Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I have gone down a rabbit hole of nonfiction that focuses on the importance of sleep, and I think that The Nocturnal Brain is a good one. This is so well researched and I think if you are someone who suffers from insomnia you will find this interesting, though it may be nightmare inducing!

As someone who's suffered from insomnia since about age 15, I've always been interested in sleep disorders, and this book ended up totally fascinating! There are accounts of patients who have sleep disorders (some of which I had never heard of) that were both strange and heartbreaking. There was some medical jargon and explanations that definitely went over my head, but anyone even remotely interested in what happens to our brains during sleep will find this book captivating. Although I didn't find any surefire tips for preventing sleepless nights, I do have a newfound appreciation for how amazing our brains/bodies are at creating this process.

The Nocturnal Brain is very informative. I have always been curious to learn how to get better sleep and what truly affects us when we are sleeping or throughout the day. We get an inside into Dr. Guy Leschziner's patients and their conditions.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and author Dr. Guy Leschziner for this ARC!

The Nocturnal Brain by Dr. Guy Leschziner was a very inspired and well-written book. I love the easy to follow descriptions and the writing and analysis were well-researched. This book is for anyone interested in learning more about the brain. I think everyone can get something from this book and I highly recommend it.

I received a review copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.5 "interesting, informative and compassionate" stars !!!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and St. Martin's Press for an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was released in July 2019.

Dr. Leschziner is a neurologist and a specialist in a variety of sleep disorders. He comes across as humble, intelligent, compassionate and very knowledgeable about his field. He is the type of doctor that I am sure sufferers of sleep disorders are extremely grateful to find. He works in two clinic in the U.K.

This book is a treasure trove of information on a wide variety of sleep disorders from the very common but troublesome disorders of insomnia and sleep apnoea to less common restless leg, sexsomnia, narcolepsy, circadian rhythm disorder and a fascinating condition known as Klein-Levin syndrome that renders young people hypersomnic, derealized, constantly famished and sexually pre-occupied. Dr. L. presents case studies of all these conditions and more and delves into the physical and psychological impact of these disorders on people's lives. He also presents a very interesting case of a personality disordered partner who abuses their spouse and lies about sleep talking that does not truly exist.

I found having some background in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neuropsychiatry very helpful in parsing out much of the information presented. Although this background is not required to enjoy this book I found the knowledge deepened the utility of this book for me.

Most of us have had transient issues with sleep but some of us suffer greatly because of one or more sleep disorders. Careful diagnosis is important and then following through and trying a variety of both pharmacological and behavioural treatments can help minimize the impact that sleep issues has on our work, leisure, health and social relationships.

To be honest, not as good a read as Walker's Why We Sleep, but equally informative about the importance of sleep for the human brain and body.

DNF @ 18%

Of what I read this book was really fascinating, but unfortunately, I'm just no longer interested in the stories after having set it aside for most of the rest of the year. I appreciated how the author made it accessible to those of us who aren't medically- or scientifically-inclined, though. That was super great!

Well-written and well-researched book of case studies related to sleeping - or rather the lack of sleeping. As someone with insomnia, understanding how our brain works at night is fascinating.

Pretty much a casebook on sleep science. I have read nearly a dozen books on the science of sleep this year, and this one of the more academic and hard science focused. This is less pop sci and more for those already well versed in neuroscience, sleep science, or any other science where the dense passages won't be daunting.

I love this book in concept, and it definitely wasn't lacking in the data or factual basis departments. However, Leschziner crafts his work in a non-popular science manner in that readability of the concepts and case studies isn't necessarily tailored to an average knowledge base.

While I did enjoy reading some of the case studies and the bizarre symptoms of the patients, as well as theories of what was causing these symptoms on a neurological level, the organization of the information was confusing and resulted in a choppy kind of reading process.

It felt more like a collection of cases than a book with more of a narrative or agenda, which I respect, but it ends up interfering with the progression of the book instead of adding onto the collected sleep disorders.

In general, it had a lot of good information that was introduced in a way that did not allow for the book to reach its potential for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

I received Nocturnal Brain from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is an amazing collection of case studies and information on the studies, or lack thereof, on the neurological processes that impact sleep. At first, I thougt that this book may be too scientific for the casual reader. However, as I continued along with the book, the cases were so interesting that I feel any reader would enjoy Nocturnal Brain. Dr. Guy Leschziner does an amazing job of showing how sleep disorders, and some other neurological syndromes, impact the entire life of those diagnosed with them. He shows how diagnostic process harms patients and lack of knowledge lets down doctors. This book encompasses everything any reader could dream of from a book about sleep. I encourage it for medical professionals, the chronically tired, or anyone with a chronically tired person in their life.

As some who suffers from insomnia, I found this book incredibly interesting. I may have given myself a few nightmarish fears over what I could be experiencing instead. One of the most intriguing non-fiction popular science books I have ever read. Only downside is that it's a little heavy at times.
Other than that I would definitely recommend it.

A little too heavy on the neuroscience for me at times, <i>The Nocturnal Brain</i> is still an interesting, if at times slightly dry, read. It came across more like a short story collection based on a common theme than a cohesive whole, and I think that made it harder for me to keep reading at times.

What this book definitely did was make me appreciate my lack of sleep disorders aside from occasional snoring.

Rating: 3.5

Most of us are aware of sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome. Some of us have family members who sleepwalk or sleep talk, and most of us have probably had episodes of insomnia. In this book, Dr. Leschziner covers all of these conditions and more. He also presents a number of very unusual sleep disorders that I had never heard of, providing an overview of the relevant neuroanatomy and neurophysiology in language that is accessible to the lay reader. Some of the concepts are challenging and the neurologist-author uses analogies to clarify them . Each chapter focuses on a different condition, examining it through the eyes of one or two patients. Some disorders are not easily remedied, and the reader learns of the physician’s challenges in attempting to treat sufferers as well.

While I enjoyed the book and learned a lot, I did feel that most chapters could have been pared down. Some material is repetitive, and some patients’ comments are not particularly illuminating or insightful.

Rats! This book was archived before I sent it to my kindle. I’ll pick up a physical copy when it comes out.

This book has been well-received by those who experience sleep issues as well as those in the medical field. The stories relayed by the author are fascinating and his patients are treated with respect. Definitely great non-fiction read!

As someone who loved reading The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat, this book falls into the same niche and I loved it! Sleep itself is interesting, but when it goes wrong it is even more so. Plus reading it made me realize that my sleep (while not perfect) is really great compared to how bad some people's sleep is!

The author's painstaking research and attention to detail is obvious in the writing of this book. There were many facts that I only discovered after reading this!

An excelling and fascinating book , The Nocturnal Brain by Dr Guy Leschziner is perfect for anyone curious to know more about one of the most mysterious of human activities - sleeping. Using examples and anecdotes from his clinical practice Dr. Leshziner first tries to explain the process and function of sleep, what happens to the brain and why sleep is so important for our overall physical and mental health. While many of the cases he describes are almost unbelievable, such as a woman who rode her motorcycle in her sleep, or humorous like the young man who mistook his shoe for a phone to hold a sleeping conversation, the truth is that a lack of sleep or poor sleep quality is no laughing matter and can have very serious consequences, as some of his other case studies demonstrate only too clearly. . Over the course of the book, the author explains, as much as current scientific knowledge allows, a variety of sleep disorders from sleep apnoea to sleepwalking, night terrors , insomnia and even rare conditions such as Kleine- Levin syndrome which can cause prolonged periods of sleeping in teens along with other symptoms. His explanations are matter of fact and designed for the lay reader, and his warm almost conversational style makes for enjoyable and illuminating reading. Over the course of the book I developed a real sympathy for those who struggle to sleep for any prolonged period of time, having thankfully never had any problems myself in that department, I think I did not really realise the devastating impact it could have . I would highly recommend this book, not just to anyone struggling with a sleep disorder but to anyone fascinated by the workings of that most fascinating of human organs, the brain.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.