Sleepyhead

The Neuroscience of a Good Night's Rest

By: Henry Nicholls

Narrated by: Henry Drury

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.

Critic reviews

"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)

Wonderfully Insightful

As a narcoleptic, this book felt like “home”, honing in on both scientific understanding as well as weaving personal stories together to create a bedrock for those of us with sleep disorders. Anyone who has an interest in sleep science should read this book, and share its perspective with others. Maybe one day, we will be understood rather than judged.

Extremely Helpful

As someone recently diagnosed with Narcolepsy, this has been the best book I've read about my condition.

An informative journey through my own brain

I'm also narcoleptic. this book helped me understand my condition and ways to improve jt.

Nothing Short of Astounding

This book is an absolute MUST read for anyone experiencing or interested in sleep science and/or it’s many different types of disorders.
This book was written by a neuroscientist who suffers from Narcolepsy himself.
The rare and unique perspective this author is able to provide is absolutely invaluable. While the Narcolepsy is the primary focus of this book, it touches on ALL major sleep disorders. Including the differing degrees of affliction in which each individual person may experience… AND the scientific evidence learned so far as to why that is.
Whether you’ve been newly diagnosed, or have been living with a diagnosed chronic sleep disorder for most of your life. The information in this book is guaranteed to enlighten and inform ANY reader, including even the most “veteran” of individuals.
This book delves deep into the history behind the still newly emerging field of sleep science and sleep disorders. It pays homage to those who pioneered the research that paved the way to new advancements and discoveries in the field of modern medicine today.
The human brain itself is still quite a modern mystery and remains to be one of the least studied fields of medical research.
This book left me with not only an incredible amount of new knowledge, but an immense feeling gratitude.
Myself being a middle-aged adult who’s lived and struggled everyday of my life since childhood with the challenges of Narcolepsy. I feel fortunate to be living in this modern era. To see new research and treatments emerge, as the world slowly begins to have a better understanding of what Narcolepsy is. I’m excited for what the future holds in medical breakthroughs and look forward to the day I no longer have to hide it, or be forced to ever have to explain myself to anyone ever again.
If you have a loved one who has Narcolepsy or a similar condition. The greatest gift you can ever give them is taking the initiative to educate yourself about their condition.
Please, take the time to read or listen to this book on Audible. If not for yourself, then for someone you love… or for the 1 out of every 2,000 strangers out there begging to be understood.
Please!

informative and well written content, but...

The title is somewhat misleading. Yes, the book does touch quite a bit on the neuroscience of a good sleep but this is, at its core, a book about Narcolepsy.