I already feel like I have to read this book again. It was so jam packed with information and even shed new light on some common myths and beliefs. Haha I will admit I did fall asleep while reading this multiple times so…it worked?!

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of the audiobook!

This is a book that takes a very practical and realistic approach to sleep issues: from frustrations with 'turning off your brain' to sleep hygiene and medical remedies. It is all covered in a very friendly and easy-to-read format. Best of all, so many myths and misconceptions that exacerbate sleep issues are identified and discussed with solutions that help readers get past the problems.

The basis of the Hello Sleep program is to create a set schedule in which you sleep. This is discovered by finding out your natural sleep rhythm (spend two weeks finding out when your body naturally wants to sleep or to wake up). You then avoid going to sleep to early or staying up too late. This is coupled with the usual sleep hygiene (though there is not a stress on it here) to not have bright lights at night and to let sunshine come in through the window in the morning to naturally wake you up.

The author breaks a lot of myths and misconceptions: sleep deprivation, true insomnia definition, clock watching, self recrimination, etc. Often these subjects create even more problems or sleep issues and once removed, can help to find a solution to sleep issues. The whole point of the program is to make sleep your friend, not your enemy.

I listened to the audio version. The narrator was ok - at times, I could have sworn she was a mechanized/robot voice but then other times some personality did come through. The diction was clear and concise however. Because there are some worksheets in there, I do recommend the printed version. You'll want to be able to go back and reference chapters and refocus on the program and so it will be much easier with the printed version.

In all, this was a good sleep guide that didn't feel like a rehash on what's been written in the past. The author has a really good way of understanding the person behind the sleep issues and so the book feels very personalized. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

I picked this up because I have friends and family who have struggled with sleep, and I was curious to see what research and advice was out there. This is a reassuring book that debunks a lot of myths and assumptions that the public has about insomnia. For example, insomnia is not the same as sleep deprivation and there are no proven links between insomnia and mental conditions. Another example is that a lot of the emphasis on "sleep hygiene" (dark room, cool temps, etc.) is really not going to help someone who has insomnia or actual sleeping issues. The author reassures the reader that it's not their lack of effort keeping them awake. The reverse is true, and their extra effort could actually be causing them more stress surrounding the thought of sleep which in turn keeps them awake.

There is also a fully detailed sleep plan week by week that you can follow to develop a better relationship with sleep. I sometimes don't like "self help" books because the suggestions are too obvious, but I thought that this book actually showed a lot of new strategies while explaining the WHY behind them. The advice has been used before with good results and it centers on individualizing approaches instead of just giving a checklist of things NOT to do. I really enjoyed learning more!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader's audiobook!

I’ve had chronic insomnia since high school, and I really liked this audiobook. It was informative and easy to listen to.

This was a very informative read. As someone who has dealt with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and had a tonsillectomy to manage that, I’ve recently started questioning my bouts of insomnia. After dealing with OSA, I have not had a great relationship with sleep, and now that the apnea is not in my way, I look forward to using these tips to my advantage. The only issue I’ve had with this book is the few times curse words were brought into play. I know they want to relate to the reader, but I felt like those were unnecessary.