Since the publication in 2017 of the bestseller Why We Sleep, there have been many books on the value of sleep, along with much new research on the subject. The Coronavirus lockdown has also had a disastrous effect on many people’s ability to sleep and we seem to live in a constant state of anxiety and disruption. This is a fascinating and rewarding variation on that theme, written by a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California. She talks about the “Downstate”, the way of being where your body thrives and recovers, and where it is basically functioning in an optimum way. Of course sleep is probably the greatest downstate, but there are other forms based on breathing, nutrition and exercise. These of course can help you sleep too. The science is cutting-edge and the author also writes in a fun way.

352pp, 152 x 229 mm, Paperback, 2022, RRP £12.99