If there is a book about sleep that will make you know the story in depth about the mechanisms that make us sleep, why we feel sleepy, various aspects related to sleep, and answer the question of why our sleep quality is poor. It is written from the perspective of a physical therapist and a bedding product designer who understands sleep problems very well. Most importantly, it is easy to read, enjoyable, and interesting. It is one of the books that I (the author of this article) read from the cover to the last paragraph in 3 hours, and then prepared to go to bed that night without having to think further. And I told myself that tonight, "I'd better sleep."
My inner words are in line with the title of the book "Better Sleep" by author Chawakit Kao-ian (Khun Seng), who has brought his knowledge and direct experience from designing sleep products for 13 years to convey in an easy-to-understand format that is pleasing to the eye, not long-winded, and focused. Most importantly, there is a sentence in which Chawakit says, "If you feel sleepy while reading, just close the book and go to sleep." It is a humble writing style, and throughout the content, the book explains the basics of sleep and sleep theories in an easy-to-understand manner, through every sentence. This will be of great value to my life from now on, and I would like to invite everyone to receive it as well.
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My (the author's) feelings after reading the book "It's Better to Sleep"
What is the content of the book "It's Better to Sleep First"?
This book begins with a simple yet profound question: "Why do we need to sleep?" And from here, Chawakit takes us on a deep dive into the basic sleep mechanisms of the human body through an easy-to-understand theory. The main content covers the sleep cycle, which explains that sleeping is not just about closing your eyes and finishing, the circadian rhythm, which acts as an internal timer for the body, telling you when to wake up and go to sleep, and the function of various hormones. It also explains the adenosine that accumulates throughout the day and makes us sleepy.
Chronotypes are a topic that has helped me understand myself better. The author divides people into four animal-based types: lions, bears, wolves, and dolphins. Each type has its own unique sleep-wake patterns, allowing us to understand why some people wake up refreshed in the morning while others need more time to wake up. There is also a detailed explanation of the hormones involved in sleep, from melatonin and cortisol to sex hormones that affect sleep quality and the causes of various sleep disorders.
Including tangible matters such as sleeping position, sleep ergonomics, exercise and sleep, to the importance of sleep equipment and whether or not we can do sleep therapy from a physical therapist's perspective, there are answers for you in this book. Ultimately, good sleeping habits.
A physical therapist's perspective on sleep will tell you
What makes this book different from other sleep books is that it is written from the perspective of a physical therapist and a bedding designer, which Mr. Chawakit uses to explain. He does not view sleep as a separate issue, but rather as linked to the muscular, skeletal, and nerve systems, one of the reasons for this is the choice of sleep equipment.
The story of pain and sleep problems explains why we experience pain while sleeping and why poor sleep makes pain worse. It is a cyclical explanation that allows us to understand this complex mechanism and understand the big picture. There is an explanation of sleeping positions, not just telling you which position you should sleep in, but also explaining the effect on muscles and joints, along with advice on choosing bedding , mattresses that are chosen according to the sleeper's body shape, and choosing pillows , which is a perspective that we may not find in sleep books on the market.
Answers to many questions about sleep that you never knew.
If I were to summarize what I've learned from reading this book , and I think you'll all get the same, I'd have to explain that throughout my life I've questioned many things, starting when I was a teenager: Why didn't I want to go to bed early like my mother told me to? As a child, I was always an early sleeper, and by the time I reached high school, I could hardly go to bed past 9 p.m. anymore. And as I got to university, it got even worse.
When I entered working life, I wondered again, "Why do some people wake up early and are very productive in the morning, while others wake up early and do nothing?" And every time I feel sleepy after lunch and work with my eyes wide open, I ask myself, "Why do I feel sleepy after lunch?" Even though I've slept enough at night. Some holidays, I wake up late, and then I eat until I'm full, and then I feel sleepy again. What! Even though I've only been awake for less than three hours. There's also the matter of coffee. Sometimes, the more I drink, the more sleepy I get. Some days, I overwork myself, staying up all night, and then I go to bed all at once. Will this work?
These fundamental questions about sleep have been answered through the author's explanations, which have been translated into theory, allowing us to better understand our bodies.
Let me tell you the part of the story that I like the most.
If I were to pick my favorite part of the book, it would be the section on “insomnia,” or “insomnia disorder,” as the author calls it. I’m someone who’s had to deal with it for a long time, ever since I started working. I’ve always slept poorly, sometimes sleeping too much, alternating between sleepless nights and oversleeping. Throughout the 15 pages devoted to this condition, I realized a certain perspective that had occurred to me: everything I was experiencing had a cause and effect. What had I done to lead to these symptoms? I also learned the root cause. Even though I might not be able to fix it today or tomorrow, knowing the root cause really motivated me to improve my sleeping habits and adjust my daily routine so that one day I could be completely cured of these symptoms.
Who is this book suitable for?
Generally speaking, this book is suitable for anyone who needs to sleep, and since all humans need to sleep, this book is suitable for everyone. I'm confident that even if you don't have any sleep problems today, the day a sleep problem arises, you'll be able to immediately understand its cause. You'll be able to quickly address it. This is different from letting poor sleep persist for a long time, which takes a long time to improve sleep habits. But if I were to go into more detail, I'd categorize it into five must-read categories:
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People with sleep problems : whether it's insomnia, feeling unrested after sleeping, or waking up frequently during the night, will be able to understand the cause and find the right solution.
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Shift workers or those who frequently change time zones : Understand how to manage fluctuating body clocks and how to adapt accordingly.
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Parents who need to manage their children's sleep : especially teenagers who tend to stay up late, understand that this is a normal biological condition, not a disorder.
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People who are interested in health and want to understand their own bodies : will gain a new perspective on sleep, which is not just about rest, but about investing in your health.
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Those working in health or caring for patients : will gain more knowledge about sleep from a physical therapist's perspective.
My (the author's) feelings after reading the book "Better Sleep"
For me, as a writer, I have to read books (mostly heavy content) every day to gather ideas for my writing. Reading this book is like having a vacation because it's written in simple language, doesn't use too difficult vocabulary, and has a comfortable spacing, making it easy to read, making it not feel heavy or boring. It's not written in a "lecture" style , but rather like a friend talking to you. There's a sentence that says, "Are you sleepy? You can go to bed now," at the end of the chapter.
And conveying the basics of good sleep through a concept that doesn't just mean going to bed early, but also means prioritizing your daily activities because it affects the quality of your sleep. Honestly, I wanted to slap myself because as I was writing this article, it was already past midnight. I think I'll have to improve my sleeping habits from now on. Changing my mindset to waking up and doing it in the morning takes the same amount of time, which is better than forcing yourself to finish it. I hope today's content will make you want to pick up this book and read it. It's a real invitation for everyone to read it. And finally, for tonight, I'm going to "go to bed first."
