Let's Talk about Sleep: A Guide to Understanding and Improving Your Slumber

News about sleep is everywhere we turn, and the statistics are numbing: Some 50-70 million Americans are affected by chronic sleep disorders and intermittent sleep problems; an estimated 30-35% of adults complain of insomnia; one in every 25 Americans takes a prescription sleep medication; more than a third of American adults don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis; sleep disorders account for an estimated $16 billion in medical costs each year, plus indirect costs due to missed days of work, decreased productivity and related factors.

And questions abound: why do we need to sleep at all? What happens when we sleep? What happens to the brain? We know the brain is active when we sleep, but what about the mind? And what are dreams?

An accessible and lively take on sleep, this book provides answers to those and other key questions. Along the way, it highlights the lessons a well-known neurologist has learned and what he shares with his patients on a daily basis. It discusses ― in terms everyone can understand ― what we know about sleep, what can go wrong with it, and what we can do to fix it. It also delves into what some of the great scientists and spiritual teachers have told us about sleep.

The book is packed with useful information and suggestions that will improve all aspects of readers’ lives.

Daniel A. Barone, MD, is currently the Associate Medical Directer at Weill Cornell Medical College and is an Assistant Attending Neurologist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He primarily sees patients at the Weill Cornell Medical College Center for Sleep Medicine where he specializes in the evaluation and management of patients with all forms of sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, insomnia and narcolepsy. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Neurology and Sleep Medicine, and is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Barone is frequently featured in the media. He has appeared on CBS News, New York 1, and on Discovery Channel’s popular Deadliest Catch: The Bait as an expert in sleep disorders. He has been quoted in articles in Reader’s Digest, Prevention, New York Daily News, Allure, and Healthline, and many other publications. Dr. Barone regularly gives talks to the community on sleep health and has been a contributor on a variety of sleep health-related websites. He has published multiple peer-reviewed articles on all forms of sleep disorders and is involved in several research projects.

Since Lawrence A. Armour left Time Inc. in August, 2015, he has built a freelance writing and editing business focused on magazines, newspapers, corporations and individual authors. Armour spent 20 years in various positions at Time Inc. Prior to that he worked in communications at IBM, American Express and Dow Jones. He began his career at Barron’s, first as a reporter and then as an associate editor and columnist. Armour’s first book, Profits on Wall Street, was followed by three others published by Dow Jones: Investing For Profit, How To Survive A Bear Market and Managing To Succeed. Other books include The Young MillionairesHow To Make Your Money Make Money, written with Arthur Levitt, Jr. and The Real Age Workout, written with Dr. Michael F. Roizen and Tracy Hafen.