May 6, 2013
Lazy college kids may claim to be experts when it comes to sleep, but they’ve got nothing on Idzikowski (Learn to Sleep Well) and his decidedly wide-eyed and active explorations of the Land of Nod. He’s the director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, an Edinburgh, Scotland–based research and consultancy group dedicated to the study of sleep, and here he covers everything from the nature of dozing and dreaming to the disorders and poor habits that can infringe on getting a good night’s rest. Scientific topics covered include the different kinds of brainwaves and how they relate to the 90-minute sleep cycle and REM sleep, as well as more speculative subjects like lucid dreaming and the causes of nightmares. Idzikowski provides self-assessments tooled to help the reader determine his or her level of “sleep hygiene,” while also giving suggestions on how to practically improve one’s sleep, including removing distractions from the bedroom, establishing a presleep ritual (preferably one that doesn’t involve a nightcap), and even practicing yoga. There are also tips for parents struggling to get their kids to conk out, and for those unable to do so themselves, Idzikowksi discusses a range of sleep disorders, from insomnia to sleep apnea, and possible solutions. Accessible, informative, and light enough to read in bed (though Idzikowski would advise against it), this guide will get readers dozing in no time.