The Politics of Sleep : Governing (Un)consciousness in the Late Modern Age

Why has sleep become increasingly politicized in contemporary society? This book provides an account of the politics of sleep in the late modern age. The future of sleep has become contested and uncertain: something to be defended, downsized or even perhaps (one day) done away with altogether. Why and how has sleep become increasingly politicized in contemporary society? Is a politics of sleep either possible or desirable? What light does sleep shed on the governance of bodies and the management of everyday/night life? These are some of the questions this timely and topical book addresses in a rich and fascinating account of the politics of sleep in the late modern age. Sleep is not simply a political matter, it is also increasingly politicized, from the bedroom to the boardroom, the classroom to the clinic, the laboratory to the law courts, even the military battlefield. In an increasingly time-squeezed era, the future of sleep becomes increasingly contested or uncertain: something to be defended, downsized or even perhaps done away with altogether. The Politics of Sleep is a must read for anyone concerned with that vital third of their life spent asleep and the manner in which this seemingly most personal and private of acts is becoming ever more politicised in contemporary society as a problem for us all Why And How Has Sleep Become Increasingly Politicized In Contemporary Society? Is A Politics Of Sleep Either Possible Or Desirable? What Light Does Sleep Shed On The Governance Of Bodies And The Management Of Everyday/night Life? These Are Some Of The Questions This Timely And Topical Book Addresses In A Rich And Fascinating Account Of The Politics Of Sleep In The Late Modern Age. Sleep Is Not Simply A Political Matter, It Is Also Increasingly Politicized, From The Bedroom To The Boardroom, The Classroom To The Clinic, The Laboratory To The Law Courts, Even The Military Battlefield. In An Increasingly Time-squeezed Era, The Future Of Sleep Becomes Increasingly Contested Or Uncertain: Something To Be Defended, Downsized Or Even Perhaps Done Away With Altogether. The Politics Of Sleep Is A Must Read For Anyone Concerned With That Vital Third Of Their Life Spent Asleep And The Manner In Which This Seemingly Most Personal And Private Of Acts Is Becoming Ever More Politicised In Contemporary Society As A Problem For Us All. Introduction: The Politics Of Sleep? -- Restless Times? Waking Up To 'fast' Capitalism -- (ir)responsibility: Vigilance, Virtue And The Politics Of Blame -- (in)justice: The Rights And Wrongs Of Sleep -- Unconsciousness/unruliness: The Sleep Of Reason And The Politics Of5release? -- Technoscientific Transformations: Sleep Science, Biomedicine And The Future Of Sleep5 -- Afterword: In Search Of Sleep5 -- References. Simon J. Williams. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Dedication Contents Acknowledgements Introduction: The Politics of Sleep? 1 Restless Times: Wired Awake in Fast Capitalism? 2 Vigilance and Virtue: Sleep, Citizenship and the Politics of Blame 3 (In)equality and (In)justice: The Rights and Wrongs of Sleep 4 Transgression and Taboo: The ‘Sleep of Reason’ and the Politics of Release? 5 Transformations and Translations: The Laboratory, the Clinic and the Future of Sleep ... Afterword: In Search of Sleep ... Or ... The Politics of Sleep Revisited References Index Annotation Why has sleep become increasingly politicized in contemporary society? This book provides an account of the politics of sleep in the late modern age. The future of sleep has become contested and uncertain: something to be defended, downsized or even perhaps (one day) done away with altogether