“The first sleep book from a leading scientific expert - Professor Matthew Walker, Director of the Sleep and Neuroimaging Laboratory at UC Berkeley - reveals his groundbreaking exploration of sleep and explains how we can use its transformative power to change our lives for the better. is one of the most important, but least understood, aspects of our life, well-being and longevity. Until recently, science had no answer to the question of why we sleep, what benefits it is, or why we suffer such devastating health effects when we do not sleep. Compared to the other basic instincts of life - eating, drinking, and procreation - the purpose of sleep remained elusive. An explosion of science over the past twenty years has shed new light on this fundamental aspect of sleep. Now eminent neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker gives us a new understanding of the vital importance of sleep and dreams. make logical decisions. It recalibrates our emotions, strengthens our immune system, refines our metabolism and regulates our appetite. Dreaming soothes painful memories and creates a virtual reality space where the brain fuses past and present knowledge to inspire creativity. Walker answers important questions about sleep: How do caffeine and alcohol affect sleep? What really happens in REM sleep? Why do our sleep patterns change over the course of life? How do common sleeping pills affect us and can they cause long-term harm? Showing cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, Walker summarizes decades of research and clinical practice and explains how we can use sleep to improve learning, mood, and energy levels; Regulate hormones; Prevent cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes; slowing the effects of aging; Increase longevity; Improve the education and life expectancy of our children and increase the efficiency, success and productivity of our companies. Clear-eyed, fascinating and simple, Why We Sleep is a defining and illuminating book "- provided by the publisher.