Sleep Secrets

A guide to overcoming sleep problems, offering solutions that range from the ordinary to the esoteric.

In this health book, Bazar (Your Perfect Diet, 2013) addresses the physical and psychological obstacles to obtaining a good night’s sleep and offers a wide range of products and techniques to address insomnia and other challenges. The book first provides an overview of the physiology of sleep, then moves to problems and solutions with illustrations, including cartoons, appearing throughout. Bazar provides specific guidance on topics such as adjusting one’s diet, establishing a schedule, managing one’s stress, and using cognitive behavioral modification. The book also includes product recommendations for everything from white-noise smartphone apps to lowlight alarm clocks. Overall, Bazar offers an eclectic, wide-ranging guide. Many of the natural remedies here—including aromatherapy and meditation—are generally accepted by the mainstream. Others, however, fall well outside it; for example, recommendations to align one’s bed with the Earth’s magnetic poles, remove jewelry that “can interfere with energy flows,” or avoid synthetic fabrics that disrupt the body’s energy field may raise eyebrows. Bazar cites recent research that demonstrates a link between nighttime exposure to backlit screens and sleep disruptions but also takes an alarmist position on the potential threat of exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Instead of providing a list of references, the book contains embedded links to articles, videos, and studies. In some cases, these links point to peer-reviewed research, but a substantial number take readers to natural-health websites. Another note: links to many of the recommended products include referral codes, which allow the author to earn a commission on purchases.

A layperson’s guide to possible impediments to successful sleep, including a variety of natural cures that lack strong scientific backing.