Hush: A Book of Bedtime Contemplations

I heard this author on a dream podcast that I like to listen to. I am someone who pays a lot of attention to my dreams anyway. I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately so I thought I would read this book. I have to say it mostly calmed me down. It encouraged me to relax about it, it's not the end of the world when I can't go to sleep. I love this sentence: " The simplest yet most challenging aspect of getting to sleep is the surrender of our relentless effort." This is a short book to read, I would encourage anyone who has a hard time sleeping to try it out. Early this am I "surrendered" myself back to sleep and was rewarded with a very amazing dream.

Rubin Naiman has been one of our wisest sleep and dream pioneers and teachers for decades. With HUSH, Dr. Naiman takes his accumulated wisdom from science, psychology, spirituality and culture, and applies it with poetic vision and deep love and gentleness to all issues regarding sleeping and dreaming. This is a deceptively simple and beautifully composed book that not only offers wise and gentle meditations for improving sleep and dream life, but integrates science and spirituality and steers us all toward a new and deep valuing of sleeping and dreaming. This book is both a helpmate for individuals and a remedy for our frenetic times.

For those who experience insomnia from time to time (about 100% of us), this book provides practical information on what to take to bed with you (a calm mind) and what not to (an overstimulated one). Dr. Naiman style is easy to follow and avoids overly technical terms, which are not useful for the average insomniac. It is a nice addition to keep handy on your night table next to your other sleep-aids.

Insomnia has been my companion all of my life."Hush" was written so beautifully and I read it nightly. Those snippets of wisdom are very calming and work better than any of the "how to" sleep books I have read over the years. Thank you, Dr Naiman for your sensitive contribution to those afflicted by this condition.

I read this before bed, Rubin Naiman is brilliant. I am learning how to sleep again thanks to him.

Great book of thoughtful sleep sayings.

Dr. Naiman brings sleep and the barriers we create to this divine state of consciousness into sharp focus with compassion. He writes in a engaging, poetic and lyrical style that penetrates the mind and enlightens.

Great book for us people with sleep problems, very calming and stress relieving. Also great inexpensive gift for sleepless and stressed-out friends or family. Will you be ordering more???

I'd recommend this book if you have trouble sleeping, or if you don't get enough sleep. It's not your usual 'self-help' book with a list of things you should do (e.g. avoid caffeine, exercise, have a bedtime ritual). Instead, it tries to put into words the magical, mystical, spiritual dimension to sleep. In my opinion, if you're struggling to sleep, the last thing you need is to be encouraged to stay in doing mode. This book does the opposite. Each page contains a short nugget of wisdom to reflect upon. When you want to slip into slumber, this is perfect. You don't need a long essay with ten action points to worry out. You need a fascinating idea to mull over - something that doesn't over-engage your analytical mind. You need to let go, rather than hold on. This book might nudge you in that direction, if you let it. I love this book.

Bought for a relative with serious sleep problems, but disappointed. More American psychobabble than scientific fact, although the idea behind it is sound - the huge importance of proper sleep for our mental and physical health.