Why We Sleep

Book by Matthew Walker, PhD (2017)

A neuroscientist explains the crucial role of sleep for our health, drawing on the latest research. Walker details how consistently getting under 7 hours harms everything from memory and immune function to heart health, and illuminates fascinating topics like why REM dream sleep is therapeutic. For the analytically minded reader who needs “permission” to prioritize rest, this best-seller delivers a powerful wake-up call: sleep is a biological necessity, not laziness. It can help reframe a depleted person’s mindset by emphasizing that adequate sleep is one of the most effective forms of self-care. A lack of sleep is so common and harmful that it’s now considered a public health issue on par with poor diet. While the tone is more scientific, it’s still accessible and eye-opening. Paired with the more soulful resources on this page, it adds weight: your body truly needs rest to heal and function, and that is non-negotiable. The link to the publisher’s page is here, and you can check Dr. Walker’s work here.