The Promise of Sleep

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A hands-on prescription for vibrant health and longevity through the power of good sleep.

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The Bottom Line

We are a “sleep-sick society,” and it’s time to wake up to that fact and do what’s necessary to better manage our sleep — or prepare to pay an enormous price.

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I. Introduction

In The Promise of Sleep, first published in 1999, William Dement distills all he knows about sleep and offers plenty of useful advice for readers eager to adopt sleep-smart lifestyles. It’s advice that comes from a trusted source: A former professor at Stanford University, Dement has been called “the godfather of sleep medicine” and is considered one of the world’s leading experts on sleep, sleep disorders and the dangers of sleep deprivation. In fact, he helped pioneer the field of sleep medicine and founded the world’s first sleep-disorder clinic.

We skimp on sleep to meet the demands of a 24/7 work culture, technology has created a world without darkness that messes with our body’s inner clocks, too many people dismiss sleep deprivation as a fact of modern life, and too few doctors promote sleep health or awareness. The end result, says Dement, is an epidemic of sleep disorders, carrying with it a mounting physical, emotional and psychological toll we shouldn’t be made to endure.

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II. A Sleep-Deprived Society

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III. Paying Off Our Sleep Debt

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IV. Why We Sleep

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V. Insomnia and Sleep Apnea

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VI. Finding Your “Sleep Point”

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VII. Sleeping Well 101

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