MOST people spend more than a quarter of their lives asleep, but it still remains a realm of mystery, especially as many people find it hard to drop off.

Questions about the nature of sleep, how much sleep we need and the significance of sleeping patterns are still a puzzle, but at last we have some answers from Jim Horne who has factored in brain physiology, psychology, medicine and social changes to come up with some startling conclusions.

Enjoying 40 winks will never seem the same again.