I remember people’s fervour for Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep in 2018 very well. I recall it so clearly because I was triggered by many of the claims in that book, as I was not sleeping in 2018. I had a baby who did not sleep, and so I did not sleep.

So when my favourite podcast did an episode about the debunking of the book I felt relieved!

The podcast is largely based around this post from Alexey Guzey who appears to be the first person who actually bothered to vet the claims in the book and their references? The whole ordeal is a real insight to just how dodgy some of these pop-science books on the best-seller lists are.

Don’t get me wrong, I love sleep. And one day I hope to get back to my pre-child glory of a solid 8 hours a night. But at least now I don’t have to worry about my decreased lifespan, on top of my kids’ night waking.