Wolf-Meyer’s overarching argument about sleep has become an important facet in which behavior is defined as “normal” or “disorderly” and policed. The idea of “normal” sleep emerged with the invention of statistics in the 19th century; but the need to control the sleep-wake cycle has been something of a constant in American culture. The Slumbering Masses also elaborates on the aggressive interventions of the pharmaceutical industry into the pathologization of sleep. Wolf-Meyer is especially effective in explaining the pharmaceuticalization of sleep. The current trend in the United States, reflects that the people are constantly finding themselves caught between their sleep disorders and their social obligations. But then, we understand that a patient, diagnosed with a disorder, is also demanded to treat it, in order to adjust to the social order. In any case, Americans often rely on medicine and feel that they are responsible to sleep the normative pattern of consolidated nocturnal sleep and to stay awake (and alert) to adjust to social activities. (P.477) Thus allowing for Americans to become deeply embedded in the pharmaceutical
Wolf-Meyer’s overarching argument about sleep has become an important facet in which behavior is defined as “normal” or “disorderly” and policed. The idea of “normal” sleep emerged with the invention of statistics in the 19th century; but the need to control the sleep-wake cycle has been something of a constant in American culture. The Slumbering Masses also elaborates on the aggressive interventions of the pharmaceutical industry into the pathologization of sleep. Wolf-Meyer is especially effective in explaining the pharmaceuticalization of sleep. The current trend in the United States, reflects that the people are constantly finding themselves caught between their sleep disorders and their social obligations. But then, we understand that a patient, diagnosed with a disorder, is also demanded to treat it, in order to adjust to the social order. In any case, Americans often rely on medicine and feel that they are responsible to sleep the normative pattern of consolidated nocturnal sleep and to stay awake (and alert) to adjust to social activities. (P.477) Thus allowing for Americans to become deeply embedded in the pharmaceutical