In The Committee of Sleep, published in 2001, Dr. Deirdre Barrett examines strokes of genius and the dreams that inspired them. Reviewing the work of Beethoven, Dalí, Paul McCartney and biologist Margie Profet, the Harvard Medical School professor posits that we possess the power to solve our waking lives’ problems while fast asleep. In the 20 years since the book was first published, the way we sleep has drastically changed: We work too much and stay up too late, and personal electronics can interrupt the rest we do get. Amid a global pandemic, Barrett still believes the answers we seek are closer than we might imagine—if only we’re willing to dream. This story is from Kinfolk Issue Forty-Two Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 47 Alice Sheppard On dance as a channel to commune with the body—even when it hurts. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Dr. Woo Meet the tattoo artist who's inked LA. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Walt Odets The author and clinical psychologist on why self-acceptance is the key to a gay man's well-being. Arts & Culture Fashion Issue 47 A Picture of Health Xiaopeng Yuan photographs the world’s weirdest wellness cures. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Chani Nicholas and Sonya Passi Inside the astrology company on a mission to prove workplace well-being is more than a corporate tagline. Arts & Culture Issue 47 Julia Bainbridge On the life-enhancing potential of not drinking alcohol.
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