The Lost Art of Sleep

Bed is the best place to read Michael McGirr's new book. Also, the worst.

Bed is the best place to read Michael McGirr's new book. Also, the worst. The Lost Art of Sleep is a light-hearted exploration of that third of our lives spent semi-conscious, if we're lucky, that also charts McGirr's experience with three children under two years old. One baby is disruptive enough to sleeping patterns; having twins soon after would seem to be disastrous.The book is more than a five-year journey of interrupted sleep, it is a way for McGirr to lovingly capture the memory of his children at a special time in their lives. The Lost Art of Sleep is also peppered with stories of the sleeping habits, patterns and rituals of some of history's most influential figures, from the God creating rest on the seventh day on. And, while far from a self-help book, there is an examination of sleep disorders, insomnia, sleep apnoea, and the health effects of sleep deprivation.