How to Sleep Like a Caveman by Merijn van de Laar

Sleep has hardly changed since Paleolithic humans snoozed soundly in their caves. While sabre-toothed tigers were their biggest night-time worry, today it’s stress and social media that keep us awake, but the solutions are the same, and sleep therapist Dr Merijn van de Laar offers understanding and advice to have you sleeping better within weeks.

Human sleep as we know it today evolved hundreds of thousands years ago, to suit a hunter–gatherer lifestyle. It’s not always compatible with our modern lives, but remains an essential function, vital for our health, well-being and daytime functioning. In this groundbreaking new book, Dr Merijn van de Laar investigates the origins of sleep based on archaeological findings and anthropological studies in contemporary hunter-gatherers, looking at the major discrepancies between our primordial bodily needs and our current sleep-inhibiting behaviour.

Cave dwellers lived in balance with the forces of nature. They had adapted perfectly to environmental influences such as light, temperature and seasonal variations. The way they ate and moved during the day must have had a positive effect on sleep quality. We need to look to their example, and adjust our eating, exercise, light, temperature and, last but not least: our expectations towards sleep. By taking on board the ancient wisdom of our ancestors, we will improve the quality of our sleep, the way our bodies were designed to do it.

16 January 2025 | HB | 9780008717612 | £20

If you’re an independent bookseller in the UK or Ireland and you’d like an advance reading copy of How to Sleep Like a Caveman please send your request, along with your name and bookshop address, to the IndieThinking team on independentthinking@harpercollins.co.uk

Other Articles

Dragon Riders of Roar by Jenny McLachlan

The epic and funny new magical fantasy series set in the world of the bestselling Land of Roar! Read More

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Sutanto

Knives Out meets Kim’s Convenience for anyone who loves solving mysteries by Richard Osman and Janice Hallett, and watching Death in Paradise and Marlow Murder Club. Read More

The Earl Meets His Match by TJ Alexander

Bridgerton meets Red, White & Royal Blue in this swoon-worthy and hilarious trans regency romance! Read More