Why We Sleep

Sleep is one of the most important dimensions of life. Paradoxically, it is also a phenomenon that is almost unknown. Until recently, science was unable to answer questions such as: Why do we sleep? What are the consequences of sleep deprivation for our health? What is sleep good for?
By acting on our brain, sleep improves our ability to learn, remember and make rational decisions. It calibrates emotions, strengthens the immune system and regulates metabolism. Dreams soften our painful memories and create a virtual reality that fosters creativity.
In just one hundred years, human beings have abandoned their biological need for sufficient sleep. As a result, poor sleep quality in industrialised countries has a catastrophic impact on the health, lifespan, safety, productivity and education of our children.
This silent epidemic of sleep deprivation is the greatest public health challenge facing developed countries in the 21st century. If we want to avoid the suffocating trap created by neglecting sleep, the premature death it causes and the health problems it brings, we must radically change our personal, cultural, professional and social views on sleep.