Sleepless Planet

An integrative guide to better sleep in a hyperactive world.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that affects roughly one in four people in the industrialized world. Typical treatments are often ineffective and have undesirable side effects. For those of us yearning for a restful night’s sleep in a world that never stops turning, it’s hard to know how to find relief.

Part graphic nonfiction and part comics diary, this guide offers an insightful look at the science of sleep and the cultural forces contributing to the modern insomnia epidemic. In it, Maureen Burdock shares a deeply personal journey of navigating sleep disturbance from childhood through perimenopause. As she grapples with the physical, mental, and emotional toll of sleepless nights, Burdock explores a range of popular treatments—consulting sleep specialists and testing THC sleep aids, mouth taping, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Along the way, Burdock reveals how rewilding her life—through diet, meditation, education, and mindfulness—helped her find balance and ultimately reclaim her sleep.

With humor and vulnerability, Sleepless Planet invites readers to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and seek their own path to healing. Whether you’re a chronic insomniac or simply seeking better sleep, this book is a visually rich and empowering companion on the journey toward rest.

“Sleepless Planet is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel and a well-organized, well-written story of the author's own elusive quest for restful sleep. Simultaneously a scientific primer, a personal memoir, and a practical guide, it offers anyone who has struggled with sleepless nights hope as well as practical strategies for success. Each carefully constructed section addresses the essential groundwork that should be done before delving into the more complex neurochemical mechanisms that underlie insomnia.”—Stasha Gominak, MD, creator of RightSleep®

“‘Read this book now!’ should be shouted from rooftops. In this gorgeously illustrated, deeply researched book, we come face-to-face with holistic solutions to our complex challenges with sleep. This book holds the potential to improve not just our sleep but every aspect of our health.”—MK Czerwiec, RN

“Sleep is top priority for our mental health, but who doesn’t have sleeping troubles? With beautiful art, personal stories, scientific information, and the occasional koala bear, Maureen Burdock leads us from sleepless nights to sweet dreams.”—Ellen Forney, author of Rock Steady: Brilliant Advice from My Bipolar Life

“Smart, honest, and soothing for anyone tired of being tired—a wittily drawn guide for everyone worn down by our 24/7 society.”—Johan Eklöf, author of The Darkness Manifesto: On Light Pollution, Night Ecology, and the Ancient Rhythms That Sustain Life

Maureen Burdock is an illustrator, comics creator, cultural studies scholar, and teacher. She is also an integrative nutrition health coach and the owner of Burdock Wellness, www.burdockwellness.com. She is the author of the critically acclaimed Queen of Snails: A Graphic Memoir, also published by Graphic Mundi. Burdock lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her wife and boxer dog. After almost five decades of coping with insomnia, she now sleeps much better.