I routinely pulled all-nighters and I wondered quite hard how much time should I spend on sleep back in the days. Which of course, shouldn’t be such a difficult task to accomplish for many. People sleep as much as they meet their best when waking up in the morning. A well-rested body, especially the brain will bring refresh and clarity to ourselves.

I thought it was somehow sad to waste a third of my life sleeping, when there is always so much to do and not so many hours in the day. Wouldn’t it be great if I could train my body to need less sleep?

There were times when I yearn to be like the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who was said to get by on just four hours of sleep a night, or the artist Salvador Dali who wasted as little time as possible slumbering.

Yet, the mystery of sleep seemed not so clear to me, whether on its quantity or quality.

Fortunately, after I’ve read Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep, I have a new perspective and science-based facts about sleep — a daily human activity yet has been ignored.

“All animals sleep, but humans are the only ones that elect to shorten or avoid this behavior.”

I recommended this book to my friends, and if you haven’t read it, also to you. Actually, the author himself did a good job of engaging with more audiences. He wrote in just one playful passage, described sleep as though he were marketing a new pharmaceutical:

“Scientists have discovered a revolutionary new treatment that makes you live longer. It enhances your memory, makes you more attractive. It keeps you slim and lowers food cravings. It protects you from cancer and dementia. It wards off colds and flu. It lowers your risk of heart attacks and stroke, not to mention diabetes. You’ll even feel happier, less depressed, and less anxious. Are you interested?”

Yes, I for one am keenly interested in this wonder drug. If you also do, please enjoy this eye-opener book (well, maybe better use eye-closer).