Books, Coffee, Sleep, Balzac and Thoreau

Eugene, Oregon
February 18, 2018 7:19pm CST
I read a review of two books about sleep. The reviewer is a professor of medicine at Harvard an chief of experimental medicine at a prestigious hospital. Both books, "The Mystery of Sleep," by a professor of Medicine and "Wild Nights" sound really interesting, but to keep from getting too long and maybe making you sleepy , I will mention only an anecdote from "Wild Nights," written by and English professor at Emory University. Back in 1845, when Henry David Thoreau, retreated to Walden Pond, one reason was the noise from trains and noises in his home of Concord, MA, keeping him awake. He craved a quiet place to sleep and contemplate life. He did not drink coffee. Here's link to that review if you like: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/23/the-secrets-of-sleep At about the same time, French writer Honore' de Balzac was drinking 40 or 50 cups of coffee a day, feeling great inspiration from the caffeine. He wrote for 12 to 14 hours a day (no keyboard) and produced sixteen volumes of what translates to "The Human Comedy" in English in six years. Oh, Balzac lived to be 51, Thoreau died at age 45.
11 people like this
10 responses
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
19 Feb 18
I used to think I slept good till I moved( planes, trains, highway and close neighbors) , then I slept really good ( boats, trains and traffic) And I moved one more time, to the woods. Now I know what sleep is! When I wake from sleeping now I feel good.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74554)
• East Tawas, Michigan
19 Feb 18
In the forest, at times it's frighteningly quiet, at night. I sleep sound, living in a wooded area:)
2 people like this
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Feb 18
@kobesbuddy Ever hear owls at night?
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169940)
• United States
3 Mar 18
Hmmm, well apparently, they were doing something wrong!
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Mar 18
Perhaps so.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Mar 18
@snowy22315 Could be with that much!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
19 Feb 18
Once you get the habit to drink so much coffee, the caffeine does not affect your sleep anymore. I have a friend who always drinks coffee before going to sleep because, he says, it helps to sleep better. If I drink a coffee after 3 PM I am sure I cannot sleep during the night. To sleep well I need full darkness and no noises.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
19 Feb 18
@JamesHxstatic I cannot sleep if there is light coming inside the bedroom.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
19 Feb 18
Yes, darkness is good. Anne put blackout blinds on the bedroom windows that roll down. I don't have coffee after 3 PM usually.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (12596)
• Ireland
19 Feb 18
@jameshxstatic A few double espressos a day does my. I don’t sleep but I wish I was as creative as Balzac.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
19 Feb 18
Wouldn't that be a nice!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
23 Feb 18
I drink a lot of coffee, but nowhere near 40-50 cups. Wow!
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Feb 18
That does seem excessive!
1 person likes this
@db20747 (43426)
• Washington, District Of Columbia
20 Feb 18
They wrote really azong and classic works. Maybe a little noise would have done th se good. I like quiet but not too quiet.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
23 Feb 18
If I am writing something, I prefer quiet.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
19 Feb 18
40 or 50 cups a day??? he must have been pretty much constantly drinking it.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
19 Feb 18
Yes, often on an empty stomach I read.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57858)
• Centralia, Washington
19 Feb 18
No caffeine for me. Thanks.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
19 Feb 18
I'll take your share.
1 person likes this
• Bournemouth, England
19 Feb 18
I knew that Balzac wrote in coffee shops. Now I see why.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
19 Feb 18
Mystery solved!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 18
Well, to each his own I guess.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
19 Feb 18
True.
1 person likes this