Hobson, J. Allan

An introduction to the science of sleep and dreaming, explaining how dreaming maintains and develops the mind, that we go crazy in our dreams in order to avoid doing so when we are awake, and that sleep is essential to life.

In a discussion of his research on the waking and dreaming brain, psychiatrist Hobson introduces a new concept of conscious states.

Gives an overview of current research on sleep and dreams.

Draws upon the findings of sleep science to explain what happens in the brain when people dream and discuss connections between sleep and mental illness.