Why We Sleep
Matthew Walker on what sleep does for memory, immunity and mood
Matthew Walker on what sleep does for memory, immunity, metabolism and mood, and what happens when you keep shorting it. Some specific claims have drawn criticism from other researchers, which is worth reading about alongside it.
People on record
Sorted by strength of stance
Does it: documented as part of their own routine. Recommends: explicitly advises other people to do it. Discusses: covered it substantively without clear personal adoption; this can include criticism or disagreement.
- Bill GatesRecommends
Microsoft co-founder · Gates Notes reading lists
His review says the book made him see the toll of the all-nighters he was once proud of, and that he kept putting it down early to follow its advice. He does not buy every claim in it, the Alzheimer's link in particular, but calls it important even with a discount applied.
Source: Gates Notes: This book put me to sleep - Chris WilliamsonRecommends
Host · Modern Wisdom
Credits it with making him take sleep seriously, points listeners to it, and has hosted sleep researchers on the back of it.
Source: Modern Wisdom Reading List, Volume 1 - Matthew WalkerRecommends
Sleep scientist · author of Why We Sleep
Set out the case in his own book for sleep as a non-negotiable biological necessity rather than a lifestyle preference.
Source: sleepdiplomat.com, his own site - Rich RollRecommends
Ultra-endurance athlete · The Rich Roll Podcast
Must-read for anyone wanting to live and feel better, in his framing, and he has hosted its author on the show.
Source: The Rich Roll Podcast: episode with Matthew Walker - Steven BartlettRecommends
Entrepreneur · The Diary of a CEO
Off the back of one of the show's most widely shared episodes on sleep, he recommends it.
Source: The Diary of a CEO: official episode feed - Lex FridmanDiscusses
AI researcher · Lex Fridman Podcast
Its author came on for a long conversation about sleep, memory and what chronic short sleep costs.
Source: Lex Fridman Podcast: episode with Matt Walker - Peter AttiaDiscusses
Physician · The Drive · author of Outlive
Pushes back on some of the book's stronger claims while taking the sleep case seriously, and has hosted the author at length.
Source: The Drive: episode with Matthew Walker - Rhonda PatrickDiscusses
Biomedical scientist · FoundMyFitness
Refers back to the book in her own work, and has hosted its author at length.
Source: FoundMyFitness: episode with Matthew Walker
Aimed at the same thing
Other entries filed under sleep or longevity.
- Protocol$$$Mid: Roughly $50 to $500, or up to $50/month.
Sauna
Regular heat exposure, often 4 sessions a week at 20 minutes
On record from 17 of 62 tracked people: 11 do it, 3 recommend it, 3 have discussed it - HabitFREE, no cost
Cutting out alcohol
Drinking nothing, or close to it: the most common upgrade in these stacks
On record from 13 of 62 tracked people: 5 do it, 2 recommend it, 6 have discussed it - Gear$$$Mid: Roughly $50 to $500, or up to $50/month.
Oura Ring
Ring-worn sleep and readiness tracker
On record from 5 of 62 tracked people: 2 do it, 3 have discussed it - ProtocolFREE, no cost
Front-loaded eating
Most of the day's food eaten earlier, with the smallest meal last
On record from 1 of 62 tracked people: 1 recommends it - Habit$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.
Sleep score tracking
Checking a nightly sleep score from a wearable or app, and comparing notes with friends
On record from 1 of 62 tracked people: 1 does it - Book$$$Cheap: Roughly under $50, or under $15/month.
Outlive
Medicine 3.0 and the case for training decades in advance
On record from 2 of 62 tracked people: 2 recommend it
Book entry · notes paraphrased from cited sources, quoted excerpts copied from the transcript they link to. Not medical advice. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or reviewed by anyone listed. How this works.