You might know about St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th, but have you heard of…World Sleep Day? This sleep awareness day falls on the third Friday of March, and was created by the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) and World Sleep Federation (WSF) to raise awareness on sleep’s impact on our physical and mental wellbeing. This year’s slogan: “sleep is essential for health.”
Celebrate World Sleep Day (or Sleep Awareness Month, which is all of March!) by picking up a sleepy read from this curated list. Most of the titles here are available electronically or in print from a UBC library!
Learn more about Sleep Awareness Month here: https://www.nymc.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/nymc/pdf/student-life/MarchisSleepAwarenessMonth.pdf
1. Why we sleep : unlocking the power of sleep and dreams
TED Talk-famous sleep scientist Dr. Matthew Walker gives an overview of all the sleep basics, from evolutionary roots to contemporary theories. Learn more about this ubiquitous yet mysterious night-time behaviour!
Available at: https://webcat.library.ubc.ca/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=8863888
2. Sleep, health, and society : from aetiology to public health
This Oxford textbook summarizes epidemiological evidence that links poor sleep with chronic health conditions, and also discusses strategies to prevent widespread sleep deprivation from a population and public health perspective.
Available at: https://webcat.library.ubc.ca/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=4593903
3. The sleep fix : practical, proven, and surprising solutions for insomnia, snoring, shift work, and more
ABC news anchor Diane Macedo gives a candid account on how insomnia had affected her fast-paced schedule, and offers practical solutions tailored to various types of insomnia and different kinds of sleepless minds.
Available at: https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S38C8542892
4. The interpretation of dreams
Curious, contemplative, and controversial, the Interpretation of Dreams is arguably what earned Sigmund Freud the title “father of modern psychology.”
Available at: https://webcat.library.ubc.ca/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=1586923
5. A treatise on the incubus, or night-mare, disturbed sleep, terrific dreams and nocturnal visions
If you sleep on your back, beware: a sluggish, inactive constitution is the perfect entryway for incubi! That is, according to John Augustine Waller, author of the 1816 treatise on the incubus, or “night-mare.” Read about early attempts at understanding sleep through a scientific lens!
Available at: https://go.exlibris.link/s1l0hsnj
6. Sleep donation
In a world where insomnia is a widespread epidemic, Trish Edgewater of the non-profit Slumber Corps’ recruits healthy sleepers to donate their sleep in a desperate Sleep Drive. This novella is a witty and imaginative treat for insomniacs and potential sleep donors alike.
Available at: https://webcat.library.ubc.ca/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=11472932
7. Paprika
In a near-future world where a small device allows licensed therapists to enter and alter the dreams of their patients, things get complicated when the device is stolen by an unknown party. Often suggested to be the inspiration behind Christopher Nolan’s Inception, Satoshi Kon’s award-winning animated film Paprika is a feast for the eyes.
Available at: https://webcat.library.ubc.ca/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=6619441
