Sleepless Planet, Maureen Burdock's second graphic narrative (after Queen of Snails), combines memoir, cultural critique, and medical research in a lively and enlightening exploration of insomnia as a global problem and a symptom of societal and ecological imbalance.
Having struggled with insomnia for most of her life, Burdock embarked upon a journey to root out the causes and get some sleep. She details that journey in four parts, corresponding to the elements: "Air," "Fire," "Earth," and "Water." In "Air," Burdock looks at methods of alleviating sleep apnea, more common now due to soft-food diets, and learns to play the didgeridoo. In "Fire," she examines the effects of menopause and stress on sleep and discusses how overmedication with hormones and statins increases metabolic issues. "Earth" considers circadian rhythms and how exposure to screens disrupts sleep, and "Water" appraises meditation as a helpful tool with which to fight insomnia. Burdock shares well-documented research dispelling myths about nutrition and the dangers of mass-produced seed oils and ultraprocessed foods, and offers some useful cognitive behavioral therapy exercises to break the insomnia cycle.
Through her intricate and often whimsical illustrations, Burdock uses humor to great effect, complementing her discerning analysis. A helpful koala named Kiki backs up Burdock's narrative with relevant facts, for example, and drawings of beds transformed into monsters with teeth perfectly convey the anxiety of sleeplessness. Although insomniacs may not have access to all the resources Burdock employs in her ultimately successful quest for sleep, every reader will find useful information in this intelligent, heartfelt, and beautifully illustrated work. --Debra Ginsberg, author and freelance editor