Say Goodnight to Insomnia Reviews

• I've slept since I read it.

  
  By A2B7MGTSS3O1JA on 2005-05-31
  I bought this book based on a recommendation from a February 22, 2005 article on Slate by Amanda Schaffer. If it wasn't for this recommendation, I'm not sure I would have kept reading after the first chapter. The book is full of exclamation points, oversimplification and glib promises. Very "self help"y.
  
  So why 5 stars? Because I have slept deeply all night every night since I read the book. I was coming off the worst bout of insomnia of my life...several weeks at 3 hours or less per night. I planned to start the first week of the program, a sleep diary, the next night I slept badly. It hasn't happened. For me, just having read the program and realizing the simple changes I could make seems to have done the trick. And if my sleep problems resume, I feel confident that pursuing the six week program faithfully would solve the problem.
  
  The author is condescending, overly perky, and seems to be writing for an IQ level of about 87. But if you have a serious insomnia problem, I recommend you get past the style and try out the substance. I'd read a lot more annoying books if I knew I'd sleep well afterward.
  
  
  

• Tiring, and thereby helpful

  
  By A117L29JBUWK5U on 2005-07-30
  This book has been immensely helpful for me and my understanding of why I have always had so much trouble with sleep. Dr. Jacobs sets the record straight on a number of sleep myths but can be repetitive when he is trying to make a point. For example, he drones on for 16 pages about how sleeping pills will do more harm than good. This may be an effort to extend the length of this book.
  
  Instead of providing us with a 200 page verbose browbeating the author would have better served us with a concise text that could have easily been less than 100 pages. And also, when he is trying to prove a point, Dr. Jacobs will cite some vague statistic. When trying to prove the effectiveness of his "Relaxation Response," or "RR" for short, the author says, "Dozens of scientific studies have proven that the RR is an effective treatment for insomnia," and that is it. If he's not going to be specific, why bother mentioning it at all.
  
  As for the "6-week solution" this book provides, it seems to have been added as an afterthought. The 6 week program consists of keeping a sleep diary for 6 weeks. That's it. The point, of course, is to try to find a connection between what you did to help yourself sleep and how much you slept, but don't buy this book looking for a miracle 6 week cure.
  
  In the end I still recommend this book to anyone with sleep trouble. There are some incredibly useful things in this book that make trudging through it worthwhile.
  
  

• A life saver

  
  By A31T1TB9B9GWLE on 2003-08-28
  I bought this book out of desperation. It seems that one day I suddenly lost ability to fall asleep. After several weeks spent virtually without sleep, I went to a doctor and got sleep medication, which worked well. However, I was unable to sleep without it and my husband and I wanted to have a second baby. Thus, I knew I would have to get off the medication; but when I tried to sleep without the pill, I couldn't fall asleep.

  Thank you to all the readers who have recommended this book and helped me choose the right one! As a result of following Dr. Jacobs' advice, I no longer need any medications and have no sleep-related problems. This was a great investment!

  This book can be helpful to anyone who would like to improve quality (or quantity) of his or her sleep.
  
  

• The best way to sleep better, guaranteed !!

  
  By on 1999-09-07
  I used to suffer from only slight but chronic insomnia, and when I got up in the mornings, I used to feel like I had been run over by a truck. I bought this book thinking that I've got nothing to lose except a few dollars. Yet after only a few days of following the expert advice contained in this book, my sleep improved "drastically", and I was finally able to function normally again during the day.

  This book has all the information you need in order to develop a healthy sleep pattern that will inevitably improve the quality of your life if not save it. If you depend on sleeping pills or tranquilizers to sleep, this book will show you how to get off them and to stay off them for good.

  Finally, I would recommend this book not only for the desperate insomniacs out there, but for EVERYONE, since it contains lots of useful and expert information that we ALL can use from time to time.
  
  

• An absolute must-buy for long-time insomnia sufferers!!

  
  By on 2003-02-22
  This book is wonderful--I finished it in 2 days! It is a very easy-to-read explanation of the physiology of sleep, why we lose it, and how we can get it back. The techniques Dr. Jacobs describes to stop insomnia are easy to follow (although they do take patience and persistence) and really make sense. And, best of all, this program works!!! I suffered from insomnia for over 16 years, and I never thought I would be free of endless days and nights worrying about sleep. To my amazement, the night following the day I started reading the book, I fell asleep within 10 minutes! Unheard of for me! And, I wasn't even employing any of the techniques suggested in the book yet. I whole-heartedly recommend this book to all insomniacs who suffer from constant anxiety about sleeping as I did, and wish you endless nights of restful sleep!
  
  
• Excellent comprehensive program!
  By A26A64X86VL1R4 on 2006-05-03
  Jacobs does an excellent job of coherently outlining the causes of insomnia and barriers to sleep. He provides a concise outline of the physiology of sleep along with a nicely designed 6 week program to cure insomnia.
  
  Following this program will require some motivation--but if you are not sleeping then you should have some extra time to devote to eliminating insomnia.
  
  Of particular interest is the explanations for why sleeping pills don't work and actually make insomnia worse. There is a recommended program for weaning off of sleeping pills. Another important aspect of the program is learning to eliminate negative thoughts about sleep.
  
  Highly recommended!
  
  
• Hope for Insomniacs
  By on 2000-01-14
  This book was simply the best I have read on insomnia. I thought I was doing everything right to promote sleep, until I read this book and saw how I was sabotaging my sleep. It explained things better than my sleep therapist could. After 17 years of feeling hopeless from insomnia I have my life back due to this book. You won't be disappointed.
  
  
• It Changed My Life
  By A2PSFN5601Z5X7 on 2001-08-23
  No kidding. I was resistant at first to start the book, I thought that by exploring my sleep I'd make the problem worse. Believe me, the exact opposite is true. "Knowledge is power" has never held so much truth. It took almost no time to feel a definite change in my sleep patterns. I started falling asleep in less than 20 minutes every night. If I woke up during the night I was able to get back to sleep almost instantly. By limiting my time in bed I was able to retrain my brain to think of a bed as a place to sleep again. At first I only got four hours of sleep a night, but now I'm up to as much as six and a half and I'm only into the second week of the program. Please do youself a favor, if you have insomnia, there is no need to suffer any longer. BUY THIS BOOK at any price, peace of mind can be yours again.
  
  
• This book really works!
  By AXJN94NJ2P122 on 2004-05-14
  I work the midnight shift as a police sergeant. I had never been able to sleep more than a few hours a day, and the situation had horrible prospects. I bought this book out of desperation, and it has changed my life. I went from 3 or 4 hours of sleep a day to 6 or 8 hours. I feel like a human being again. GOD BLESS YOU DR. JACOBS, AND MR. BENSON! THANK-YOU!
  
  
• Best help I found
  By ATXT4XVYO5BDL on 2004-09-24
  I can not compare this book to other books as I do not own any. However, I can say this much. I went to my doctor, a sleep doctor (neurologist) and spent quite a bit of money and time. I found the first two chapters more useful and informative than all the information that I received from doctors. (Note - Do not avoid a doctors visit if you think you may have a medical condition such as sleep apnea)
  
  
• The cure for insomnia
  By A1T64DRF1N7VHI on 2005-03-04
  The first night after I picked up this book I slept 8 hours straight. That was after 2 weeks of 4-hour nights, sometimes punching the mattress because I was so tired yet I couldn't sleep. I tried Tylenol PM and NyQuil, but they made me feel horrible the next day. I spoke with a friend of mine who is a physician's assistant, but she had no good advice. I even went to websites like WebMD and got no help. In fact, the information online was terribly depressing because it said "anxiety about not being able to sleep can exacerbate insomnia", but it offered no solutions to deal with this anxiety, and that just made me more anxious! That was my main problem - I was anxious about not being able to sleep, and that just made things worse.
  
  In contrast, this book precisely addressed the symptoms of insomnia I was experiencing and offered real solutions to the problem. And after weeks of trying to find answers and getting nowhere, the relief this book brought was downright tear-jerking. Dr. Jacobs has put together a comprehensive, easy to read book that focuses on the major causes of insomnia, including anxiety, negative sleep thoughts, and negative sleep patterns. His information is based on years of scientific research (we're not talking new-age, herbal, hollistic, astrological, etc here) and his system boasts an incredible 100% success rate (i.e., all participants have seen positive results in one form or another). He breaks down the myths that make insomnia sufferers feel as if something is mentally wrong with them, and he focuses instead on defining, in great detail, what happens when you actually sleep. His relaxation techniques really work, as does his sleep diary, and it is all done in a way that ultimately makes you feel in control of the quality and the quantity of your sleep.
  
  I only read about the 1st 1/2 of this book, but it was enough to bring me back to a normal sleep pattern and to help me deal with bad sleep in the future. I have already recommended it to my P.A. friend and I gush about it whenever anyone tells me they have trouble sleeping. BTW, this is my first book review, ever. I owe at least this much in thanks to Dr. Jacobs.
  
  
• 30% self promotion, 30% folksy talk, 30% okay
  By A36491EULU4V4P on 2005-04-01
  I took this book back. A book that spends as much time as this one telling you how good it (and the author) is turns me off. It presents research findings as though they are rumors, with no mention of the source. There's not even an index to look up topics. There are very much better books on this topic. The factually best is by William Dement -- the founder of the field of sleep medicine ("The Promise of Sleep"). A more accessible one is by Hairi & Linde, "No More Sleepless Nights."
  
  
• If only I'd known....
  By A4UK9R1CFPWV3 on 2005-09-21
  Gregg Jacobs's basic advice on beating insomnia is straighforward: "wind-down" for an hour before bed (very important), choose and stick with a set bedtime and wakeup time (no compensating for lost sleep), don't exercise right before bed (who knew?), and realize that a bad night's sleep won't kill you. Those who troll insomnia websites may find these suggestions old news--but for those who feel distraught and disoriented by sleeplessness, the straightforward plan of action is just what the doctor ordered. And the basic rules of sleep hygeine really do make a difference: the trick is following and sticking with them. Over time, the program works. If doctors handed out this book instead of dispensing sleeping pills, nighttime sufferers would feel empowered, and get better, much faster. This volume definitely belongs on the bookshelves of the sleep-deprived.
  
  
• extremely well researched and helpful
  By on 1999-08-02
  I have suffered with insomnia on and off for a long time and also studied it in some depth. This author is really an expert and dispenses a lot of new information that I had never seen before. There are a lot of helpful ideas presented here and I feel I have already received value many times the price of the book. If you have insomnia, buy it. If a friend or loved one suffers from insomnia, buy it for them.
  
  
• Same info is on the web
  By A329L3HF2QK7E on 2005-08-14
  This books is so over-rated. I read all the reviews on this site and ran out to get the book only to find that this so-called six-week plan is just 6 chapters of stuff you can find on the web. The author introduces very few new insights into the discussion. Some of his weaker suggestions are to simply think positively or not overreact to sleeping poorly. He has a chapter about cognitive therapy that is an abbreviated explanation of a topic covered expertly in "Feeling Good". He claims that all sleep medications are bad and then does admit that drugs such as ambien are much better than older drugs. Don't buy this book. I got more info from [...].
  
  
• No Longer Desperate for Sleep
  By A3T71L3FMPOBFZ on 2006-02-23
  I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. Having suffered from insomnia for years and having read numerous books and articles purporting to have a "cure" for the problem, I found in this book the best advice I have ever received. The credibility of the book lies in the author's unwillingness to promise an easy cure. Instead, the author uses concrete case studies (and I assure you, reader, you will find yourself in one of those studies) to explain how our thought processes help to turn simple insomnia into chronic insomnia. The author offers extremely helpful cognitive/behavior modification techniques to help the insomniac retrain her body to sleep. My attitude and outlook improved dramatically as soon as I began reading the book, and I experienced results within a few days of completing it (although it is designed to be a six-week learning tool, it reads very quickly, especially if the reader is desperate for a good night's sleep). If you are suffering from this illness, this book is a MUST.
  
  
• A Great Resource for Insomniacs
  By on 1999-06-30
  I am the author of Desperately Seeking Snoozin' and also sponsor a very active insomnia discussion forum. Many of the people who post on the site have reported how much Dr. Jacob's book has helped them sleep better and recommend the book for other sufferers. My congratulations to Dr. Jacobs for his book and for the insomnia program that he runs. There are very few sleep clinics that offer a good insomnia program.
  
  
• It works!
  By A2UD421S6W34PB on 2000-04-25
  I had chronic insomnia for months. This book helped me the first day I read it. My neurologist recommended other books, but I found this one to be the most helpful and easy to follow. If you're suffering from insomnia (long term or short), read this book.
  
  
• This book provides a cure for chronic insomnia
  By on 1999-05-06
  This book is the best book I have read on sleep. In particular it addresses long term chronic insomnia very well and provides a way to end this hellish nightmare. The treatment of sleeping pills is especially insightful. While reading, I found myself nodding my head in agreement constantly, realizing that here was a sleep professional who actually understood the problem so many people face in isolation. What a welcome relief from others who provide no solutions. I highly recommend this book.
  
  
• My Sleep Savior
  By A3V35BZXIMG3Z8 on 2006-04-27
  Extremely User Friendly and informative. It worked for me in less than six weeks. When I started reading the book I thought "this won't work for me." But it absolutely did.
  
  The key is to practice the tips.
  
  
• This book is worth it if you want to sleep again!
  By on 2002-10-23
  Before reading this book I averaged 4-5 hours of sleep per night. In the 5th week of the program I'm now averaging 6-7 hours per night, falling asleep faster, staying asleep longer, experiencing better quality of sleep and no longer taking any sleep aids. This book is easy reading, simple and logical to understand and covers a broad range of areas in everyday life which effect your sleep. Best of all, it will put your mind at ease and you will have control of your sleep again instead of it controlling you.
  
  
• A life saver
  By A31T1TB9B9GWLE on 2003-08-28
  I bought this book out of desperation. It seems that one day I suddenly lost ability to fall asleep. After several weeks spent virtually without sleep, I went to a doctor and got sleep medication, which worked well. However, I was unable to sleep without it and my husband and I wanted to have a second baby. Thus, I knew I would have to get off the medication; but when I tried to sleep without the pill, I couldn't fall asleep.

  Thank you to all the readers who have recommended this book and helped me choose the right one! As a result of following Dr. Jacob's advice, I no longer need any medications and have no sleep-related problems. This was a great investment!

  This book can be helpful to anyone who would like to improve quality (or quantity) of his or her sleep.
  
  

• This book saved me from becoming a drug addict
  By A3VE3DJDX3JXPE on 2005-12-22
  Last summer I got a case of insomnia that only let me get about 2 hours of sleep a day for almost 2 weeks. Like many people I found that many doctors and so called sleep specialists really don't know that much.
  
  I was falling apart and I was scared. I was on my way to making sleep medications a regular part of my life when I found this book. It helped me get off the sleep medications and get back to sleeping normally.
  
  The methods used in the book are all based on good science and proven practices. The methods are holistic. You will not only sleep better, but you will be a healthier and happier person.
  
  As someone pointed out in one of the earlier reviews this information is found in bits and pieces on the Internet. This book is the result of integrating and studying all of those bits and pieces as a whole. As such it is far more valuable.
  
  I agree with the others that the tone of the book in the first chapters can be improved, but the book is good enough that it is worth rolling your eyes and reading through the whole thing.
  
  I think it also would have been more useful to mention the relaxation tape by the author in the front of the book, instead of at the end in fine print. Since I didn't discover it until I finished the book I never tried it as I did not need it, but I think it could have been helpful.
  
  
• This really helps!!
  By A3720451SNRG0W on 2001-03-14
  I've tried everything I could think of to escape my insomnia for over 2 years now including pills, alcohol, herbs, etc... I thought I'd never be able to overcome this! However, I saw this book (along with 4 others) at the library, and I was willing to try almost anything. This book was the most helpful to me! I've been working with the techniques in this book for three weeks now, and my sleep has definitely improved. It may not cure you immediately, but it really helps!! Anyway, this is certainly better than spending a lot of money (and aggrivation) on pills and sleep centers!
  
  
• Some helpful info
  By A1GXASNOBKSFFY on 2005-09-05
  This book does have some helpful information about the human body's sleep cycle as well as the effects of medication and other treatments for insomnia. However, the book is written in a simplistic manner pandering to the uneducated and the uninformed. I guess I understand the doctor's approach in "dumbing down" the topic: if the writing had been too technical or "difficult," he would have lost a large number of potential buyers. Nevertheless, depsite the annoyingly simplistic style of the book, I carefully followed the six-week program, and unfortunately ended up sleeping worse than when I started!
  
  
• Self Help at it's best
  By A2EBY3L99H90YY on 2006-08-12
  I'm a physician and I have recommended this book and given it as a gift. It helped my own daughter. As a nation we are sleep deprived and for the subset of people who find it hard to fall asleep a natural method to deal with this problem is preferable to a drug solution with all it's side effects. If insomnia is your problem, this is the first stop to improved sleep.
  
  
• The best book on insomnia I've come across
  By A2MER7IHJS911W on 2007-01-09
  This book was recommended to me by a woman who specializes in all the aspects of sleep disorders. Just buying the book actually helped me to sleep better! Jacobs' common sense, holistic approach made a lot of sense to me, and I have basically been sleeping soundly since I got it, after 3+ years of insomnia. The suggestion of morning exposure to natural light and morning exercise has been revolutionary to me. Maybe that is obvious folk wisdom, but it took a Harvard Med School doctor to write a book about it! I have never written an Amazon review before, and hyperbole doesn't come naturally, but this book changed my life.
  
  
• Practical and User Friendly
  By on 2002-03-09
  Of the 4 books I have recently read on this subject this was by far the most practical and user friendly. This is the one I will keep and recommend. Slow start, followed by an excellent balance of research, anecdotes and practical suggestions. Very positive, reassuring approach that might save the reader the cost of sleep clinics and their doctors. Thorough but quick read. Suggestions easy to implement and have helped this reader. Lack of index made less critical by descripters in the table of contents. Sources and suggested reading section provides many additonal sources/resources.
  
  
• This book was a very healing
  By A4JKYX526QAD8 on 2006-04-10
  Everyone who has insomnia knows that it is dehabilitating, progressive, emotional and very private. A lot of people seem to have insomnia these days, and people who suffer from it know that it can, and does, cause severe depression, painful emotional mood swings, a skewed view of reality, spirals in work quality, and it can be devastating to relationships and feelings of stability.
  
  After suffering from insomnia for almost 10 years, I came across this book (I couldn't function in my every day life anymore), and it saved my sanity.
  
  I coupled the book with treatment (Rx) from my doctor (I was put on Ambien), and this book restored my sleep. It didn't even take the full six weeks to get there. If you are serious about it, you can solve your sleeping disorder within the duration of this 6-week program (and you don't have to be on ambien).
  
  
• Good Night
  By A28C9IWPK484U on 2007-01-04
  The information in this book really hit home with me. I have suffered from chronic insomnia for 20+ years, have tried every technique & sleeping pills possible, all with minimal success. When I read Dr. Jacobs' descriptions of clients he has helped, it was like reading my history. I have successfully incorporated many of his techniques, and while my sleep isn't perfect, it is definitely better. I rarely use any sleep aids now, and for the most part, feel more rested than I have in years. Definitely worth the money!
  
  

• No More Sleepless Nights
• The Insomnia Solution: The Natural, Drug-Free Way to a Good Night's Sleep
• No More Sleepless Nights Workbook
• The Promise of Sleep: A Pioneer in Sleep Medicine Explores the Vital Connection Between Health, Happiness, and a Good Night's Sleep
• The Insomnia Answer: A Personalized Program for Identifying and Overcoming the Three Types of Insomnia