A really interesting read that left me with a new appreciation for an essential part of life! I feel like the importance of sleep has really been emphasized the last decade, but other than fun facts I haven’t seen a book that takes the time to do a comprehensive deep dive. I really liked this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook was very informative and interesting. It described on how our ancestors may have slept. It had good detail on ways to get better sleep. I suffer from insomnia, so any information I can get on better sleep is always welcome! I thought this audiobook was really well done. It had a lot of good information. I highly recommend!

I have struggled with insomnia for a long time so I am always interested in books about sleep disorders and insomnia. How to sleep like a caveman is an interesting take on sleep. It explores how out ancestors might have slept (for how long, if they slept by themselves/with people, etc) and also goes into potential evolutionary advantage of certain people sleeping different at night. he also takes about indigenous nomadic people nowadays that might sleep similar to our ancestors and how that might have looked like.
This book is also a good review on sleep hygiene. the things that we now are not good to do right before going to bed but we still do them (cellphones anyone?)
Pick this up if you are interested in hearing about how our ancestors potentially sleep and how could someone improve their sleep.
I listened to the audio narrated by Joe Eyre and can recommend.

And excellent and detailed book about the nature of sleep and how to cure insomnia. Fact based and full of interesting information that dispelled some common misconceptions about sleep. Interesting and informative.

This was a quick, easy-to-understand, easy-to-digest books. The author did a good mix of referencing research studies, different cultural ideas/habits, and his own personal experiences. I think this was pretty well-done.

This book is loaded with verified studies of sleep issues. The reference to sleeping like a caveman is more relevant now than ever - when we are so distracted from sleep by tv and smartphones. One of the most important things I learned is to change your expectations around how much sleep you need. While studies have come out saying 8 hours sleep a night should be your goal, this author discusses that 6 - 7 1/2 hours each night may be adequate. There are a number of variables that go into how much sleep you need. The author also does a good job of summarizing his recommendations in the last chapter.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publisher and author for an audio version of this book in exchange for my honest opinion,

How to Sleep Like a Caveman mixes historic and scientific research with Merijn van de Laar’s personal and professional experiences to explain common sleep issues. The audiobook explains elements of sleep that I had never even considered before, and it was wonderful to listen to van de Laar’s genuine curiosity about sleep. Van de Laar keeps the audiobook practical by relating the research to normal sleepers, including “good sleepers” and those with sleep problems.

I loved the pacing of Joe Eyre’s narration! The audiobook had a lot of information, and Eyre narrated clearly and articulately so the listener could understand all the material. I enjoyed how the audiobook was very nonjudgmental, especially since sleep problems can be something that many people are self-conscious about. Chapter 10, which covered parasomnia, was my personal favorite, as I suffer from frequent nightmares. The suggested strategies for better sleep were not unique or groundbreaking—they were definitely suggestions that one could find with a quick online search—but their descriptions and the overview of studies that supported them were intriguing. I will be implementing some of these practices into my own sleeping habits, like avoiding the snooze button, getting enough exercise each day, stretching, and setting a specific time to relax prior to bedtime. I will also include the sleep journal from the appendix in my sleep tracking routine.

However, I did not like that some of the beginning chapters were too long, and it was difficult to remember their main points. As the audiobook progressed, chapters became shorter and more manageable, which I appreciated. Also, some of the phrases were repeated too often, and by the time I was finishing the audiobook, I felt that I could predict what was going to be said.

Overall, I give How to Sleep Like a Caveman 4/5 stars. While some minor quality-of-life issues kept it from being a five-star read, I found it both engaging and helpful. I recommend this audiobook to anyone interested in improving their sleep routines or struggling with sleep issues. I think it would also be enjoyable for readers who love nonfiction!

Thank you to NetGalley, Merijn van de Laar, and HarperAudio for the ARC copy of the audiobook in exchange for my review! All expressed opinions are my own.

This book has a lot of information and is interesting, but sadly - doesn't seem to have any real solutions that will help those of us with sleep problems. A bit of a disappointment

I don’t really have a lot of sleep problems, but I do go through times when it seems like I consistently wake up in the middle of the night.

That led me to read How To Sleep Like a Caveman by Dr. Merjin van der Laar.

I mean, who doesn’t want research-based advice on how to get a better night’s sleep, based on how our ancestors naturally slept?

I honestly didn’t get much new information from the book. The most interesting thing I learned was that a lot of people may have sleep problems because they think they need more sleep than they actually do. This results in them trying to go to bed earlier and spending more and more time in bed. More time in bed means more time to worry about why you aren’t sleep or have disrupted sleep patters because you’re trying to sleep too much.

I think this book could be helpful to someone with insomnia. Overall, it wasn’t for me. I gave it two stars.

I found this book to be a delight. It was well researched yet easy for a lay person to understand. I personally had trouble with some of the information just because I have conditions which would preclude me from implementing some of the suggestions in this book. I greatly appreciated the list at the end of the book with the 12 steps. It was helpful to have that recap.

This book was informative and the narrator was easy to listen to. However, for those looking for a definitive guide for how to sleep better, it was as more of a compilation of research and potential solutions, but nothing that was "this is the absolute solution you're missing."

"How to Sleep Like a Caveman" offers a fresh and insightful perspective on achieving better sleep by drawing on principles from ancient times. The book does a good job of explaining complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand, making the advice feel practical and achievable. While some readers might find certain suggestions a bit extreme for their modern lifestyles, the overall approach is thoughtful and provides a solid framework for understanding and improving sleep hygiene. It's a really interesting read that provides actionable steps for anyone looking to ditch their restless nights and embrace a more natural way of sleeping.

😴 Bookish Thoughts
This was such a fascinating listen! As someone who struggles with insomnia, I was hooked from the title alone. The book covers so many aspects of sleep! From debunking common myths to explaining how things like light, temperature, and even our eating habits impact rest. It was incredibly insightful without feeling overwhelming.

I especially appreciated the audiobook narration. The narrator made potentially dry material feel digestible and engaging! It could’ve easily felt like a lecture , but instead it felt easy to follow.

🎧 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
🎧 Pub Date: May 20, 2025

Thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

How to Sleep Like a Caveman by Merijn van de Laar is an informative introduction to the science behind sleeping well. Weaving historical sleep methods with modern science, this book provides multiple methods for having the most effective sleep possible.

My biggest takeaway from How to Sleep Like a Caveman? Most sleep studies are poorly designed. Merijn van de Laar explains how so much of what we think we know about sleep is based on bad science and worse reporting. Surprise! We don't need eight hours of sleep at night. This book leans heavily into the idea that it isn't actually poor sleep which is to blame for many of our sleep issues, it is the way we think about sleep. It is stressing about not sleeping which turns not sleeping into a major problem. Lots of food for thought. I appreciate the very specific and practical advice found in the last part of the book. Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

How to Sleep Like a Caveman: Ancient Wisdom for a Better Night’s Rest by Merijn van de Laar, narrated by Joe Eyre

In a world obsessed with sleep hacks, blue-light blockers, and melatonin gummies, How to Sleep Like a Caveman offers a refreshingly primal perspective: maybe the secret to better sleep isn’t more technology—but less of it. Merijn van de Laar, a sleep scientist and self-proclaimed “recovering insomniac,” invites listeners to step back—way back—to the Paleolithic era, where our ancestors slept under stars, not stress.

This audiobook is part science, part anthropology, and part gentle rebellion against modern sleep myths. Van de Laar dismantles the tyranny of the eight-hour rule, critiques the overprescription of sleep meds, and urges us to embrace our natural rhythms—even if that means waking up at 3 a.m. and not panicking about it. His tone is warm, witty, and deeply humane, making complex research feel like a fireside chat rather than a lecture.

Joe Eyre’s narration is a perfect match. His voice is calm without being soporific, articulate without sounding clinical. He delivers van de Laar’s insights with a quiet confidence that feels more like a trusted guide than a guru. Whether he’s explaining the evolutionary logic behind segmented sleep or the psychological toll of chasing perfection, Eyre keeps the pace steady and the tone reassuring.

What makes this audiobook stand out is its blend of ancient wisdom and modern compassion. It doesn’t promise miracle cures—it offers perspective. And in a culture that treats sleep as a productivity tool, that’s radical.

This was my first time reading a nonfiction book about sleep, and more specifically about sleep difficulties, despite the fact that this is something I’ve personally struggled with for as long as I can remember. I found this book to be a solid and engaging introduction to the topic, and I really appreciated how it wove together historical, anthropological, and scholarly perspectives in a way that flowed well together.

I thought that this book struck a thoughtful balance between exploring the history of sleep and presenting current scientific research, which helped prevent it from becoming bogged down in one over the other. That said, I did find parts of it a bit repetitive, and there were some structural challenges that made it harder to stay fully engaged throughout. These issues didn’t detract from the content itself, but they did make me lose focus at times.

I also want to note that certain parts of the book felt somewhat insensitive or lacking in critical reflection; sometimes in relatively minor ways, such as a word choice, and at other times more significantly, such as in the way some cultures and communities, both past and present, were portrayed. There were moments where the language or framing felt overly simplified or detached from the broader historical and scientific contexts in which that knowledge was produced for Western audiences (which are/were often extractive and/or exploitative). A more nuanced, careful approach would have strengthened the book’s engagement with these topics and the people whose experiences and practices it draws upon.

Nevertheless, I found this to be an interesting and worthwhile read, full of useful information, resources, and avenues to explore in more detail. It’s definitely sparked my interest to explore the topic of sleep further and, in that sense, I think the book succeeds in doing what the author aims for in their professional work: helping people better understand, and ultimately improve, their relationship with sleep.

3.75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advanced copy for review. Opinions are my own.

By the title of the book I assumed we were going to learn how you could just pass out and sleep all night. but one of the things I found truly fascinating was what all relates back to the caveman or ancient Man that we have ended up bringing forward even though we live in a totally different life. I guess maybe with enough years of microevolution we maybe could weed some of that out. but the other thing I absolutely love about this book is everything is fact-based. so there's a study for everything that is talked about in this book. and he was very open pointing out if that study one way or the other was a very small study that only contained a small population or if it was a meta study or what was going on. I appreciate it that. but I definitely found some highly interesting things. I wanted to try out the sleep journal but I don't think I quite followed exactly what we were supposed to do to find out how much sleep my body required. I wanted to go and refer back to it so I was hoping to find a print edition or PDFs and there isn't such a thing. now this was a preview copy of the audio and so perhaps in the released audio there might be a PDF, and I'm sure there will be a print copy made available. definitely worth the read if you have any interest in sleep whether good or bad or just finding out about sleep

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was intrigued by this audiobook because I value my sleep so much, I wanted to learn more about how to sleep effectively or more soundly. This book does just that.

In his book, Van de Laar discusses the sleep studies conducted on modern day hunter-gatherers (as close as we could get to how cavemen likely slept) and compares the trends to Western societies. He then gives advice and help on how to train our sleep to mimick these, and ideally, help with issues like insomnia or daytime sleepiness.

Van de Laar breaks down common myths, tips, and tricks, and debunks or supports them using research. I really appreciate that he emphasizes the research and science behind each commonly known trick or social media trend to determine whether it’s based in science or not. He also gives his input as to why certain things may or may not work, based on his background as a sleep therapist.

Overall, the book was easy to listen to, and was backed by research and meta analyses instead of just surface level “help”. I’ll definitely be applying some of these tips to my sleep!

I’m always interested in learning about how to get better sleep, knowing how much it is linked to longevity, health, and low inflammation. I appreciated the scientific evidence that this book provided as well as the practical tips. I learned a lot about how I can reform my own sleep life And really enjoy the aspect of this book that connected to that of Neanderthals. The audiobook was a perfect medium for this, I thought the narrator did very well , which helped me to keep up.