About the author
Matthew Walker is a British-American neuroscientist and psychologist who has studied sleep and taught at the University of California, Berkeley. His public work argues that sleep should be treated as a central biological need and public-health issue.
Why We Sleep brings circadian rhythm, sleep pressure, REM and non-REM sleep, memory, performance, and disease risk into a single popular account. Some specific claims have attracted scientific criticism, a useful reason to separate its broad message from individual medical advice.
Where to start
Start with Why We Sleep for Walker's broad account of sleep science, while consulting current clinical guidance for personal sleep disorders or treatment decisions.
