Insomniac
by Gayle Greene
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Book Reviews of Insomniac
Book Review: Finally...a view from those experiencing insomnia!
Summary: 4 Stars
As someone who worked with scientists and was required to go to their meetings (often sponsored by big businesses of some kind or another), and read their often-biased writings, it was interesting to read about a health issue from a lay person's point of view. Greene starts out strong, both in giving case studies of others, her own problems and issues with sleeping, the background behind the science, the problems with the conferences and the obvious funding of the science by business, even the nutritional and alternative aspects of dealing with insomnia.
The problem is the often repetitive nature of Greene's complaints. Even though the reader (who are going to be people going through insomnia themselves) sympathizes with Greene, after awhile the 'whining' gets a bit much. The issues are real, as is Greene's own lifetime problems with sleep...however, the book could have used tightening, and the publishing house should have insisted on the presentation of each part only once, including her own case.
That being said, Greene's book definitely bears reading for those who want better information concerning insomnia. She does manage to bring everything together in one book, including both useable information for individuals (women especially who tend to go through massive problems with sleep after menopause), and current state of the science. Since we should all be more proactive in our own health care, this book gives information to take to doctors to discuss. Even Greene suggests that readers may not want to read the entire book, depending upon their needs.
Karen Sadler
Book Review: Finally, someone who brings attention to this frustrating illness
Summary: 5 Stars
I am awaiting my copy of this book and cannot wait to read it. Reading the editorial reviews and the customer reviews brought tears to my eyes. Yes, I am one of those who took my medication at the same time every night, cut way down on caffeine, stayed out of the bed for naps, took hot showers before bed, used lavender everything for its soothing effect, and all the other "rules" for getting sleep. I, too, felt the disapproval from my doctors, friends, and family members for still not getting a decent night of sleep. Yes, it was my fault or implied so. I am also one who is constantly having their meds changed because my body becomes resistant to them far sooner than average. I struggle with further depression over how miserable I feel with no sleep and weight gain to a weight I only experienced when pregnant with my daughter. I have been begging for help, only to be met with blank looks or being told to keep trying to follow the "rules" for sleep. I can't wait to hear the words of someone who walked this sleepless path, felt blamed for it, got little help from anyone and finally got fed up enough to go seek answers on her own. I have reached that point myself and am excited to hear what Gayle has learned so I can adapt it to my issues. Thank you Gayle! We have all been up all night worrying and wondering how to solve this problem. It's not our fault and it's time to find the source of sleeplessness!Book Review: Not a Soporific
Summary: 3 Stars
It takes a person who is pretty obsessed and anxious about sleep to write such a book. It is a very personal book. This is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. It certainly comes at the problem from another, much needed, perspective. However, it does seem flawed by the author's preconceptions that the problem is primarily physiological, genentic, hormonal, etc., but not either a breathing or psychological problem, at least for her.
It is continually an argument that cannot be won, which came first, the chicken or the egg. Does she have an inherited genetic predisposition to be an insomniac; is it hormonal; is depression and anxiety caused by lack of sleep or lack of sleep caused by depression and anxiety. I am sure that there is not one solution to a problem with multiple origins, some of which--- the hormonal and genetic possibilities--- as well as keying in on the sexual discrimination aspects (i.e. primarily a problem of women), she does an excellent job of highlighting. However, one glaring omission is a discussion of sex and sleep. Maybe the reason so many older women are not able to sleep is because they are sexually deprived! I have always found sex to be an excellent soporific. This book is not. It is a very engaging and enjoyable journey, despite its flaws.
Book Review: Thank you, Gayle Greene!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a wonderful book! I actually tried to slow down at the end so I wouldn't finish it. It is not a book of cumbersome suggestions/rules about how you should be able to "conquer" insomnia. (How tired are we of hearing "keep to a regular sleep schedule, don't nap, don't use the bed for anything but sleep or sex, etc., etc. As though we didn't know all this stuff already.) There are no elaborate sleep schedule diaries, no promises about sleeping perfectly in 6 weeks if you only adhere to her rules.
No, if you are looking primarily for another self-help book, this is not it (thank goodness). Instead, this is a book about the science and history, even philosophy, of sleep disturbance. It discusses the progress (or not) of sleep research efforts. The chapters where the author attends sleep conferences are informative, maddening, and sometimes terribly funny. There is a chapter called "Bedding down the beast" with modest suggestions of things to do that have helped her through the years, but they are not pronouncements from on high: just suggestions.
I personally will treasure this book and re-read it many times. Besides being informative and helpful, "Insomniac" is a lot of fun to read. And Gayle Greene is a person you really get to know - what a pleasure!
Book Review: Insomniac - Better than Steven King and the Bible rolled into one
Summary: 5 Stars
As someone who struggles to sleep, I read "Insomniac" by Gayle Greene with the rapid pulse and heightened sense of anticipation that I usually experience reading the thrillers and whodunits that crowd my night table. I couldn't quite believe that someone had finally written the book I had been waiting for years to read.
A long-time insomniac herself, Ms. Greene approaches the subject with humane common sense and matter-of-factness and pursues it with the dogged persistence and annoying inquisitiveness of any of the fictional detectives that aid me in the search for my missing sleep.
I read the book through, skipping back and forth, re-reading some passages over and over many times because they gave me solace, hope for new cures and a determination to cut through the embarrassment and shame of my own fatigue in order to advocate for more understanding and for lots of cold cash to fund research into a problem that afflicts so many.
I've been telling my friends and doctors to read this book. IF YOU SUFFER FROM INSOMNIA, KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES OR IF YOU TREAT PEOPLE WITH INSOMNIA, PLEASE, PLEASE GET THIS BOOK - it has shone a light into a dark corner of my life and makes my future seem brighter. I can't thank the author enough for that.