. Sleep Soundly Every Night, Feel Fantastic Every Day
Do you tend to always feel tired or experience insomnia? Individuals who have difficulties falling asleep or who don’t feel rested in the morning will want to read “Sleep Soundly Every Night, Feel Fantastic Every Day” by Robert Rosenberg. Dr. Rosenberg shares advice to people with a range of sleep issues, including sleep apnea, snoring, and restless leg syndrome. The book is based on real patient experiences from Dr. Rosenberg’s practice and includes details on the latest insomnia research.
7. The Promise of Sleep: A Pioneer in Sleep Medicine Explores the Vital Connection Between Health, Happiness, and a Good Night’s Sleep
In “The Promise of Sleep,” William C. Dement explains how significant sleep is in terms of how long people live. Dement also sees sleep as a more important factor than genetics, how much you exercise, or what you eat. Dement directs the Stanford University Sleep Research Center and is well-positioned to detail the problems of insufficient sleep. You’ll read helpful tips to defeat your insomnia as well as information about finding a nearby sleep disorder clinic if you need further assistance.
8. Say Good Night to Insomnia: The Six-Week, Drug-Free Program Developed At Harvard Medical School
This guide to getting better sleep without needing sleep aids is by Dr. Gregg D. Jacobs and is based on the program instituted and tested under the supervision of Harvard Medical School. The methods described in “Say Good Night to Insomnia” have provided long-term sleep improvement in 80 percent of patients. Readers learn about the problems and limits of sleeping pills, and then find ways to relax, cut down on stress, and switch to habits that promote healthy sleep.
9. The Secret Life of Sleep
In Kat Duff’s “The Secret Life of Sleep,” the author reveals a range of myths, facts, and the many benefits of getting proper sleep. In this book, Duff highlights how modern society’s faster pace and need for higher worker production has left so many with not enough sleep. You may be surprised to learn, for example, that about a century ago, people often slept two times a night, waking midway to eat or do some tasks, and then resuming sleep until rested.
10. The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time
Arianna Huffington is well known as the co-founder of the Huffington Post. In her book, “The Sleep Revolution,” Huffington tackles the nation’s sleep deprivation issues with a book that goes into the latest research and science into sleep and dreaming. She details issues with sleeping medications and how people’s constant use of technology, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops, prevents and disrupts sleep. Then, Huffington offers recommendations for better sleep from top scientists based on current research.
We know how difficult it can be for patients using a CPAP machine to get the proper rest they need. Subscribe to our newsletter for tips and tricks on getting the sleep you need.
