Gerhard KloschBesprekingen

this book was interesting in a way. Learning about sleep was fascinating, but I was expecting more practical application and suggestions for sleeping better together with my partner. There were a few tidbits here and there, but nothing that was beyond just the basics.

So somewhat helpful and interesting, but overall a disappointment.½

I had looked forward to learning some handy tips from this book; my spouse snores and sleeping together doesn't always result in a restful night for both of us. Alas, I found little here that I would carry forward.

The book is a translation from the German, and the grammatical errors scattered throughout are distracting. But that is a minor issue.

More distressing is the characterizations of men and women. I suspect this is a translation issue, but I felt this book was not addressed to me.

If one is interested in learning more about why we sleep, this book is interesting. If one has already done reading on that topic, this book will add little to it, while failing to offer little on the subject promised by the title.

This book tries to tackle a very common problem among couples and their sleep habits. It does go into the scientific basis of sleep to understand the foundation of sleep and the quandary of the definition of "what is really good sleep". In other words, some define good sleep as how long they sleep versus the quality of sleep and how refreshed they feel in the morning. What is most interesting is the history of how socio-cultural norms have changed over centuries and how sleep differs in various parts of the world. This book concentrates on western society perspectives in general. It does get into boggy details and is redundant at times. The best feature of the book is the bullet point summaries at the end of most chapters offering practical tips for couples to use. Some of the research the authors allude to may surprise regarding the male and female perspective regarding sleeping alone versus together, and how these "norms" are changing over time. If you are a couple complaining about each others sleep, this book can offer some insight and decent pointers.

I was nicely surprised by this book. I don't think we actually know a lot about why we need to sleep and certainly haven't explored the details of how sleep is different for all of us.

This book does a great job of hitting the highlights of the authors' research without lingering too long in any one area. I think everyone that takes the time to read this book will come away with new knowledge on sleeping patterns and how these are affected by gender, relationships, nationality and environmental influences.

A well crafted book.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this via the Library Thing Early Reviewer program.

I wanted to like this book. The wife and I have a fairly old mattress and we both have some, thankfully minor, sleeping issues. We were hoping that it might give us some good advice on how to sleep better together. I read this book aloud to my wife.

One point should be mentioned as it may mitigate a small portion of some of my issues: this book is a translation from German of Ein Bett für zwei.

The book has some grammar issues throughout. They are not excessive but they do distract. Another related issue is the sometimes strange word formations/choice, and the sometimes simply wrong choice. For example, "Aside from the complex methodical problems involved in measuring sleep quality, …" (17). I do not mean to deny that sleep researchers are methodical, but this should without a doubt be 'methodological.'

An issue which greatly disturbed the wife and did bug me, which primarily but not only plagued the introduction, was the issue of 'men' versus 'housewife,' 'working women,' and so on. Men were men and women were something specific. As I pointed out to my wife, I believe that these are primarily reports of other people's research and that if that is how the studies were conducted then that is how they have to be reported. Certainly though, cultural biases and assumptions are easily seen in many of these studies, and in the authors' assumptions regarding gender roles throughout. So the issue is there; it may not necessarily be the authors' doing though.

Chap. 2, "The Cultural History of Sleep," which discusses the history and sociology of sleeping naked, how many to a bed, etc. had the potential to be quite interesting. The biggest issue for me is that almost none of their claims--primarily historical, anthropological, and sociological--have any citations to back them up. In the few cases where there is a citation that resource is not in the bibliography. Contra to this, almost every one of their sleep research claims in the book has a citation and seems to be in the bibliography. [I did not check every single one.] This is simply unacceptable!

Another issue, clearly evident in this chapter, but also when one considers the sleep studies, is that the book is highly focused on the Western European and, less so, the American. Somewhat understandable considering where well-funded sleep research labs are but, nonetheless, people sleep the world over. And in the historical, anthropological and sociological section there is no excuse for breezing past these issues while we get descriptions of Greeks and Romans sleeping.

Once we get into the meat of the book, Chap. 3 onward, we get seemingly contradictory statements in lots of areas, and questions stated as to why something might be when based on what has been stated earlier in the chapter (or book) it is easy to see a possible explanation. I must wonder whether these contradictory statements exist throughout the German edition or whether they came from a translator who simply doesn't understand the research. I assume that some of them come from the "hedging of bets" by the authors. Sleep research is an area with lots of contradictory 'knowledge.' But if you are going to make a claim in one area of your book do not claim the opposite later, or even allude that we don't know. Some readers are paying attention.

Also, it is extremely heteronormative. Lesbians are mentioned once in a discussion of the menstrual cycle and its effect on sleep behavior. Gay men not at all.

All in all, this book could easily be as half as long as it is. If it were boiled down to the actual advice that can be acted on it would be only 10% as long.

If you can read German then I'd suggest getting your hands on the German edition if you really want to read it. Perhaps some of the issues, grammar ones at a minimum, are not present.

Sadly, I cannot recommend this book. There is little of value in it, and much of what might be is presented contradictorily throughout the text.

There is no shortage of books admonishing us to get more sleep and offering advice on how to do it. This one has two distinctions. First, it focuses largely on issues encountered by couples who sleep together occasionally while maintaining separate homes; most sleep research has assumed that couples always share the same bed in the same home. Second, the book is by Austrian researchers with a central European perspective on all aspects of sleep. The book is thorough, well organized into topical chapters, and bases its recommendations on sleep studies carried out as much as possible in sleepers' homes rather than in labs.

Readers may enjoy (as I did) the authors' "cultural history of sleep" and discussion of problems encountered in the study of sleep. If you're just looking for advice on sharing a bed, getting sound sleep, or whether to banish pets from the bedroom, the authors' advice is summed up clearly in bullet points.

The book is capably translated from German (a language I also read). The only peculiarity, I thought, was the frequent use of the word "pair" to translate German Paar. In the U.S., at least, it's more common to speak of two spouses or partners as a couple, not a pair. Otherwise the translation is flawless.

This is a slim volume, translated from the German into quite readable English. As the authors frankly admit, there hasn't been much credible research on the impact of sleep partners on the quality of sleep. In this book, they take a look at several different sleep studies from the partner perspective. There's nothing completely new and life-altering here but they do provide some basic suggestions and may bring to mind issues you may not have considered, such as the influence of smells or the impact of a loud alarm clock.

This is a nice overview of the research related to sharing a bed with another person, but it's rather superficial. I was hoping for more practical tips. This book is a starting point rather than complete in itself.

The book is put forth in workable language and does a nice job summarizing the research that occurred before the authors published their own work. While those looking for deep analysis of the many issues affecting sleep patterns won't find answers here, the book does a remarkable job touching on the major ideas and presenting them in an everyday style. A very educational book and an enjoyable read.½

This was nicely translated from the original German in accessible, friendly language. I had some pre-conceived notions (either from my own experience or that of family and friends) about difficulties sleeping. Some were born out by the findings in this slim volume. In other ways, I was gently and persuasively educated. Found it quite interesting to find that women report far more difficulty sleeping with a partner than do men. While I wish the book had been more prescriptive in dealing with specific issues, there were helpful 'tips' at the end of each chapter. I have already put one such tip into practice. Those with specific issues may not find this book tom have enough detail. However, readers looking for a well written 'primer.' will be well rewarded.

As soon as I saw this book was available to review, I was hoping I would get it. I have a horrible problem with sleep and I have been searching for answers for a long time. This is a great layman's book. I've read many more "clinical" books such as the Promise of Sleep (which is excellent, by the way). I really enjoyed the description of what sleep actually is, why we need sleep, the differences between men and women, sleep disfunction, cultural differences in sleep standards, etc. . I thought the author did a great job of helping one figure out what the trouble might be and how to fix it. The author advises many practical and easy things (e.g. how to coordinate bedtimes). I have to admit that I intellectually know all the right things to do but I have trouble finding the motivation to just do it. It's hard to change a lifetime of bad habits. My poor husband, who has to put up with my insomnia, would love it if I finally got it right.

Sleep is something everyone needs, yet very few people truly understand sleep and what it means to feel fully rested. This book explores multiple facets of sleeping-- history, research, cultural aspects of sleep.

The opening chapters explore sleep and sleep patterns, cultural and historical aspects of sleep-- different thoughts on sleep throughout history. The middle chapters look at co-sleeping and sleep patterns and problems. The book also includes a chapter devoted to sleeping with babies and pets.

The information on sharing a bed with babies was interesting. I've read a lot of books on how to get babies to sleep throughout the night ([no-cry sleep solution], Ferber, etc.) yet found new information in this book. Most of the information was historical and some scienticific which wouldn't help a desperate parent, but it is still interesting.

It is an interesting book to pick up and open to a random page and start reading. I found I read through the whole book in bits and pieces and really enjoyed reading and learning. Albeit the author may be cringing at this reading methodology, but I found the book really interesting in this way. Overall an interesting book I'm glad I picked up.

This book has a lot of information about sleep: its history, how it works, sleep patterns. It is short on practical advice for how to deal with insomnia, other than advocating that partners consider separate bedrooms if they are having trouble sleeping with one another. Since practical advice is what I was looking for when I requested this book, it was a dud for me.

"Sleeping Better Together" take the small body of sleep science that has looked at pair sleeping, and translates it into practical tips to help bed-sharers get a good night's rest. Unfortunately, the authors seem to be writing to a mixed audience, both those struggling for good sleep and those interested in sleep science. Although it's written in lay-terms, the science material may be of little interest to a reader who merely wants the practical tips. However, the book is helpfully organized by topic with a section at the end of each chapter titled "What does this mean for sleeping better together?"

Recommended for the sleep-deprived....or their bed partners.

"Sleeping Better Together" is a slim volume translated from the original German. The title makes the book sound like a self-help text, but in reality this is more of a quick tour through the world of sleep research. Rather than being prescriptive in their suggestions about how to get a good night's sleep, the authors sketch out what research in various fields tells us about how people co-sleep ... not just with intimate partners but also with children and pets. The text is refreshingly free of gender stereotypes (the authors are careful to say that differences in male and female sleep patterns may be socio-cultural, rather than biological), and they are charmingly willing to admit how much we don't know about why and how humans sleep. While scantily referenced, the book does contain a bibliography that could be of use to anyone wishing to delve further into the subject.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend this as a serious purchase for someone looking to solve co-sleeping struggles. The authors' basic advice is to communicate with your partner about the environment you need to sleep best, and to experiment and be flexible about co-sleeping in order to make sure everyone is able to get the rest they need. This might be a fun gag gift for a friend who's recently decided to move in with a partner and/or a humorous wedding shower gift for someone. Personally, my favorite section was the one on co-sleeping with pets and the impossibility of getting cats to accommodate their humans' needs. And the little stick-figure drawings that begin each chapter, while irritatingly hetero-centric, are still amusingly IKEA-like.

Sleeping Better Together is probably a somewhat misleading title for this book about the current state of sleep science. Sure, it has recommendations on solving conflicts between bedmates that could be caused by different environmental tolerances or idiosyncrasies of the other person. Most of these hints though are pretty obvious following the preceding discussion.

In Sleeping Better Together, we learn about the science of sleep, the different phases and statistical trends pertaining to age, sex, and culture. We learn about how some couples migrate towards compatibility in bed, and how others actually drift apart. The factors involved in a good night's sleep change and evolve over the years; a younger couple might be content in each others arms while the elderly might prefer to be in separate beds or even separate rooms! Cultural and social norms play a part as well.

The book is well paced, and the data is presented in a clear manner without much technical jargon. Klosch makes it clear that the important thing above all else is to do what you can to obtain restorative sleep on a nightly basis. I am now familiar with the many things that can interfere with this; awareness of some of these issues goes along way to combating ill effects. I have to admit the last few nights since I started reading this book haven't been all that bad -- the proof will come when I'm reunited with my wife a month from now.½

Considering that I have a board under my side of the bed and haven't really slept soundly in over twenty years, I had hoped that this book would prove helpful, and it has. It has many useful facts and bits of information to help you and yours be better bedfellows. Hopefully both you and your bedmate will be able to use this information to achieve blissful slumber and overcome the mountain of obstacles that sometimes keep us from getting the rest we need. It appears well researched with historical tidbits on the development of shared repose.½

Despite its title, this book isn't about sex! Rather, it's a summary of sleep research, particularly as it pertains to sharing a bed with someone else. There's even a chapter about children and pets in the bed.

I found lots of interesting facts about sleep in this book. The second chapter, on the cultural history of sleep, was fascinating! Other chapters address sleep in general (the first, introductory chapter), individual sleep patterns and problems, sleep behavior and ritual (also intriguing), and problems that stem from couples sleeping together. Each of these chapters ends with a summary section called "What Does This Mean in Terms of Sleeping Better Together?" which includes tips or suggestions for improving your sleep situation.

In the conclusion of the book, the authors address the "taboo" subject of separate beds (or bedrooms) for couples. It was interesting to learn that a 2003 British survey of more than 1,000 couples showed 28% of those over age 60 slept in separate beds and/or rooms, while nearly half of couples over 70 did so. This trend is seen in other countries, too, including the United States. It seems that eventually the need for a good night's sleep outweighs social norms.

This book has an extensive bibliography, a resource list, and index. This slim volume (178 pages) was originally published in 2008 in German. The English translation is good, but I do have to wonder about new research in this area between the 2008 and 2011 publication dates.

© Amanda Pape - 2011

[This book was obtained through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. It will be passed on to someone else to learn from and enjoy.]

Obtained as an Early Reviewer book through LibraryThing.

This is an interesting and helpful book on the science of sleep, the ways that sleep is different for men and for women, and how this knowledge can be applied in order to get a better night's rest. It also aims to dispel some of the stigma around sleeping separately, pointing out that sometimes for everyone's comfort it's a better idea, but the authors are not proponents of the idea.

For people looking for a very cut and dried list of do's and don'ts, this book might be a bit frustrating. While the authors do discuss a bit how the knowledge they're imparting can be applied, the philosophy of the book is basically "Here's some information, here's some suggestions, make of this what you will." No checklists or "you must do this" directives. I personally like this, but other people might be disappointed.

I loved the cultural history of bed-sharing, as well as the scientific information about the differences in the way we sleep. One downside to the book is that it's very, very heteronormative: the assumption throughout is that you are likely to be a man and a woman sharing a bed. This makes sense in the context of a lot of the research referenced -- there just hasn't been much, if any, sleep research on lesbians or gay men -- but it would have been nice if it had been acknowledged.

Overall, it's a good, useful book.

Haven't had much time to read this book, but looking through it, I get a feeling it will be very helpful. I plan to read it after the first of the year when things get less hectic.