Sign-In
Cart
How to Sleep Like a Caveman: Ancient Wisdom for a Better Night's Rest
Hardcover
Health GeneralEvolutionSleep Disorders
Publisher Price: $28.00
ISBN13: 9780063430174
Publisher: Mariner Books
Published: May 20 2025
Pages: 304
Weight: 0.80
Height: 1.00 Width: 5.80 Depth: 8.20
Language: English
Sapiens meets Why We Sleep in an evolutionary romp through the science of sleep--and how we can get better rest--by one of the world's leading sleep scientists.
We spend roughly a third of our lives in bed, but for millions of us, not all of that time is spent sleeping. We strive for eight hours per night, only to lie awake thanks to stress, our ever-present devices, a new baby, or that 4pm coffee you thought you needed.
As sleep scientist and recovering insomniac Merijn van de Laar shows, the struggle with modern insomnia is nothing new. When homo sapiens evolved hundreds of thousands of years ago, when saber-toothed tigers were their biggest nighttime worry, wakefulness served to protect one's tribe at night. Research shows these episodic sleep patterns even gave our ancestors an evolutionary advantage. We can look to their example for guidance in improving our sleep health and understanding our natural circadian rhythm, too: how our sleep patterns change as we age, the benefits of communal sleep, the importance of environmental factors such as temperature and light. While our myriad gadgets may distinguish us from early humans, understanding the ways our brains evolved to rest can chart the course toward a better night's sleep.
Drawing from emerging science, archeological research into our ancestors' habits, and close observation of contemporary hunter-gatherer cultures, How to Sleep Like a Caveman explains everything from why we sometimes jerk awake at night--likely a remnant of having slept in trees--to why our efforts to optimize our sleep schedules might just be a fool's errand. The result is a surprising, accessible new framework grounded in ancestral health for thinking about sleep--the way we were designed to.
Drawing on the wisdom of our ancestors, you'll discover:
- Evolutionary Sleep Science: Why our brains evolved to wake up during the night and how that episodic sleep was once a survival advantage against saber-toothed tigers.
- Beyond the 8-Hour Myth: Learn why trying to optimize a perfect eight-hour block of sleep might be a fool's errand and what hunter-gatherer societies teach us about flexible sleep patterns.
- Primal Sleep Instincts: An explanation for why we sometimes jerk awake as we fall asleep--a fascinating remnant from our tree-sleeping ancestors.
- A New Framework for Rest: Practical guidance on environmental factors like temperature and light, and how to apply ancestral wisdom to improve your modern-day sleep health.
Also in
Sleep Disorders
Think Less, Sleep More: From Panic & Perfectionism to Stress-Free Sleep
Romiszewski, Stephanie
Hardcover
Indoor Epidemic: 93% Inside Steals Sleep, Focus & Years-The 7% Outdoor Rx Restores Them
La Puma, John
Paperback
If Sleep Were A Drug: The Science of Sleep Optimization: Biohack Your Brain, Body, and Performance
Grossman, Lt Col Dave
Kaylor, Leah
Paperback
Indoor Epidemic: 93% Inside Steals Sleep, Focus & Years-The 7% Outdoor Rx Restores Them
La Puma, John
Hardcover
Twelve Hours' Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old: A Step-By-Step Plan for Baby Sleep Success
Giordano, Suzy
Abidin, Lisa
Hardcover
The Sleepeasy Solution: The Exhausted Parent's Guide to Getting Your Child to Sleep from Birth to Age 5--Revised Edition
Waldburger, Jennifer
Spivack, Jill
Paperback
Quiet Your Mind and Get to Sleep: Solutions to Insomnia for Those with Depression, Anxiety, or Chronic Pain
Carney, Colleen E.
Manber, Rachel
Paperback
4 Weeks to Better Sleep: Improve Brain Function, Lose Weight, Boost Your Mood, Reduce Stress, and Become a Better Sleeper
Mosley, Michael
Paperback
Mayo Clinic Guide to Better Sleep: Find Relief from Insomnia, Sleep Apnea and Other Sleep Disorders
Prakash Kolla, Bhanu
Morgenthaler, Timothy I.
Hardcover
Eat Better, Sleep Better: 75 Recipes and a 28-Day Meal Plan That Unlock the Food-Sleep Connection (a Cookbook)
Craddock, Kat
St-Onge, Marie-Pierre
Hardcover
Say Good Night to Insomnia: The Six-Week, Drug-Free Program Developed at Harvard Medical School
Jacobs, Gregg D.
Paperback
Awakened Sleep: An Ayurvedic Approach to Getting Deep Rest and Unlocking Optimal Health
Patel, Sheila
Kshirsagar, Suhas
Hardcover
The Sleep Workbook: Easy Strategies to Break the Anxiety-Insomnia Cycle
Alexandre, Renata, PhD Aprn
Paperback
The Sleep You're Longing for: How Rest Connects Us to Happiness, Healing, and Hope
Wytsma, Ken
Paperback
The Happy Sleeper: The Science-Backed Guide to Helping Your Baby Get a Good Night's Sleep-Newborn to School Age
Turgeon, Heather
Wright, Julie, Mft
Paperback
The Breathing Cure for Better Sleep: 7 Days to Quality Sleep Using the Buteyko Method
McKeown, Patrick
Bane, Catherine
Hardcover
The Joy of Sleeping Alone: 64 Rituals to Become the Sovereign of Your Bed and Your Life
Zak, Cynthia
Paperback
Nothing Much Happens: Cozy and Calming Stories to Soothe Your Mind and Help You Sleep
Nicolai, Kathryn
Hardcover
This Is Why You Dream: What Your Sleeping Brain Reveals about Your Waking Life
Jandial, Rahul
Hardcover
The Nightmare and Sleep Disorder Toolkit: A Workbook to Help You Get Some Rest Using Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Other Evidence-Based Approaches
Worley, Courtney
Nadorff, Michael R.
Paperback
Goodnight Mind: Turn Off Your Noisy Thoughts and Get a Good Night's Sleep
Manber, Rachel
Carney, Colleen E.
Paperback
The 4-Week Insomnia Workbook: A Drug-Free Program to Build Healthy Habits and Achieve Restful Sleep
Dittoe Barrett, Sara, PhD
Paperback
Sleeping Through the Night, Revised Edition: How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep
Mindell, Jodi A.
Paperback
The 8-Hour Sleep Paradox: How We Are Sleeping Our Way to Fatigue, Disease and Unhappiness
Burhenne, Mark
Paperback
Wake Up Sleepy Head!: Diagnosing, Understanding, and Navigating Narcolepsy
Stultz, Debra J.
Paperback
This Book Will Put You to Sleep: (Books to Help Sleep, Gifts for Insomniacs)
Chronicle Books
McCoy, K.
Hardwick
Hardcover
Fatigue: Fight It with the Blood Type Diet: The Individualized Plan for Preventing and Treating the Conditions That Cause Fatigue
D'Adamo, Peter J.
Whitney, Catherine
Paperback
Tired Teens: Understanding and Conquering Chronic Fatigue and Pots.: Understanding and Conquering Chronic Fatigue and Pots
Fischer, Philip R.
Paperback
The Sleep-Deprived Teen: Why Our Teenagers Are So Tired, And How Parents And Schools Can Help Them Thrive
Lewis, Lisa L.
Paperback
Evenings with Jesus: 100 Nighttime Devotions to Soothe Your Mind and Rest Your Spirit
Guideposts
Paperback
The Nocturnal Brain: Nightmares, Neuroscience, and the Secret World of Sleep
Leschziner, Guy
Paperback
Stop Trying So Hard To Sleep: Easy 10-Minute CBT-I Habits to Ease Anxiety & Insomnia to Sleep Better
Bennett, Julia
Paperback
Sleep: The Myth of 8 Hours, the Power of Naps, and the New Plan to Recharge Your Body and Mind
Littlehales, Nick
Paperback
The New Rules of Aging Well: A Simple Program for Immune Resilience, Strength, and Vitality
Claro, Danielle
Lipman, Frank
Hardcover
When Brains Dream: Understanding the Science and Mystery of Our Dreaming Minds
Stickgold, Robert
Zadra, Antonio
Paperback
The Natural Baby Sleep Solution: Use Your Child's Internal Sleep Rhythms for Better Nights and Naps
Moore, Polly, PH. D.
Paperback
The Sleepdemic Solution: The 7-Day Reset to Fix Your Sleep, Restore Your Metabolism, and Lose Weight Without Fighting Your Body
Palinski-Wade, Erin
Paperback
The Power of Rest: Why Sleep Alone Is Not Enough. a 30-Day Plan to Reset Your Body
Edlund, Matthew
Paperback
Yoga Nidra Made Easy: Deep Relaxation Practices to Improve Sleep, Relieve Stress and Boost Energy and Creativity
Tuli, Nirlipta
Dinsmore-Tuli, Uma
Paperback
The Little Book of Sleep Meditations: Mindfulness Exercises to Help You Sleep
Meitchik, Annie Fay
Hardcover
Why Won't You Sleep?!: A Game-Changing Approach for Exhausted Parents of Nonstop, Super Alert, Big Feeling Kids
Gordon, Macall
West, Kim
Paperback
Sleep Smarter: 21 Essential Strategies to Sleep Your Way to a Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger Success: A Longevity Book
Stevenson, Shawn
Hardcover
For God's Sake Go to Sleep Insights About Sleep from Jewish Tradition & Modern Science
Forman, Rabbi Bruce D.
Paperback
Sleep Baby Sleep: The Proven Routine-Based Sleep Plan for Your Baby's First Year
Geoghegan, Kelly
Paperback
The Promise of Sleep: A Pioneer in Sleep Medicine Explores the Vital Connection Between Health, Happiness, and a Good Night's Sleep
Dement, William C.
Paperback
Dreams of Awakening (Revised Edition): Use Lucid Dreaming to Rewire Your Brain While You Sleep
Morley, Charlie
Paperback
365 Happy Bedtime Mantras: Improve Your Sleep, Release Stress, and Enjoy Your Dreams
Kaiser, Shannon
Paperback
The Actually Pretty Good Baby: A Parent-Tested Guide for Moms who Want to Breastfeed and Sleep Through the Night
Vukadinovic, Susan
Paperback
The Insomnia Fix: The Science-Based 6-Week Program That Retrains Your Brain to Sleep
Rosenstein, Lubomir
Paperback
The Essential Dream Journal: Record & Interpret the Hidden Meanings in Your Dreams
Editors of Rock Point
Hardcover
Unfuck Your Sleep: The #1 Non-Negotiable Necessity for Emotional and Physical Health
Harper, Faith G.
Paperback
Moonlight Gratitude: A Journal: Nighttime Meditations and Reflections for Better Sleep
Silva, Emily
Hardcover
The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep: Simple Solutions for Kids from Birth to 5 Years
Karp, Harvey
Paperback
The SomniSkills Workbook: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Reed, David L.
Sacco, William P.
Paperback
The Tractor Who Wants To Fall Asleep: A New Way of Getting Children to Sleep
Forssén Ehrlin, Carl-Johan
Hardcover
Sleep Habits Journal: Practices, Prayers, and Devotions to Ease Your Sleepless Nights
Long, Benjamin
Paperback
The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Newborns: Amazing Sleep from Day One - For Baby and You
Pantley, Elizabeth
Paperback
The Newborn Twins Sleep Guide: The Nap and Nighttime Sanity Saver for Your Duo's First Five Months
Diaz, Natalie
West, Kim
Paperback
Gold Medal Sleep: The Everyperson's Guide for Restful Nights, Energetic Days, and a Healthy Life
Wolgast, Brad
Paperback
The Sleepdemic Solution: The 7-Day Reset to Fix Your Sleep, Restore Your Metabolism, and Lose Weight Without Fighting Your Body
Palinski-Wade, Erin
Hardcover
Take a Nap! Change Your Life.: The Scientific Plan to Make You Smarter, Healthier, More Productive
Ehrman, Mark
Mednick, Sara
Paperback
Raising Sound Sleepers: Helping Children Use Their Senses to Rest and Self-Soothe
Blanning, Adam
Paperback
The Very Stuffy Nose: I'll keep my mouth closed and I'll breathe through my nose.
Richardson, Kelley
Paperback
5 Days to a Perfect Night's Sleep for Your Child: The Secrets to Making Bedtime a Dream
Estivill, Eduard
Paperback
Holistic Sleep Coaching: Gentle Alternatives to Sleep Training for Health and Childcare Professionals
Hookway, Lyndsey
Paperback
The Effortless Sleep Method: The Incredible New Cure for Insomnia and Chronic Sleep Problems
Stephens, Sasha
Paperback
Eat to Sleep: What to Eat and When to Eat It for a Good Night's Sleep--Every Night
Meyer, Karman
Paperback
Tricks to Remember Your Dreams: Why you don't remember your dreams and how to dream again
Mancini, Anna
Paperback
Stomach Ulcer Treatment: Stomach Ulcer Treatment, Easy Diet Care And Heal Remedy
Whitely, David
Paperback
True Wellness for Your Mind: How to Combine the Best of Western and Eastern Medicine for Optimal Health for Sleep Disorders, Anxiety, Depression
Kurosu, Catherine
Kuhn, Aihan
Paperback
Sleep, Interrupted: A physician reveals the #1 reason why so many of us are sick and tired
Park, Steven Y.
Paperback
Dark Intrusions: An Investigation into the Paranormal Nature of Sleep Paralysis Experiences
Proud, Louis
Paperback
Sleep Solutions for ADHD & Autism: The Parent's Proven Bedtime Guide
Raymond, Arabela Susie
Paperback
The CPAP Guide: A CPAP Consultant's Guide to Mastering Therapy and Reclaiming Your Sleep
Marabita, Daniel
Paperback
The Baby Sleep Book: The Complete Guide to a Good Night's Rest for the Whole Family
Sears, William
Sears, Martha
Sears, Robert W.
Paperback
Calisthenics And Bodyweight Training: A Practical Guide for Men, Women, and Beginners Over 50
Romano, Victor
Paperback
Peak Sleep Performance for Athletes: The Cutting-edge Sleep Science That Will Guarantee a Competitive Advantage
Creado, Shane A.
Paperback
When Brains Dream: Exploring the Science and Mystery of Sleep
Stickgold, Robert
Zadra, Antonio
Hardcover
Beating Painsomnia: The Sleep Solution for EDS, POTS, and MCAS - Evidence-Based Strategies to Reclaim Restorative Sleep Despite Chronic Illness
Stringer, Jessamine Ramona
Paperback
Todo Sobre la Higiene del Sueño: La Clave para Eliminar el Insomnio, Dormir Placenteramente y Recuperar tu Calidad de Vida
Harrett, Daniel J.
Paperback
The Path To Sleep, Exercises for an Ancient Skill: Hypnotic training in the neurology, psychology & physiology of sleep
Stoller, Lincoln
Paperback
Practical Yoga Nidra: A 10-Step Method to Reduce Stress, Improve Sleep, and Restore Your Spirit
Moore, Scott
Paperback
No estás rota: estás cansada: El impacto invisible del sueño en tu vida diaria
Casanova, Adriana
Paperback
Breathe Easy, Sleep Deep: Unmasking the Hidden Sleep Thief Wrecking Your Health and How Your Dentist Can Help
Rappaport, D. M. D. D-Abdsm
Paperback
CBT-I for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Better Sleep Without Medication Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
Handley, Pleasant Rudolph
Paperback
Sleep Easy with Natural Methods: Simple, science-backed ways to restful sleep. No pills, No gimmicks. Easy to follow sleep tips.
Buddharaju, Venkata L.
Paperback
Embracing Sleep Wellness A Family Guide To Transforming Sleep Resistence Into A Nurturing Ritual
Nickhol Mpp Mba, Scarlet
Washington Faafp, Roger
Paperback
Crib Sheets New Parent Sleep Solutions: Practical and Effective Strategies
Gardner, Elizabeth
Paperback
Sleep Skills for Life: a 7-step practical plan to overcome sleep problems and sleep well for many years to come
Schmidt, Beatrix A.
Paperback
Sleep Disorders: Elements, History, Treatments, and Research
Graci, Gina
Ph D., Kathleen J. Sexton-Radek
Paperback
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child: A Step-By-Step Program for a Good Night's Sleep
Weissbluth, Marc
Paperback
Comprendre le pouvoir du sommeil: En quoi mieux dormir peut changer votre vie ?
Pelland, Anne
Paperback
Toddler Sleep Training: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Children to Fall Asleep Fast and Sleep Through the Night
Kaufman, Meryl
Hardcover
Sleeping Disorder Explained: The Ultimate Guide about Sleeping Disorders
Earlstein, Frederick
Paperback