Sleepyhead : the neuroscience of a good night's rest / Henry Nicholls.

Originally published in the UK by Profile Books as Sleepy head : narcolepsy, neuroscience and the search for a good night.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 273-275, 279-323) and index.

Bad sleep -- Let there be light -- Weak with laughter -- Stages of sleep -- Sleeping dogs don't lie -- Bad breath -- The perfect neurological storm -- Lost in transition -- Ghosts and demons -- Wide awake -- Mind, body and soul -- Good sleep.

"Whether it's a bout of bad jet lag or a stress-induced all-nighter, we've all suffered from nights that left us feeling less than well-rested. But for some people, getting a bad night's sleep isn't just an inconvenience: it's a nightmare. In Sleepyhead, science writer Henry Nicholls uses his own experience with chronic narcolepsy as a gateway to better understanding the cryptic, curious, and relatively uncharted world of sleep disorders. We meet insomniacs who can't get any sleep, narcoleptics who can't control when they sleep, and sleep apnea victims who nearly suffocate in their sleep. We learn the underlying difference between morning larks and night owls; why our sleeping habits shift as we grow older; and the evolutionary significance of REM sleep and dreaming. Charming, eye-opening, and deeply humanizing, Sleepyhead will help us all uncover the secrets of a good night's sleep." -- Amazon.com.