Why Humans Sleep Less Than Any Other Primate

Where Human Sleep Went Wrong

Evolutionary anthropologist David Samson argues that human sleep is uniquely short and REM-heavy, a paradox shaped by our ancestors' shift from trees to ground sleep. In his book The Sleepless Ape, he explains how fire, shelter, and social structures enabled this evolution. He challenges the idea that modern sleep is broken, suggesting that small-scale societies' fragmented sleep is healthy due to strong circadian rhythms. Samson advocates for more outdoor time and better circadian alignment rather than a return to paleo sleep.