Singaporeans are amongst the most sleep-deprived worldwide. There are many causes of sleep deprivation. Most link Singaporeans’ lack of sleep to the culture of working long hours. Hence, we suggest there are many benefits that come with reading a book before bed. It can help alleviate depression, reduce stress, maintain cognitive function and of course, reading is one of the recommended activities as part of a ritual before bed time. Reading is also an activity suggested by doctors to engage in if you are unable to fall asleep after twenty minutes lying on your bed. We share 3 books you can consider reading before going to sleep.

What kind of book should I read before bed?

1. Little Prince

The Little Prince may look like it is a children’s book but it is certainly a tale for adults. It is about a pilot who crash lands in a Sahara desert and encounters a young boy who claims himself to be an extraterrestrial prince and the things he learnt while traveling to different planets. It shares the simple truths of what matters or does not matter in life. Such as, the best thing about life can be found in the worst time and being a grown up is a state of mind and not a fact of life. What is important is seen with the heart and not with the eyes. Enjoy the wisdom learnt from this popular French book translated into 301 languages and dialect, before drifting off into dreamland.

2. Small Island

Small Island is a novel made up of perspectives of four characters. It portrays the life of Jamaican immigrants in England after World War 2. The novel reveals the dreams of the first wave of West Indian immigrants who were thought to think of England as their “mother country”, only to be surprised by the responses they received from white Britons as second class citizens. Indulge in this cultural historical novel which won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2004 as you relax in your bed. It is a bedtime read that will definitely increase your empathy as you delve into the inner lives of the four characters.

3. The Book of Joy

If you would like to drift off to sleep in a good and positive mood, you can consider reading The Book of Joy. It is a conversation between two Nobel Prize Laureates, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The subject of the book is joy. Both are spiritual leaders who have been tested by great personal and national adversity. Here they share their personal stories of struggle and how their daily practices help anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives.

Happy getting to bed with these 3 bedtime novels we are recommending. Consider getting an affordable adjustable bed frame for your reading pleasures.