Read by Matthew Walker
What books does Matthew Walker recommend?
Fittingly for the scientist who taught the world to take rest seriously, Matthew Walker's book recommendations orbit sleep and circadian health. A Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at UC Berkeley and director of its Center for Human Sleep Science, Walker is the author of the bestseller Why We Sleep, and the two titles he endorses extend his field. He praises Aric A. Prather's The Sleep Prescription as "vastly knowledgeable and genuinely brilliant... an easy yet most effective how-to guide on sleep." His second pick, Satchin Panda's The Circadian Code, he calls "an essential guide for anyone looking to optimize their health and longevity," written by "a world-class scientist... at the forefront of circadian rhythm research." Both sit squarely in health, wellness, and the science of the body's clock.
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
The Sleep Prescription
Seven Days to Unlocking Your Best Rest
byAric A. Prather
2022224 Pages“Vastly knowledgeable and genuinely brilliant . . . An easy yet most effective how-to guide on sleep.”
— Matthew Walker
Source: Book blurb
The Circadian Code
Lose Weight, Supercharge Your Energy, and Transform Your Health from Morning to Midnight
bySatchin Panda
2018288 Pages“Satchin Panda is a world-class scientist who has been at the forefront of circadian rhythm research for decades. His book, The Circadian Code, is an essential guide for anyone looking to optimize their health and longevity.”
— Matthew Walker
Source: Book blurb
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Matthew Walker recommend?
Matthew Walker has endorsed two titles: Aric A. Prather's The Sleep Prescription and Satchin Panda's The Circadian Code — both closely tied to his own field of sleep and circadian science.
What is Matthew Walker's top book recommendation?
The Sleep Prescription by Aric A. Prather, which Walker calls "vastly knowledgeable and genuinely brilliant," describing it as "an easy yet most effective how-to guide on sleep."
Where do Matthew Walker's book recommendations come from?
Both come from book blurbs he wrote — endorsements for Aric A. Prather's The Sleep Prescription and Satchin Panda's The Circadian Code, extending the science he covers in his own work.
Why does Matthew Walker recommend The Circadian Code?
He regards its author as a leader in the field, calling Satchin Panda "a world-class scientist," and the book "an essential guide for anyone looking to optimize their health and longevity" through circadian rhythm science.
Has Matthew Walker written a book?
Yes. He is the author of the international bestseller Why We Sleep (2017), which examines the role of sleep in physical and mental health and reshaped public understanding of rest.