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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Mind at Night summary
Andrea Rock
The New Science of How and Why We Dream
13 mins
Brief summary
'The Mind at Night' by Andrea Rock is a scientific exploration of the mysterious world of dreams. With engaging storytelling, the book explains the latest research on why we dream and what our dreams can teach us.
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The Mind at Night
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
We journey through a cycle of five stages of sleep every night.
Considering that we spend a third of our life asleep, it makes sense to know about what’s going on when we’re sleeping.
It all starts with a period of pre-sleep, when our mind settles down, stops trying to make decisions and plans, and enters an almost meditative state to prepare the mind for sleep.
From there, we enter light sleep, which covers the first two stages.
During the first stage, or sleep onset as it’s known, we often see flashes of disjointed images, known as hypnagogic imagery. This is the brain’s way of sorting through the day’s experiences and deciding what to trash and what to stash. Some things get forgotten, while others are deemed important enough to store in our long-term memory.
Then stage two begins and our brain winds down further to make way for the stages of deep sleep that follow.
These deep third and fourth sleep stages are characterized by slow brain waves, and we generally cycle through the first stages once again before arriving at the fifth and final stage, which is marked by REM – or rapid eye movement – sleep.
It takes between fifty and seventy minutes to get through the first four sleep stages, and the REM period can be as short as ten minutes. So, altogether, the process lasts about ninety minutes, with the combined stages of deep sleep and REM usually accounting for a quarter of our total sleep during any given night.
While all five stages have their own important functions, it’s at the fifth REM stage when we experience our most vivid dreams and when our mind goes through its internal processes.
In the blinks that follow, we’ll take a closer look at how important these dreams have been and continue to be.
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What is The Mind at Night about?
The Mind at Night (2004) provides valuable insight into the mystery of the dream world. Find out exactly how busy our minds are while we slumber, and discover the many physiological, psychological and evolutionary advantages that dreaming gives us.
The Mind at Night Review
The Mind at Night (2004) explores the mysterious world of dreaming, shedding light on what happens in our minds while we sleep. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Unveiling fascinating brain science, it delves into the intricate nature of dreams, providing insights into their meaning and significance.
- Through compelling anecdotes and real-life stories, it offers a captivating look into the dreams of ordinary people as well as famous figures, allowing readers to connect on a personal level.
- With its accessible and engaging writing, the book manages to make complex concepts graspable, making it an excellent choice for anyone curious about the human mind.
Best quote from The Mind at Night
A properly functioning dreaming system may actually be more effective than [some] forms of psychotherapy...
—Andrea Rock
Who should read The Mind at Night?
- Anyone who’s ever kept a dream journal
- Students of neuroscience or psychology
- Readers curious about lucid dreaming
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The Mind at Night FAQs
What is the main message of The Mind at Night?
Exploring the mysteries of dreaming and sleep, The Mind at Night reveals the fascinating inner workings of our minds while we slumber.
How long does it take to read The Mind at Night?
Reading time for The Mind at Night varies, but you can get the Blinkist summary in just 15 minutes.
Is The Mind at Night a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Mind at Night offers captivating insights into the realm of dreams, making it a worthwhile read for anyone curious about the hidden depths of the mind.
Who is the author of The Mind at Night?
Andrea Rock is the author of The Mind at Night.
What to read after The Mind at Night?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Mind at Night, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming by Stephen LaBerge and Howard Rheingold
- The Twenty-four Hour Mind by Rosalind D. Cartwright
- Unplug by Suze Yalof Schwartz
- Dangerously Sleepy by Alan Derickson
- End the Insomnia Struggle by Colleen Ehrnstrom and Alisha L. Brosse
- How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
- Night School by Richard Wiseman
- This Is Why You Dream by Rahul Jandial
- 'Til Stress Do Us Part by Elizabeth Earnshaw
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma