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Title: The Promise of Sleep: A Pioneer in Sleep Medicine Explores the Vital Connection Between Health, Happiness, and a Good Night's Sleep by WILLIAM C. DEMENT ISBN: 0-440-50901-7 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 07 March, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.07 (54 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Good information but a lot of editing needed!
Comment: As you read this tome you realize that it being written by somebody with the odd balance of ego and humility that comes with being both a tenured professor and leading expert in a specific field.
To be sure, you'll learn everything there is about sleep that you never knew who to ask. There is a lot of good information that is written in layman's terms. The problem is you're going to have to [rummage]through a lot to read the important information.
The book is 540 pages long and could have been at least 200 pages shorter with better editing. There is way too much information about the author that isn't necessary. I really don't care about his love of Jazz music--unless it's going to help me sleep! He spends a lot of time lambasting the medical community for not knowing enough about sleep--some of it well deserved. One excellent point that Dement makes is regarding the use of sleeping pills. They have been demonized by the medical community when they could do a lot of people good with little actual downside. He recounts a story of one college student who was in desperate need of sleep. He tells about trying to get the school's infirmary to write a prescription for sleeping pills, which they flatly refused. I kept wondering why Dement himself didn't simply write the script?
Also, while sleep disorders make life miserable for a lot of people and lead to a lot of problems (such as Dement's accurate description of the cause of the Exxon Valdez) the whole world isn't about to die from sleep depravation. There's too much "the sky is falling" in the book.
With a good editor this could have been the definitive book on the subject of sleep. As it is you'll just have to skim through it to find the relevant information.
Rating: 5
Summary: The Promise of Sleep is an unbelievably great book!
Comment: I have wanted to learn something about sleep, and particularly about insomnia, for quite awhile. When I came across The Promise of Sleep in my local bookstore, I was a little put off by its size. I expected that getting through it would not be easy. Was I ever wrong! Dr. Dement's book reads like a novel. I couldn't put it down, and I carried it around for several days, reading every chance I got until I was finished.
Dr. Dement says at the outset that his goal is to give people the fundamental knowledge they need to change the way they sleep and live. Having read the book, I can now say that I received an excellent basic education about sleep. What's more, I was taught by the number one man in the field. On top of all that, it was fun and enjoyable.
In addition to solving my own particular difficulty sleeping, I have been able to help a couple of close relatives with their sleep problems. In fact, I am now known as the "guru of sleep" by my family and friends giving advice and recommending the book at the drop of a hat. For example:
Do you feel fatigued and exhausted? This book is for you. This vast majority of fatigue problems arise from disordered sleep.
Do you want to succeed in life? This book is for you. You must manage your sleep and you must know how much sleep you need. And accumulating sleep debt, as Dr. Dement describes with marvelous clarity, can lead to bankruptcy, failure in school, and failure on the job. Not to mention failure in bed.
Do you snore, or more to the point, do you share a bed with someone who snores? This book is for you. Loud snoring is bad news and you must do something about it. Fortunately something can be done.
Are you a parent of young children? This book is for you. Healthy breathing during sleep may be the single most important issue for a growing child. If your child has noisy breathing during sleep, do something. The consequences for adult life may be tremendous.
Do you have trouble sleeping? This book is for you.
Are you wondering if you should use sleeping pills? This book is for you.
Do you know anyone who has suffered from a stroke or a heart attack? There is a strong likelihood that sleep apnea played a major role.
Are you wondering if you should consult a physician about your sleep? This book is the best thing you could possibly read before doing so.
Are you concerned about safety in your home, in your job, in your traveling? This book is for you.
Do you wonder what your dreams mean? This book is for you.
Now that I have completed Sleep 101, I am looking for a more advanced book that focuses on biological rhythms. Later, I might want to read more about sleep disorders or about dreams. I counted 127 different books on various aspects of nutrition the last time I was in my bookstore. Surely we could have at least a dozen books dealing in depth with one or other of the many different manifestions and abnormalities of sleep. I hope a few will soon be forthcoming, and I hope they will be as readable and entertaining as The Promise of Sleep.
Rating: 5
Summary: There are lessons for everyone
Comment: I picked up this book at the Stanford bookstore because I suspected my daughter and my husband may be suffering from a sleeping disorder. After reading the book, I found out that I may have one too! Dr. Dement destroys many of the myths surrounding sleep including the myth that sleeping pills are bad. I was particularly struck by the dangers of driving drowsy, something I do quite often as a consultant who travels to clients. I now know there are actions that I can take to minimize the risk, including scheduling meeting times more in tune with the low energy points during the day. The book is written in a style that is clear, concise, and easy to read. Though I do not think all his recommendations are necessarily practical, you can pick and choose those that will work for you. I highly recommend this book for everyone, but particularly if someone in your family is having trouble sleeping.
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