The Inner Clock
Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms
How the groundbreaking science of circadian rhythms can help you sleep better, feel happier, and improve your overall health
Your body contains a symphony of tiny timepieces, synchronized to the sun and subtle signals in your environment and behavior. But modern insults like artificial light, contrived time zones, and late-night meals can wreak havoc on your internal clocks. Misaligned circadian rhythms disrupt sleep, reduce productivity, and raise the risk of serious, life-threatening ailments.
Armed with advances in biology and technology, a circadian renaissance is reclaiming those lost rhythms, with profound impacts on our health and well-being. The Inner Clock explores the emerging science and its applications: How could taking a walk in the morning and going to bed at the same time each night keep your body in sync? Why are some doctors prescribing treatments at specific times of day? And how might a better understanding of our circadian rhythms improve educational outcomes, optimize sports performance, and support the longevity of our planet?
Science journalist Lynne Peeples seeks out the scientists, astronauts, athletes, and patients at the forefront of a growing movement. Along the way, she sleeps in a Cold War-era bunker, chases the midnight sun, spits into test tubes, and wears high-tech light sensors to decipher what makes our internal clocks tick and how we can reset them for the better.
The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms | Hardcover | $30.00
Published by Riverhead Books | September 24, 2024 | ISBN 9780593538906
Advance Praise for The Inner Clock
“I stayed up all night reading this book! Lynne Peeples, you have wrecked my circadian rhythms, and I enjoyed every minute.”
—Mary Roach, bestselling author of Fuzz and Stiff
“A fascinating journey through the science of circadian rhythms, revealing how our bodies’ tiny timepieces shape every aspect of our lives. Captivating, perceptive, and, yes, timely.”
—Daniel H. Pink, bestselling author of When
“Lynne Peeples is a masterful and entertaining guide to a topic whose importance we’re only now beginning to appreciate.”
—Alex Hutchinson, bestselling author of Endure
“The Inner Clock paints an intricate picture of the ways our physiology evolved to function in harmony with the rhythms of the world around us.”
—James Hamblin, author of Clean and If Our Bodies Could Talk“
“A captivating exploration of light and dark, our peculiar biology, and the powerful, invisible rhythms of our waking and sleeping lives.”
—Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Poison Squad
The Inner Clock explores the strange new science of why your circadian rhythms fall out of sync—and how to get them back on track to live a happier, healthier life.”
—James Nestor, bestselling author of Breath
“You may not realize it until you read this smart, lucid book, but your body clocks are ticked off. Fortunately, it’s not too late for a reset. An essential guide to a fascinating and underappreciated aspect of human biology.”
—Dan Fagin, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Toms River
“The importance of circadian rhythms has been significantly underappreciated, according to this edifying debut examination… This enlightens.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Throw away the alarm clock, get some sunshine every day, and listen to what your body is telling you. Peeples writes with infectious enthusiasm, and the result is an engaging look at a field with huge potential.”
—Kirkus