Book Review: The Pocket of Deep Sleep: Maximise your most restorative sleep cycle

This is possibly one of the shortest books I’ve read and reviewed so far (at 128 pages); it comes second in length to How to Remember Everything (which was 51 pages!) but is still jam-packed with useful tips, explanations and resources. There are also powerful quotes contained within the pages. Today, I want to talk about The Pocket of Deep Sleep: Maximise your most restorative sleep cycle.*

It seems like everywhere I turn, someone is talking about sleep. From new parents to hormone experts, sleep is a hot topic of 2025. If you are reading this through dry, groggy eyes, you may be wishing to make some improvements. This isn’t the first (or likely to be the last time) we talk about sleep on this blog. Working with parents, it’s no surprise it comes up! Lack of sleep impacts all areas of our wellbeing, naturally spreading into our careers.

The first significant shift in my perspective on sleep actually came from a book! I read Why We Sleep in late 2020, and it completely changed how I felt about sleep and how I prioritised it. I recognised the almost Puritan culture of assumed “laziness” associated with the need for sleep,  which may explain the guilt I used to carry around trying to prioritise it. Why We Sleep opened my eyes to this, and now sleep has become an essential part of my balance and boundaries. You can read the review here if you want to know more.

Deep Sleep is almost a companion guide to Why We Sleep, although it is not officially linked. However, the work of Dr Walker is noted from the very beginning, as the opening quote they use is his:

“Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day – Mother Nature’s best effort yet at contra-death.”

Each Chapter covers essential reading:
One: Understanding Sleep
Two: Sleep Cycle & Deep Sleep
Three: Lifestyle Tips for Deeper Sleep
Four: Sleep Solutions

Chapters One and Two provide the science of the ” why ” if you want to understand the inner workings of sleep. For those new to investigating sleep, this detail can help break down the cultural influences that lead us to prioritise sleep. It brings home the full range of psychological, physical and physiological impacts of good and poor sleep. For those who need convincing, these chapters are for them.

However, the power is in the third and fourth chapters. The lifestyle changes we can make to improve our sleep and the additional interventions we may need if we require extra support. These lifestyle changes aren’t enormous; little changes such as the temperature of your room, the timings of your caffeinated drinks, and the routine of your exercise can make a massive difference. Understanding the importance of morning sunlight in setting my rhythm was a massive game-changer for me.

You can dip in and out of the book to gather what you need. The different stages of our lives, from caring needs to stress and health changes can impact sleep and rest. Deep Sleep offers a range of holistic and medical support to help us feel informed and more in control. It acknowledges the realities of modern living, without making us feel guilty about some of the sleep-restricting habits that may have crept in.

In short, if you want a quick reference to help you feel better rested and to enable those around you to have better sleep habits, then “Deep Sleep” is the book for you. It shows you that it’s not just about what you do immediately before you go to bed but small and achievable changes you can make in your day to help “maximise your most restorative sleep cycle.”

Have you read this? What changes will you make?

*This is an affiliate link. If you click and purchase, I may get a small commission
**I was kindly gifted this book by the Publishers, Thank you to Gemini Pockets

If you’re currently looking for one-on-one support for yourself or your team and would like to explore how I can help, please feel free to book a call here.