Nodding Off: The Science of Sleep from Cradle to Grave

A thorough and somewhat exhausting resource on the subject of rest, this book covers the importance of healthy sleep from the womb to old age. Gregory, a sleep researcher, discusses abnormal sleep patterns, disorders, and sleep deprivation, while also offering tips for sounder sleep, such as fresh sheets, keeping pets out of bed, and removing the television from the bedroom. She tackles such questions as how one’s genetic wiring might affect one’s nights and whether sleep disorders in children could be linked to experiences in the womb. Gregory strikes a cautious tone, noting the limitations of the numerous studies mentioned and reminding readers that the science of sleep is far from conclusive. She suggests parents get adolescent children to bed by “10 p.m. or earlier,” citing studies which found a relationship between late bedtimes and depression—but acknowledges that depression could just as easily be a cause as an effect. Throughout, she notes there are “as many unanswered questions as answered ones,” such as why sleep quality tends to decline with age, citing such possible factors as changes in behavior, hormone levels, and health. A compendium of science, trivia, and common sense, this book will have some readers excited, and others yawning by the end of the first chapter. (Aug.)