Sleepyhead: The Neuroscience of a Good Night's Rest

by Henry Nicholls

Overview

A narcoleptic's tireless journey through the neuroscience of disordered sleep

Whether it's a bout of bad jet lag or a stress-induced all-nighter, we've all suffered from nights that left us feeling less than well-rested. But for some people, getting a bad night's sleep isn't just an inconvenience: it's a nightmare. In Sleepyhead, science writer Henry Nicholls uses his own experience with chronic narcolepsy as a gateway to better understanding the cryptic, curious, and relatively uncharted world of sleep disorders. We meet insomniacs who can't get any sleep, narcoleptics who can't control when they sleep, and sleep apnea victims who nearly suffocate in their sleep. We learn the underlying difference between morning larks and night owls; why our sleeping habits shift as we grow older; and the evolutionary significance of REM sleep and dreaming. Charming, eye-opening, and deeply humanizing, Sleepyhead will help us all uncover the secrets of a good night's sleep.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541672574
Publisher:	Basic Books
Publication date:	09/04/2018
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	1,075,410
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Henry Nicholls is a renowned science writer and author of three books. He has also written for Nature, New Scientist, and hosts the Guardian's "Animal Magic" blog. Nicholls lives in London.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

1 Bad sleep 1

2 Let there be light 17

3 Weak with laughter 46

4 Stages of sleep 67

5 Sleeping dogs don't lie 95

6 Bad breath 112

7 The perfect neurological storm 138

8 Lost in transition 159

9 Ghosts and demons 176

10 Wide awake 198

11 Mind, body and soul 225

12 Good sleep 255

Author's note 271

Further Reading 273

Acknowledgements 276

Notes 279

Index 324

Editorial Reviews

07/16/2018
Science writer Nicholls (The Galápagos: A Natural History) uses his decades-long experiences with narcolepsy as a jumping-off point for this stimulating exploration of sleep. He relates his own condition, and the related one of cataplexy—an abrupt loss of muscle tone in response to strong emotion—to the more common experiences of insomnia and sleep apnea. Nichols is careful to ground readers in the history of research into REM and circadian rhythms, but takes more interest in new research, primarily concerning a certain kind of neurotransmitter, the hypocretin. As he reveals, a genetic study of narcoleptic dogs in the late 1990s suggested problems with the functioning of the hypocretins could be involved in multiple sleep disorders. Along the way, Nicholls shares a few dramatic cases—including one of a man who strangled his wife while both were sleeping—but avoids the traps of sensationalism and prurience by keeping his focus on himself and others whom he meets. Actual advice on better rest is modest and ranges from common sense, such as avoiding caffeine, to research-based but perhaps counterintuitive, such as sleep restriction as a treatment for insomnia. Everybody sleeps, and Nicholls’s entry into the genre of pop science books that use the unusual to illuminate the everyday has equally universal appeal. Agent: George Lucas, Inkwell. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"A charming analogy... [Nicholls] covers some fascinating material, from the rare prion-driven disease known as fatal familial narcolepsy to the potentially atavistic nature of cataplexy."—Science

"Brilliantly clear and enthusiastic... Henry Nicholls manages to combine detail with passion."—David Shukman, BBC

"The most in-depth and accessible insight into narcolepsy that I've come across."—Dan Collins, Fresh Tracks

"A thoughtful examination ... thought-provoking, and Nicholls arranges his material expertly, blending the personal the scientific ... an important book about an overlooked side of human experience." —Big Issue

"Blends personal stories, historic accounts, scientific investigations, and literary references in an engaging chronicle of humanity's quest to understand what sleep is, why it's important for health, and how, as Nicholls writes, 'the pace of modern society poses many threats to the quantity and quality' of it. Sleepyhead is full of surprising and fascinating information about a host of sleep issues, ranging from rare circadian rhythm disorders to the much more common sleep apnea, which put sleep disorders medicine on the map."—Project Sleep

"Sleepyhead represents a successful attempt by Henry to provide a concise, readable and scientific overview of the sleep disorders most prominent within society, as well as sleep in general...By shedding a light on the most disabling-end of narcolepsy, of cataplexy, of sleep apnoea and so forth, Henry has provided a voice for those that were previously ignored." —Jonathan Watkins, Myza

"In this charming book, a chronic narcoleptic takes on the curious world of sleep, from the role of dreaming in evolution to why our sleeping habits change as we age."—Spirituality & Health

"[A] stimulating exploration of sleep... Everybody sleeps, and Nicholls's entry into the genre of pop science books that use the unusual to illuminate the everyday has equally universal appeal."—Publishers Weekly

"[A] lively, accessible overview ... Nicholls writes fluidly about disorders of sleep, including insomnia, nightmares, and sleepwalking, as well as conditions with wildly bizarre features, from hallucinations to terrors to murderous behavior to paralysis... A fine introduction to sleeping: when it works and when it doesn't."—Kirkus Reviews

"Expertly weaves anecdote and science."—Times (UK)

"What good science writing is all about—explanation through a ripping narrative."—Independent (UK)

"Nicholls' passion for his subject and sense of humour are always evident." —Times Literary Supplement (UK)

"Henry Nicholls is one of my favourite science writers and this may be his best book yet. He effortlessly weaves his very personal experiences of living with narcolepsy with the history of sleep science (which reads like a great detective story) to create a gripping journey into the mysteries of sleep. Revelatory."—Lucy Cooke, author of The Truth About Animals

"An authentic and insightful read that brings to life the hopes and dreams of generations of scientific explorers and people in search of a better night's sleep. We all have something to gain from reading Sleepyhead."—Julie Flygare, author of Wide Awake and Dreaming

"Sleepyhead is utterly engrossing, keeping me awake far past my bedtime. Thoroughly researched and engagingly written."—Emma Byrne, author of Swearing is Good For You

"A fascinating personal and scientific journey through the mysterious realm that we lose ourselves in for a third of our lives. Dr. Nicholls is an amusing and perceptive host, on a trail from Dionysius to Dante, Dickens to Didgeridoos, as we discover just what our minds get up to when we're asleep."—Gaia Vince, author of Adventures in the Anthropocene

"The most fascinating sleep book ever."—Sarah Franklin, author of Shelter

"A fantastic meander through the science and personal experience of narcolepsy—fascinating!"—Dr. Guy Leschziner, Consultant Neurologist and Clinical Lead for Sleep at Guy's Hospital

"A revelation: perceptive, powerful and passionate."—Tim Birkhead, Fellow of the Royal Society

"A master raconteur."—John Mathew, historian of science

From the Publisher

2018-06-27
A broad investigation of sleep that should prove useful "for everyone who wants to improve their sleep."For years, British science writer Nicholls (The Galápagos: A Natural History, 2014, etc.) suffered miserable daytime drowsiness before doctors made the correct diagnosis: narcolepsy. This revelation gave him a personal interest in the science of sleep, which he puts to good use in this lively, accessible overview. The author recounts the history of sleep, describes the latest research, and chronicles his "hundreds of interviews that I have conducted over the last five years with scientists, doctors and others like me who suffer from some kind of dysfunctional sleep," but he devotes most of the text to sleep pathology. Nicholls begins with case histories of bad sleepers, including himself, and what scientists know. All higher animals sleep; it's essential for life. There are many explanations as to why, so no one knows the correct one. Sleepers pass through distinct stages including dreaming, a subject that fascinates scientists no less than laymen. All mammals dream, human for about two hours every night. Like sleep, dreaming may be essential. All cultures believe dreams have deep significance, but researchers are skeptical. Nicholls writes fluidly about disorders of sleep, including insomnia, nightmares, and sleepwalking, as well as conditions with wildly bizarre features, from hallucinations to terrors to murderous behavior to paralysis. He shows particular interest in his own problem, narcolepsy ("a wildly variable spectrum disorder"), an approach that is particularly illuminating. Besides intense sleepiness, it includes oddball features such as cataplexy (sudden collapse without losing consciousness), sleep paralysis (inability to move when awakening), and vivid hallucinations when falling asleep. Science writing has a modest audience, medical advice a huge one, and Nicholls offers a pleasing combination; readers looking for self-help should consult his excellent bibliography.A fine introduction to sleeping: when it works and when it doesn't.

Kirkus Reviews