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Counting Sheep: The science and pleasures of sleep and dreams by Paul Martin, HarperCollins, 拢14.99, ISBN 0002570661 Reviewed by Jim Horne

ONE advantage of someone writing about a research field that is not their own is that they may be able to see issues and controversies more objectively. Equally, however, they may not have the advantage of depth of knowledge and insight.

Paul Martin鈥檚 wide-ranging and informed review of the science of sleep, interspersed with literary examples and notable quotes from the famous, bounces along like the proverbial sheep. Its numerous short sections are pithy, but tend to be too short to develop into robust themes, ending perhaps prematurely almost as though one sheep is still trying to jump a fence while the rest of the flock are bounding off to the next, leaving not their tails behind them but an entertaining quote or maxim. Nevertheless, the book is a solid read, although it has no illustrations, figures or tables.

Some tall fences have been avoided in Counting Sheep, especially the big one 鈥� what is sleep for? Martin tells us that 鈥渃hronic sleep deprivation is a real and widespread phenomenon鈥�, but as a scientist studying sleep, I don鈥檛 see much real evidence of this in Britain. He also asserts that we ought to take more naps during the day. But why? It is no good just saying that this will stop us being sleepy. After all, there鈥檚 more to eating food than simply avoiding hunger.

A lot of sleep doesn鈥檛 make us happier, despite what Martin implies. It鈥檚 going to bed earlier that counts. There really is much to be said for 鈥渆arly to bed early to rise, makes one healthy, wealthy and wise鈥�.