Customer Reviews

Sleep Demons: An Insomniac's Memoir

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Though I've never had trouble sleeping, I found this book fascinating. I couldn't put it down, reading late and awaking early to enjoy its beautifully written passages. Hayes expertly weaves the scientific and historic aspects of sleep (and sleep disorders) with his own extremely personal revelations. The very specifity of his details triggered my own reflections on my relationship with sleep and with the world. Don't miss this remarkable debut from a wonderful wordsmith.

As a sleep researcher myself, I appreciated how the author connected his personal sleep problems with ancient, historical, and current studies about sleep. Quoting a variety of sources from books, interviews and articles, the book presents the information in a very candid yet engaging manner. I wish the author a good night's rest, finally.

Sleep Demons is part memoir, part discussion of sleep and sleep disorders by Bill Hayes, a self-described agnostic gay insomniac. I found both the memoir and the sleep information intermittently interesting: Some of the scientific sections came off as dry and tedious to me, and I wasn't expecting to read so much about Hayes's active sexual life. Of particular interest to me were his childhood and family life, and then later years living in San Francisco with his partner, Steve, who was HIV-positive and later developed AIDS. The first-person narrative of their life at this time was intriguing and touching, and was what ultimately made me glad to have read Sleep Demons. I'd like to have given it 3 1/2 stars, but felt 4 was too high for my thoughts on the book. So 3 stars it is.

Sleep Demons is a beautiful, poetic book that masterfully weaves science with storytelling. Hayes is one of the most peotic writers of recent memory. He weaves the story of his life with the development and findings of sleep science. He is a lifetime insomniac and documents his struggle and ultimate understanding of the meaning of sleep and insomnia in his life. He grew up in Spokane and ultimately moves to San Francisco during the height of the AIDS epidemic. His experiences and description of San Francisco at that time is one of the most beautiful, true representations of that era. He brilliantly captures the emotional and very personal toll the AIDS epidemic has on an individual and a couple. The book is also a love story, describing the relationship he has with his longtime partner, Steve who has AIDS. Their relationship is inspirational. The book is many things all at once -- a primer on sleep, a memoir, a love story. And the book is at times, gut wrenchingly funny. Hayes has a great sense of humor and his keen, smart observations of the everyday are right-on and very funny. I laughed and cried reading this book. He has the rare ability to be simply descriptive and write moving, poetic prose at the same time. I can't remember a book that so succesfully combines genres so beautifully and succesfully. I couldn't put the book down and was sorry to see it end.

This fascinating memoir weaves in facts about sleep disorders (including insomnia and somnambulism) and the study of sleep all in with the story of Hayes's life. Each chapter uses aspects of his life as a springboard for a discussion of things related to sleep. Sometimes the details almost became monotonous or tedious, but Hayes's style kept me interested in the intriguing details and little known information. I learned so much in this book, as well as thoroughly enjoyed the various reminiscences of Hayes's life, like his apparently inherited insomnia, his partner Steve's battles with HIV, and his search for a "cure" for his insomnia. He ultimately doesn't find an absolute cure, but rather he must come to grips with his unique sleeping patterns. This is an amazing memoir sure to fascinate even those who enjoy a good night's sleep.

A perfect blend of interesting facts and touching memoirs so well intertwined that the reading of the book was quite smooth and enjoyable. I love the author's attention to scientific detail, yet it didn't have that 'college textbook' feel. Bill's personal memoirs were fun, insightful, and endearing. Anyone who has had trouble sleeping and/or self-discovery issues will love this book.

I found Sleep Demons, An Insomniac's memoir, to be an excellent and intriguing study of the history of sleep. From discoveries, to theories, to even the `average Joe's' thoughts and input. Bill Hayes gets a five across the board for an overall performance.

I found Sleep Demons, An Insomniac's memoir, to be an excellent and intriguing study of the history of sleep. From discoveries, to theories, to even the `average Joe's' thoughts and input. Bill Hayes gets a five across the board for an overall performance.

I found Sleep Demons, An Insomniac's memoir, to be an excellent and intriguing study of the history of sleep. From discoveries, to theories, to even the `average Joe's' thoughts and input. Bill Hayes gets a five across the board for an overall performance.

When I first saw this book at my local library, I pounced on it with great excitement. From the jacket notes, I was expecting an interesting melange of fact and memoir. Instead, the book is slim on facts--Mr. Hayes seems to be more fascinated with the scientists who have studied sleep rather than their findings--but rich in memoir. The author recalls interesting scenes from his childhood and adolescence, some of which involve his sleep and sleep routines, but most which don't. I found the description of his coming out poignant; and I read, on the edge my seat, about his lover's changing HIV status. The author should have stuck to memoir or perhaps even have fictionalized his own story (from which he seems able to pull the best parts) and left his thin description of sleep disorders out of the manuscript.