Saved by the Siesta

An expert guide on the art and science of napping.

A daytime nap fulfills all the same functions as a night’s sleep — it’s hormonal, purifying, curative, consolidating, and reinvigorating. It also helps us to combat sleepiness, pain, depression, weak immunity, stress, hypertension, excess weight, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

But to take advantage of all this we need to be aware of the subtleties of the siesta. There are different types of naps, correct body positions, even times of the day that are more conducive to sleeping. There’s also an ideal amount of time to nap — and, perhaps most importantly, a way to wake up without feeling sleepy.

Saved by the Siesta explains how siestas work and how you can overcome the destructive effects of a bad night’s sleep. It also delves into the stages of sleep and how they affect cognitive performance, memory, and even creativity.

A lucid and accessible synthesis of the science of sleep, as well as a practical guide to the art of the nap.