Nick Littlehales

I consider this read but when it comes to books on sleep I generally scan and read the chapters that are most relevant to me.
I question the author's assertion that a properly fitted mattress obviates the need for a pillow.
He points out that we usually start out in life with a 38 inch wide bed, move on to a 53 inch one and graduate to a 60 inch queen when we marry or otherwise acquire a sleeping partner. Of course, 60 divided by 2 is 30 or an 8 inch reduction from childhood. So he recommends a 76 inch king instead. My wife and I sleep on a queen and I suspect my sleep has only occasionally been disturbed by jostling. On the other hand we have slept on kings at hotels and they seem lonely by comparison which can have a disquieting effect on our sleep. So like much information about sleep this leaves me a little befuddled and indecisive which likely means I am sleeping fine with all the habits and customs I grew up with or have stumbled into.… (más)

I had some mixed feelings on this one. The author's credentials are impressive (he coaches elite athletes on getting the best sleep they can, with some good results). However, I have a hard time agreeing with some of the things he mentions. For instance, the idea that only full sleep cycles matter, rather than total time asleep. Also, there's been some research showing that high level athletes perform better with even more sleep that we might consider optimal (9-10 hours), but that's not mentioned here. And oddly, nowhere does he mention the use of supplemental melatonin, which I consider the ultimate hack for disrupted circadian rhythms. So, some interesting ideas here, but many things I didn't agree with as well.… (más)