Book
Walker MP. Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams. New York: Scribner; 2017. 368 pp. ISBN: 978-1-5011-4431-8.
Why we cite it
Bestselling popular science book that synthesized decades of sleep research into an accessible narrative, bringing the science of sleep to a mass audience. Published by Scribner and a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, the book covers sleep’s role in every aspect of health, with the food-relevant chapters explaining the hormonal and neural mechanisms by which sleep deprivation drives overeating: ghrelin (hunger hormone) increases, leptin (satiety hormone) decreases, and the prefrontal cortex loses its ability to regulate food choices while the amygdala amplifies desire for calorie-dense foods. For the project, this book serves as the popular-audience bridge to the primary research: the specific claims are independently supported by the original studies already in the library — csh03 (Spiegel 2004, hormonal: ghrelin/leptin), csw06 (Nedeltcheva 2009, behavioral: snacking), csh06 (Markwald 2013, hormonal paradox), csh07 (Greer 2013, neural double hit), and csh09 (St-Onge 2014, selective food bias). The book’s narrative framing helps readers understand why sleep is a foundational pillar of eating behavior, not just an optional health bonus.
Note on criticism: Alexey Guzey published a detailed critique arguing the book contains scientific and factual errors. Walker partially responded. The project relies on the primary research papers rather than the book for specific claims, so this criticism does not affect the project’s evidence base.
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