Review by Choice Review
Having been raised in a time when "early to bed and early to rise" made one "healthy, wealthy, and wise," this reviewer is intrigued by the apparent change in the sleep/wake cycle of today's students and thus intrigued by The Secret Life of Sleep. In her preface, essayist/author Duff (The Alchemy of Illness, 1993) describes the onset, development, and deep appreciation of her own study of sleep as well as that of others. The book contains 17 chapters with such fascinating titles as "When the Sandman Comes," "When Sleep Never Comes," "Knitting Up the 'Raveled Sleave of Care,'" and "Waking Up Is Hard to Do." Of course, Duff explores dreams, ordinary, big, and subversive, along with what can be considered normal sleep and sleep disorders. She has adroitly combined "every source [she] could lay [her] hands on ... " to weave an understandable and meaningful tapestry about sleep. Those interested in delving deeper into individual topics can consult the extensive notes, each containing citations from the literature. A list of 27 recommended readings follows the text. A valuable resource for a wide audience. Summing Up: Recommended. Students of all levels, general readers, professionals/practitioners. --Lee A. Meserve, Bowling Green State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
For centuries, scientists and philosophers have been puzzling over the nature and role of sleep in the animal kingdom, perhaps agreeing only on one point that most of us don't get enough of it. Besides the increasing demand for greater worker productivity in our high-tech world, one reason for sleep deprivation might be the fact that just over a century ago most people slept twice a night, with a waking period in between. This surprising bit of information is just one of many in this timely overview of sleep's many-sided facets from award-winning journalist Duff, whose previous work, The Alchemy of Illness (1993), won raves for its penetrating look at chronic fatigue syndrome. Using a similar multidisciplinary approach here, Duff draws on the diverse perspectives of contemporary neuroscientists, sociologists, artists, spiritual seekers, and her own carefully examined experiences. What distinguishes Duff's work from the average popular science title is her beautifully nuanced, lyrical prose and astute recognition that sleeping and dreaming have a much deeper meaning in our lives beyond the research laboratory.--Hays, Carl Copyright 2014 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
We all sleep, but how often do we consider what goes on while we engage in this (usually) nightly practice? This impressive account from Duff (The Alchemy of Illness) presents the science of sleep without putting its readers to sleep. She intersperses personal anecdotes amid her array of data, which ranges from laboratory sleep studies to poetry and folklore. Some of her examples might already be familiar to readers, but here they serve to show the universality of sleep. The scientific work Duff seamlessly draws into the narrative serves to illuminate cultural understandings. For example, the mythic spirits that visit us in our sleep-the kinds that come to Scrooge at the height of his Christmas cynicism-are described in their literary contexts, before being analyzed on their biological bases. Dreams, from the barely memorable to the life changing, play a prominent role in this text, and Duff addresses the anxieties and fears of sleep itself that keep us awake at night. We learn, too, about what differentiates a waking state from its sleepy counterpart. Sleep as a phenomenon exists just outside of our conscious awareness, and can be difficult to study objectively, yet Duff leads an absorbing foray into the vibrant activity that we otherwise sleep right through. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An investigation of the many mysteries of sleep, a subject that "opens a Pandora's box of bigger questions of consciousness and unconsciousness, remembering and forgetting, body and soul, and reality itself." Though sleep has often been the subject of clinical studies and pharmaceutical research, its cultural history is rarely thoroughly explored. Mental health counselor Duff (The Alchemy of Illness, 1993) delves deep into the human experience of sleep to reach a better understanding of its causes and effects. Historically, it's interesting to note that even basic sleep patterns have changed significantly since industrialization: Before time was managed so tightly in order to accommodate the modern workday, people slept in two chunks rather than one long sleep. As a result, more pressure is put on that overnight slumbercommon wisdom today is that eight hours is the minimum required for an alert, productive morningwhich, in turn, has led to widespread dependence on pharmaceutical sleep aids. The author weaves captivating anecdotes with scientific data, detailing how brain activity alters during sleep, relaxing reality-bound inhibitions and often leading to moments of great insight. Duff argues that everyone dreams, whether those experiences are remembered or not, and that these nocturnal mental adventures have a big effect on the decisions we make while awake. History is rife with narratives of breakthroughs occurring within dreams, further evidence of how profoundly sleep influences creativity. The author's multidisciplinary approach and relatable writing is a breath of fresh air, and her enthusiasm for her subject echoes how many of us feelwe love to sleep. By understanding the mechanisms that make sleep possible, our symbiotic relationship with this nightly ritual has the potential to dramatically improve. Full of unique insights and surprising facts, this book brings to the fore an entire world that exists behind closed eyes.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
