David K. Randall continues the second half of his book Dreamland by underlining the importance of sleep. His audience, made up of science enthusiasts, can better understand why getting a good nights' sleep is so significant through Randall's frequent use of examples and anecdotes. For example, he starts out his chapter "Sleep on It" by writing about golf legend Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus had always been an excellent golfer, but at the 1964 U.S. Open, he found himself in a bit of a rut; he found himself tied for twenty-third place. He then spent the next nights wondering how he messed up his swing. One night, however, he dreamt about golfing, and awoke with a major improvement in his technique. Randall relates this story to the brain's ability to solve problems and issues when one is sleeping and includes various other famous examples: Paul McCartney dreaming the melody of the popular song "Yesterday," Samuel Taylor Coleridge's inspiration for his poem "Kubla Khan," and even Stephanie Meyer's idea for her book Twilight. These examples establish a sense of common interest between the reader and the author, so the reader is better able to understand what a good nights' sleep can do for some people.
Randall, a professor at New York University, a journalist for publications such as the New York Times, New York Magazine, and Forbes, and a novel sleep scientist, effectively demonstrates his purpose through his establishment of credibility and his use of examples and research conducted by professionals. He establishes credibility for the topic of sleep right off the bat with his story about his encounter with sleepwalking. This story immediately connects with his audience and puts him on the same level as them. His use of examples supports his central argument that sleep is essential for not only a person's physical well-being but also their mental and emotional well-being. Dreamland is an insightful and informative book about the mysterious scientific field of sleep.
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