Counting Sheep: The Science and Pleasures of Sleep and Dreams

I thought this book was the essence of sensibility and pedagogy. I mean pedagogy in that there tended to be repetitive moments and this is its strength, in that I have a better chance of remembering the book; and its weakness, in that repetition is not always the most enthralling reading. The book is excellent in that it places all you ever wanted to know about sleep and the states of sleep in context and order, and up to date science as well. So well worth the time spent reading it. The only reason I have dropped a star is that it is a factual book, and a scientific (popular) book, which means it is always a work in progress, and never complete like a work of literature is.

According to the sub-title of this book, Paul Martin set out to uncover "the science and pleasures of sleep and dreams". It's hard to think of a better example of an author so exactly meeting the terms of his remit.It is thorough in analysis but simple in exposition: important technical and biological information abounds, but the presentation is succinct and accessible to the lay person (in fact, almost a little too down homey in places), with the serious reader left to choose from over 40 pages of references should sufficient interest be stirred.Martin really does justice to the mystery of dreaming and hazards compelling explanations for the existence of this intriguing nightly phenomenon. No reader could fail to be captivated by his elegy to lucid dreaming as he explains the secrets to the elusive state achieved when the dreamer "wakes up" yet carries on dreaming not only conscious but also able to direct the story-line of the dream itself. Having introduced such an startling possibility he is to be commended for suggesting ways we might all achieve such a blissful state.Finally, I didn't take long to read it but I lost track of the friends and family members who asked to read it next, probably the best recommendation of all.

Easy to read, fun and just great. I keep reading this book at least once every year. Amazing

Excellent read - much more that the title and subject matter would lead you to believe! Informative, interesting and the author plainly has a sense of humour. Can't recommend this book enough - I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I knew a few things already about it but it's great to learn all the other bits here and there.It's very easily readable but does cover everything I wanted to know!