“Greene imparts a feeling of solidarity to fellow sufferers.”
“About a third of Americans suffer from insomnia enough to complain about it, but scientists know very little about its causes or the efficacy of treatments. Greene, a lifelong insomniac, explores the experience of her fellow sufferers and the world of sleep research.”
“Although the topic of insomnia might seem to lend itself to a put-you-to-sleep treatment, this engrossing, easy-to-read study addresses the multifaceted subject with wit and wide-ranging scholarship.”
“An honest, passionate and relentless quest.”
“In search of a good night’s rest, a lit professor travels the world and bones up on sleep science. No easy answers - but fascinating.”
“Insomniac is a wild ride, and its wildness is part of its pleasure. You get to know Greene in these pages: bright, jagged, exhausted, funny, wistful. . . . When all is said and done, you emerge with a great sense of frustration on behalf of the author and a lively appreciation for what she has been through.”
“It's hard to imagine a more frightening affliction than being eaten alive by insomnia, as depicted by author Gayle Greene in her disturbing, important book.”
“No one can describe a journey better than someone who's made the trip, and insomniac Greene's exploration of the disorder is both fascinating and disturbing.”
"A fascinating and unusual look at the world of insomnia and sleep science. Written from the perspective of an insomnia sufferer, this exhaustively researched book critically and thoughtfully examines what we know (or claim to know) about sleep and the treatment of insomnia. Required reading for insomnia sufferers, clinicians treating the disorder, and anyone interested in the science of sleep."—Nicholas Rosenlicht, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine
"This work provides a rich account of insomnia, weaving together the personal journey of the author, experiences of other insomniacs, and solid scientific research. No other work on insomnia provides such a fresh perspective, which is also informative, compelling, and entertaining."—Richard Lewis, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Pomona College
"This is a very well researched, in-depth book on insomnia, written with much empathy and from the patient's point of view. I would recommend it to all who are plagued by this malady or who professionally try to treat it."—Peter Hauri, author of No More Sleepless Nights
"Insomniac is an impassioned work—an inspired amalgam of academic and first-hand research, memoir, analysis, and the kind of obsessive brooding we associate with the insomniac state. Much here is fascinating, and much is upsetting; here is a cri de coeur from a lifetime insomniac that is sure to appeal to the vast army of fellow insomniacs the world over."—Joyce Carol Oates
"As a clinical psychologist afflicted by insomnia for many years, I was delighted to read Insomniac. Doing so has already helped me and my insomniac clients immensely. Gayle Greene 'gets it' as only another insomniac can. She educates, advises, and comforts with a steady, sympathetic hand."—Timothy Miler, PhD
"The good news is that Gayle Greene's book is all you ever need to read on the subject of sleeplessness; the bad news for fellow insomniacs is that reading it —even in bed—will fail to lull you to sleep."—Billy Collins, former Poet Laureate of the U.S.
