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Matthew Walker's "Why We Sleep" Is Riddled with Scientific and Factual Errors — https://guzey.com/books/why-we-sleep/ https://guzey.com/books/why-we-sleep/

T-1000 6y ago
Thanks for the link, will check it out. I note however that Walker has responded to the criticism (https://sleepdiplomat.wordpress.com/2019/12/19/why-we-sleep-responses-to-questions-from-readers/#short-sleep https://sleepdiplomat.wordpress.com/2019/12/19/why-we-sleep-...).
- kelnos 6y ago
  From a quick skim of that response, it reads to me like Walker admits to and agrees with at least some of the criticism. But it also looks like he ignores some of the more damning accusations, like cutting out parts of graphs that don't support his theories, being incorrect that the WHO has declared that we have a "sleep loss epidemic", and questions about where he actually earned his PhD (which he seems to continually misrepresent). So yes, he seems to have responded to the criticism, but IMO not really addressed it to a satisfying degree.
  - T-1000 6y ago
    IMO he has mostly satisfying answers. He agrees with some minor points and he doesn't address important stuff like cutting out parts of graphs, but I don't think the criticism is strong enough to conclude that the book is "riddled with scientific and factual errors".
  - criddell 6y ago
    All of what you said might be true and it could still be the best book on why sleep is important.
    - balfirevic 6y ago
      If I'm allowed to just make shit up I could easily write an even better one!
    - kelnos 6y ago
      It's also possible that someone who lies 99% of the time has something really important to say with the other 1% (if you can even separate it from the 99%), but I wouldn't consider that person trustworthy or even worth dealing with. Not saying that perfectly describes Walker, but the evidence does seem to point in that direction. If you still want to trust someone like that, I guess that's your prerogative, but... well, that sort of thing doesn't seem like a winning strategy in life.

T-1000 6y ago

Thanks for the link, will check it out. I note however that Walker has responded to the criticism (https://sleepdiplomat.wordpress.com/2019/12/19/why-we-sleep-responses-to-questions-from-readers/#short-sleep https://sleepdiplomat.wordpress.com/2019/12/19/why-we-sleep-...).

kelnos 6y ago
From a quick skim of that response, it reads to me like Walker admits to and agrees with at least some of the criticism. But it also looks like he ignores some of the more damning accusations, like cutting out parts of graphs that don't support his theories, being incorrect that the WHO has declared that we have a "sleep loss epidemic", and questions about where he actually earned his PhD (which he seems to continually misrepresent). So yes, he seems to have responded to the criticism, but IMO not really addressed it to a satisfying degree.
- T-1000 6y ago
  IMO he has mostly satisfying answers. He agrees with some minor points and he doesn't address important stuff like cutting out parts of graphs, but I don't think the criticism is strong enough to conclude that the book is "riddled with scientific and factual errors".
- criddell 6y ago
  All of what you said might be true and it could still be the best book on why sleep is important.
  - balfirevic 6y ago
    If I'm allowed to just make shit up I could easily write an even better one!
  - kelnos 6y ago
    It's also possible that someone who lies 99% of the time has something really important to say with the other 1% (if you can even separate it from the 99%), but I wouldn't consider that person trustworthy or even worth dealing with. Not saying that perfectly describes Walker, but the evidence does seem to point in that direction. If you still want to trust someone like that, I guess that's your prerogative, but... well, that sort of thing doesn't seem like a winning strategy in life.